There’s a lot that happens on the gymternet each week. So much so that it can be hard to keep track of it all. From training updates and COVID year announcements to recruiting rumors and coaching news, we don’t blame you for missing some important points here and there.
That’s where we come in. Last Week in College Gym is your one-stop shop for all the important headlines from the previous week in college gymnastics. No matter if you’re taking a social media break, went on vacation, or just don’t have the capacity to follow every single gymnast, team, and fan, we have you covered.
Top Storylines
NCAA Presence to Headline National Teams
With numerous continental championships having just happened or around the corner, provisional rosters are finding their way online. Big names on the collegiate scene to watch for as the elite season gets underway include Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo for Philippines, Sandra Elsadek for Egypt, and Lynnzee Brown for Haiti.
NCAA Gymnasts Past and Future, Punch Tickets to Worlds
Lynnzee Brown (Haiti, Denver alumna), Sydney Barros (Puerto Rico, UCLA commit), and Olivia Kelly (Barbados, Missouri commit) have all qualified to the 2023 world championships in Antwerp, Belgium, this fall thanks to their performances at the Pan American championships, which took place in Medellín, Colombia, last week. Barros placed eighth in the all-around, with Kelly in 10th and Brown in 15th.
Canadian NCAA Gymnasts Shine at Nationals
As is accustomed at Canadian nationals, fans were treated to a glimpse into the collegiate world. Recent grad Shallon Olsen claimed the vault title, Southern Connecticut rising junior Alexa Melanson brought a veteran presence to team New Brunswick, and a slew of ranked recruits made their marks between the level 10 and senior divisions. Nyla Morabito (Utah State rising freshman) nearly swept the level 10 event titles while Jenna Sartoretto claimed only the second 38-plus all-around score of the season for gymnastics powerhouse Ontario.
Bryan Raschilla Steps Away from Collegiate Coaching
Oregon State associate head coach and longtime fixture in the collegiate coaching world, Bryan Raschilla announced that while he would be stepping away from coaching, he hopes to work with recruitable athletes and at camps and clinics. Throughout his long career, Raschilla coached at Michigan, Alabama, and Auburn before heading to Oregon State.
Mountain West Conference Adds Gymnastics for 2024 Season
The Mountain West will comprise Air Force, Boise State, San Jose State, and Utah State. The MRGC will dissolve, leaving Southern Utah to search for a new gymnastics conference, while the MPSF will continue with Alaska, Sacramento State, and UC Davis.
Transfer Window Opens With Surprises
The transfer portal was a flurry of activity after the season’s end, and several athletes announced they were heading to new teams. Ilka Juk (Iowa), Mara Titarsolej (Missouri), Sage Thompson (Oregon State), and Lucy Stanhope (Nebraska) were among the transfer announcements. Additionally, several seniors announced their intentions to take fifth or sixth years with new teams. Soraya Hawthorne (Oklahoma), Jillian Hoffman (LSU), Savannah Schoenherr (LSU), and Sirena Linton (Arkansas) were among the most notable announcements.
Other Newsworthy Items
- After leading UC Davis to an MPSF championship as interim head coach, Tanya Ho has been named as UC Davis’s permanent head coach.
- Ohio State rising junior Jenna Hlavach medically retired due to ongoing hip issues.
- Former Pittsburgh commit Gabi Ortiz changed her commitment to Michigan State. Ortiz will join the Spartans this fall.
- Former Minnesota commit Aspen Lenczner changed her commitment to Oklahoma. She will join the Sooners this fall.
- Rising junior Molly Rickey will be transferring from Pittsburgh to UW-Stout, per her Instagram bio.
- UW-Whitewater will be the new home to Elena Bailey, who is transferring from SCSU.
- NCGA national champ UW-Oshkosh will be heading to the baseball diamond for a Brewers Game. The team will be honored on the field, followed by head coach Lauren Karnitz throwing out the first pitch.
- Missouri filled out its staff with former Arizona State assistant coach Lacey Rubin after Casey Jo MacPherson left for the head coaching position at Pittsburgh.
- The Sun Devils hired James Williams as an assistant coach. Williams had previous coaching stops at San Jose State and Yale.
- Four-star recruit Sydney Barros announced she will defer, joining UCLA for the 2025 season after pursuing an Olympic berth for Puerto Rico.
- Gymnasts from numerous teams and conferences—including Amaya Marshall, Trinity Thomas, eMjae Frazier, and Jocelyn Moore—attended the Black Student-Athlete Summit at the University of Southern California in late May.
- Emily Kahl, a rising senior at SCSU, released her own signature leo through Snowflake Designs.
- Hungarian elite and a rising sophomore at Nebraska Csenge Bácskay won silver on vault at the World Challenge Cup in Tel Aviv, Israel, with a 13.150. She also qualified for the bars final.
Training Updates
- Incoming SCSU freshman Kylie Sitty is working on adding a Pak to her bar routine.
- Incoming George Washington freshman Maya Peters is training a side aerial, layout, layout on beam.
- Incoming Clemson freshman Grace LaCrosse is training a back one and a half to Rudi on floor.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
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