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
Konnor McClain to Join LSU for 2024
U.S. national champion Konnor McClain has decided to join LSU for 2024 after previously planning to defer to train for the Olympics. Ultimately she’s chosen the best of both worlds, beginning her college career while continuing to train elite in the hopes of making the Olympic team next summer.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Springfield named Diana Gallagher its next head coach.
- Sophia Hyderally was named Brown’s assistant coach. Last season she was a member of Temple’s coaching staff.
- Jordan Chiles was nominated for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award. She is among 24 semifinalists.
- Rising junior Carissa Martinez announced her transfer from Centenary to Ball State. Martinez consistently competed three events for the Ladies last season, scoring over 9.800 multiple times on floor and qualifying to the USAG nationals event final on the event.
- Denver alumna Lynzee Brown has been named an assistant coach at Penn State.
- Florida choreographer Jeremy Miranda has been promoted to assistant coach while recent Gator graduate Trinity Thomas will serve as student assistant coach while pursuing an elite comeback.
- Longtime club coach Brooke Leonard-Fincher has joined the Auburn staff as an assistant coach.
- Jackie Terpak, who spent last season as a volunteer assistant coach at Arkansas, has been named an assistant coach at Missouri.
- Two of the biggest names in college gymnastics—Trinity Thomas and LSU’s Olivia Dunne—attended the 2023 ESPY Awards. Thomas was nominated in the Best Play category for her NCAA record-tying 28th perfect score.
- In her first competition since announcing her elite comeback, Alabama star Luisa Blanco won the all-around title at the Colombian national championship.
Training Updates
- Lindenwood’s athletes are working on beam upgrades this offseason, with Hannah Appleget training a standing layout step-out to scale and Hannah Moon working a triple series—front aerial to back handspring layout step-out.
- Madison Daly, rising Eau Claire freshman, is training a clear hip to Gienger to overshoot connection.
- Rising Alaska sophomore Ariana DeSouza is training a back one and a half to front full pass on floor.
- Rising N.C. State sophomore Madeline Reid is training a side aerial to back handspring series on beam.
- Rising Utah State freshman Isabella Vater is training a front aerial to back handspring back handspring series on beam.
- LSU sophomore Ashley Cowan, who competed solely on bars in her first year in Baton Rouge, teased a possible vault comeback, showing off a Yurchenko one and a half into the pit.
- Incoming Ursinus gymnast Erin Roe is polishing her double pikes.
- Cortland’s incoming freshman Cloe Block is training a laid out full-out on bars onto an eight-icher in the pit.
READ THIS NEXT: The Transfer Window: Winners, Losers, and Teams on the Hot Seat
Article by the editors of College Gym News
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