The most anticipated series is back! Since so many of the class of 2023’s elite gymnasts have deferred enrollment until after the Olympics, we’re switching things up this year by combining level 10s and elites into the same articles. We’ll also be a little more subjective with our featured level 10 gymnasts rather than only using data to determine who’s included. This week we’re looking at the freshmen most expected to make an impact on all four events.
The Level 10s
Madison Ulrich, Denver
Who else could we start with besides Ulrich, the only level 10 to make the cut on all four of our class of 2023 Most Anticipated lists? After missing the entire 2022 season, Ulrich came back with a vengeance and scored over 39.000 on four occasions this year. Denver couldn’t ask for a better successor to Lynnzee Brown.
Delaynee Rodriguez, Kentucky
The Wildcats are coming off of a breakout 2023 season, and—with Rodriguez to complement star all-arounder Raena Worley—show no signs of losing momentum in 2024. Her contributions will be especially welcome on beam and floor: She’s an incredibly engaging performer with the big skills and results to back up all that charisma.
Hannah Scheible, Oklahoma
A two-time national all-around champion, Scheible is bringing an outstanding track record of successfully competing high-difficulty routines to Norman. Her unexpected and out-of-the-box choreography as well as cat-like landings make her a natural fit for Oklahoma.
Lily Smith, Georgia
Smith is one of the most technically precise gymnasts in the game. Though she’s best known for her (literally) flawless bars and floor routines, Smith is also clean and consistent on vault and beam—just what the Gym Dogs need most as they rebuild.
Jamison Sears, Alabama
The top-rated recruit in the 2023 class, Sears closed out her club career with a bang by winning national titles in the all around, vault, bars, and floor – not to mention a third place finish on beam. With her repertoire of high-difficulty skills executed with style and precision, Sears is sure to be a favorite among NCAA judges and fans alike.
Priscilla Park, Arkansas
The Razorbacks have significant lineup holes to plug this season, particularly on bars and beam. Enter Park. The Georgia Elite alumna finished third all around at this year’s DP nationals thanks to a pair of second-place finishes on her best events.
Danielle Ferris, Florida
Similar to Arkansas, Florida is going to have plenty of opportunities for new faces to join lineups after the departures of Trinity Thomas and Kayla DiCello. Ferris has national titles on vault, bars, and floor, making her the top prospect in an outstanding freshman class.
Ella Zirbes, Utah
With three five-star recruits joining the Utes this fall, it’s difficult to pick just one to include in this list, but Zirbes stands out due to her exceptional execution and attention to detail on every event. She’s also coming off the best season of her career, culminating with a national title in the all around.
Abigayle Martin, Arizona
Martin has power to spare on all four events, but she’s especially dynamic on bars and beam. She snagged third place on bars at 2023 level 10 championships and earned three of the best beam scores in the nation this year. It’s tough to make a pretty ubiquitous skill memorable, but Martin does it. Her standing layout stepout is a true showstopper!
Olivia Buckner, Oregon State
With the Beavers’ superstar all arounder Jade Carey indicating she’ll be taking a step back in 2024, the calm and clean Buckner will be a valuable addition to the team’s overall depth. Regardless of how Carey ends up contributing next season, Buckner should have an immediate impact on the team’s thinnest lineups: vault and bars.
Kristin Lin, Washington
Washington graduated a large senior class that accounted for 10 NQS routines, leaving plenty of opportunity for incoming freshmen to make a large impact right off the bat. Having swept all event titles at this year’s NorCal championships, Lin is the most likely member of the class to be featured in the all around.
Ava Jorgensen, BYU
BYU is coming off a rebuilding year that culminated in a 33rd-place final ranking, so there is a need for new stars to emerge and lead the team back to where it was in 2021. Jorgensen finished 4th all around at this year’s nationals, including a title win on bars and a top-10 placement on vault. She should also make an immediate impact on the floor lineup, which is losing its top scorer in Rebekah Bean Ripley.
Makayla Tucker, Michigan State
Michigan State has surged in the national rankings the last two seasons thanks in no small part to its lights out recruiting, and Tucker could realistically become the third consecutive Spartan to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year. A fall on beam kept her from challenging for the all-around podium at this year’s level 10 championships, but she walked away with a fifth place finish on bars and a pair of national titles on vault and floor.
Natalie Martin, Maryland
Maryland is a team on the rise, and Martin has the skill and proven consistency to be a stabilizing force in the Terps’ lineups. She’ll be a particularly welcome addition on the power events where she can contribute a Yurchenko one and a half and full-twisting double tuck.
Maggie Slife, Air Force
On the heels of a top-10 all-around finish at nationals this year, including 4th on bars and 7th on beam, Slife begins her career at Air Force with the potential to be a true game changer. The Falcons are returning only three routines with an NQS of 9.800 or higher from 2023, and Slife is capable of exceeding that number on all four events.
Elites and Internationals
Konnor McClain, LSU
The 2022 U.S. national champion has had an exemplary elite career, and (health permitting) she has the technical and artistic tools to be exceptional in college. It remains to be seen how much she’ll compete her freshman year while presumably preparing for the elite season, but she’ll be a star in whatever lineups she appears in.
Emily Todd, Pittsburgh
Todd has an impressive elite resume, most notably her second place all around finish at the 2021 British championships. A solid and well-rounded competitor, she’s particularly impressive on Pitt’s weakest event, bars. The Panthers’ lineups may be very different this year following multiple transfers and a coaching staff revamp, so there will be plenty of opportunity for a new star to emerge.
Keira Thornton, Bowling Green
Thornton made waves at the 2023 British championships, finishing an impressive 12th in the all around and third on vault. Her combination of crisp technique and engaging artistry should make her a mainstay in the Falcons’ lineups.
Nyla Morabito, Utah State
Utah State has been in major rebuilding mode since the mass exodus of coaches and athletes to Clemson in 2022, and this year’s star-studded freshman class will go a long way toward restoring normalcy in Logan. Morabito may not be the most recognizable name in the class, but having won the all-around national title in CCP 10 (Canada’s equivalent of level 10) this year, she’s capable of being a difference maker on all four events from the start.
Jenna Sartoretto, Nebraska
Sartoretto finished second behind Morabito at CCP 10 this year, including top 10 placements on all four events. International athletes have played a major role in Nebraska’s lineups in recent years, and she stands a great chance of continuing that trend. Look for her to make an impact on vault and beam from the start, but she should eventually be an all-around competitor for the Cornhuskers.
Honorable Mentions
Sophia Esposito, Oregon State
Chloe LaCoursiere, Alabama
Anya Pilgrim, Florida
Addison Fatta, Oklahoma
Holly Snyder, Georgia
Camie Winger, Utah
Julianne Huff, Auburn
Olivia Coppola, Illinois
Cadence Gormley, Kentucky
Brynlee Andersen, BYU
Annalise Newman-Achee, California
Brinlee Christensen, Southern Utah
Mary McDonough, Washington
Katelyn Rosen, UCLA
Julia Krzywanski, Boise State
Lindsey Yang, Brown
Rylee Miller, Southern Utah
Ella Power, San Jose State
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Article by Jenna King and Claire Billman
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