Alysen Fears competes on floor at the 2022 Normal Regional.

NCAA Gym Watchlist: 7 Gymnasts Poised to Break Out in 2023

The 2023 season is just days away! As you prepare to unwrap your fantasy teams and ring in 2023, we rounded up eight gymnasts we have our eyes on for breakout seasons. It happens every year: A lineup mainstay suddenly anchors and notches 9.9s, or someone who didn’t compete at all in their freshman or sophomore seasons breaks into lineups and steals gymternet hearts. We’re talking about the Jada Mazurys and Carly Woodards of the college gymnastics world today.

Emily Lee, UCLA

Sophomore Lee missed her first year with injury, but she proved she is back and better than ever at Meet the Bruins. Set to be a top all-arounder in 2023, Lee should be on everyone’s radar.

Katie Finnegan, Georgia

First Look was…we’ll go with a touch chaotic, but Finnegan was a standout. Her bar set was one of the best of the night, and she put up a solid vault as well. The junior missed the postseason for the Gymdogs last year, but she seems ready to emerge as a one- or two-event leader.

Amelia Knight, Illinois

Junior Knight was a mainstay for the Illini across bars, beam and floor in 2022. If her preseason work is any indication, she has adjusted the little details that make for a collegiate standout, and could put up big numbers on all three events this season.

Grace Anne Davis, Missouri

Davis was a good vaulter in her freshman campaign for the Tigers and was a huge standout at their Black and Gold intrasquad. With a 10.0 vault, a crisp bar set and a 9.900 high for her steady beam work, she’s set to break through this season.

Gabby Perea, California

Junior Perea was a mainstay on bars and showed a few floor routines last year. She has shown patient, clean work on bars and beam especially this preseason, with one of the best Rays in the game. Put her on bars 10-watch today.

Alysen Fears, Arizona

After competing on all four in her freshman season, Fears is ready to break out for the Wildcats. Her bars and beam work has been especially clean this offseason, but don’t count her out on floor, either. If you’re a fan of a nice toe point, Fears’ gymnastics is for you.

Danielle Sievers, Oklahoma

Sievers’ exquisite gymnastics is sometimes overshadowed only because the Sooners are packed with talent. Her top execution stands out among the best, and she seems poised for a breakout sophomore campaign.

READ THIS NEXT: 10 Underrated Freshmen to Watch in 2023


Article by Emily Minehart, Rebecca Scally and Claire Billman

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