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
Oklahoma Invited to the White House
After winning the team national championship in April, the Oklahoma Sooners are set to visit Joe Biden at the White House to commemorate National College Athlete Day. After holding the top spot in the national rankings throughout the season, Oklahoma dominated the 2023 NCAA national championships to take the team title, its sixth in nine years. The team is set to meet with Biden on the South Lawn of the White House at 10:30 a.m. CT Monday, June 12 to celebrate the team’s accomplishments.
Denver Alumna Brown Finalist for Honda Award
Denver alumna Lynnzee Brown was recently named a finalist for the Honda Inspiration Award. The award is given to a female athlete each year who has overcome hardship and was able to return to play at the collegiate level. After suffering two season-ending Achilles tears in 2020 and 2022, Brown became the 2023 NCAA co-runner up on vault and placed fourth in the all-around at the national championships. In addition to her injuries, Brown also suddenly lost her mother in May 2019, just weeks after competing in the 2019 NCAA National Championships.
Thomas Wins Inaugural NIL Award
Recent Florida graduate Trinity Thomas was named Female Athlete of the Year at the 2023 NIL Summit in Atlanta. The award recognizes the female student-athlete who “exhibited the best use of the Name, Image, and Likeness” since the policy’s implementation nearly two years ago. Thomas also recently snagged her second consecutive Honda Award.
Ava Stewart Signs with Minnesota
Five-star recruit Stewart, part of the class of 2024, represented Canada at the Tokyo Olympics, helping Canada to a 10th-place finish. She was second on bars at 2023 Elite Canada, as well as fifth at Jesolo in 2022 and at the 2023 Cairo World Cup.
Lexi Funk Completes Pittsburgh Staff
The Panthers announced Funk as a new assistant coach, joining existing assistant Amanda Wellick who will remain on Casey Jo MacPherson’s staff. Funk spent the 2023 season coaching at Central Michigan after two seasons as a volunteer at her alma mater, Michigan, during which she helped coach the Wolverines to a first place finish at the 2021 championships.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Sacramento State named alumna Melissa Genovese as the third head coach in program history, following Randy Solorio’s retirement at the conclusion of the 2023 season.
- On Tuesday Pittsburgh announced the hiring of Lexi Funk as an assistant coach for the Panthers. Funk will join first year head coach Casey Jo MacPherson and returning assistant coach Amanda Wellick.
- Clemson provided updates on its training facility that is expected to be completed this fall.
- Former West Virginia head coach Linda Burdette-Good passed away unexpectedly at the age of 74. Burdette-Good was the head coach from 1975 to 2011 and compiled a 644-263-4 record during her time with the Mountaineers.
- Arkansas head coach Jordyn Wieber and assistant coach Chris Brooks were married May 28 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
- Clemson’s inaugural roster is officially complete following the transfer of Kaitlin DeGuzman. DeGuzman spent the first four years of her career at Kentucky.
- Illinois’ Makayla Green is now being represented by AXE Sports.
- Former Brown head coach Jackie Court will be inducted into the WCGA Hall of Fame. Court served as the head coach for over 30 years and was the first woman of color to coach at Brown.
- Ithaca alum and the most decorated gymnast in Bomber program history, Jessica Bolduc, will be part of the 53rd Hall of Fame class.
- Minnesota is building a new facility with wrap-around services for gymnastics: everything from training to recovery, nutrition and studying will be included. The facility will break ground in March 2024 with aims to be completed by January 2025.
- Ashlyn LaClair announced that she will transfer to Georgia for her fifth year. LaClair recently graduated from Kentucky and competed vault and floor for the Wildcats.
- Rising junior Emma Brkljacic will transfer from Northern Illinois to Texas Woman’s for the 2024 season.
- Juliette Boyer will transfer to Utah State for her fifth year. The Arizona State graduate did not compete the last two seasons, but was a consistent contributor on multiple events in the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Training Updates
- Incoming Towson freshman Retoshia Halsell is training a full twisting double layout dismount into the pit.
- Rising Florida junior Riley McCusker is training bar upgrades, including a toe-on 1/1 + Maloney + Tkatchev and a Ricna.
- Incoming Clemson freshman Grace LaCrosse posted a video of a back 1.5 to front full on floor to her Instagram story.
- Rising New Hampshire sophomore Samantha Nokes is training a Jaeger to bail combination.
- Incoming Oklahoma freshman Addison Fatta is training a full twisting double layout dismount on the uneven bars.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
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