Last fall we released our signing class rankings for the class of 2023, but a lot has changed in the 11 months since. Level 10 signees competed in their senior season while their elite counterparts had national and international appearances. There were also commitment changes, retirements, injuries, early graduations, deferrals and new signings that altered the incoming classes. Now that the majority of the freshmen are on campus and have started training for the upcoming season, it’s time to take another look at the makeup of each team’s group of newcomers.
While last year’s signing class rankings were derived solely from data and our recruit ratings system, this new ranking is much more subjective, taking into account senior year performances and training footage.
The Top 10
10. Washington
Class members: Mary McDonough, Kristin Lin, McKenna Carnesi, Kira Bolden, Chelsea Hallinan
Washington’s class has not changed since signing day, but Bolden suffered an ACL tear in May so her ability to contribute this season is very much in doubt. When she does make her debut, she should be outstanding on the leg events, particularly vault, where she is one of the highest-rated athletes in the class of 2023. McDonough has been wearing a boot since she arrived on campus, but the extent of her injury is unknown; should she contribute this season, she could be an option in all four lineups. The good news is that former five-star recruit Lin has no known injuries and should be ready to compete on all four events. Carnesi is a strong contender to make vault and floor lineups and is also a possibility on beam, while Hallinan is very likely to see time in the beam lineup. While there are some injury questions, this is a very strong class that should be able to plug the lineup holes from departing seniors and add plenty of depth over the coming years.
9. Arizona
Class members: Abigayle Martin, Sophie Derr, Ainsley Greever, Tirzah Wise, Sophia Maisel, Haley Havenor
Arizona’s signing class was ranked 24th last fall, but the additions of Wise and Havenor as well as excellent senior seasons from the previous signees have soared this class’s potential even higher. Keep a close eye on Martin, who has strong potential to be the Wildcats’ next all around star. Derr is a Texas state champion and two-time Region 3 runner-up on bars who should make an immediate impact in a lineup that ranked 37th in the nation last season. Greever is also an option on bars but her biggest opportunity to shine will be on the leg events, particularly vault. Wise made strong gains on beam and floor during her senior season but will be a depth option on all four events, as will Maisel. Havenor is a former Air Force commit whose strongest event is floor.
8. Oregon State
Class members: Sophia Esposito, Olivia Buckner, Taylor DeVries, Mia Heather
The Beavers will have plenty of holes to fill this season with the departure of several seniors and the reduced contributions of Jade Carey, but luckily this freshman class should be up to the task. Esposito is coming off a senior season in which she won national titles on beam and the all around, and she should be ready to contribute on vault and floor too. Buckner is a true all arounder with a stellar consistency record, finishing out her level 10 career with six straight scores in the mid-38 range. DeVries is stellar on bars–Oregon State’s weakest event in recent years–and can provide quality depth on vault and floor as well. Heather has struggled with injuries throughout high school but her gorgeous form could be a secret weapon if she can stay healthy.
7. LSU
Class members: Konnor McClain, Kylie Coen, Amari Drayton, Brooke Simpson, Leah Miller
As the 2022 U.S. national champion at the elite level, McClain needs no introduction; even if she only competes in a limited capacity her freshman season she’s still likely to put up stellar scores for the Tigers on every event she competes. Drayton is another incoming freshman with an elite background who could conceivably contribute on multiple events. Coen is a well-rounded former five-star recruit who has not competed since February 2022; she could be a star in collegiate competition if healthy. Simpson and Miller both shine on floor and could see time in that lineup when resting upperclassmen. Between super seniors, incoming transfers, and injury returnees, it seems likely that LSU will have the luxury of developing this outstanding class rather than relying on them right away, but in later seasons they will play a bigger role.
6. Utah
Class members: Ella Zirbes, Camie Winger, Elizabeth Gantner, Olivia Kennedy
Utah’s incoming class is loaded with star-power, with Zirbes and Gantner owning multiple national titles apiece as well as being former junior elites. Gantner missed the 2022 season due to injury and was limited to bars and beam in 2023, but she was one of the nation’s best all arounders earlier in her career; it remains to be seen whether she’ll attempt to bring back the leg events in college. Joining these two is another five-star recruit in Winger, a powerhouse who should make an immediate impact on both vault and bars.
5. Michigan State
Class members: Gabi Ortiz, Makayla Tucker, Isabella Trostel, Emma Misenheimer, Kendall Abney
The lone team from outside the SEC or Pac-12 to make the top 10 on this list, Michigan State is looking to continue its rise in the Big Ten by bringing in another strong recruiting class. Ortiz was a late addition to the class after switching her commitment from Pitt, but she’s also one of the most intriguing freshmen in the country after topping out at a 39.400 in her senior season. Likely joining her in multiple lineups is Tucker, a national champion on both vault and floor but a consistent competitor on all four events. Trostel is a natural beamer who could find herself deep in that lineup even as a freshman while also adding depth on floor. Misenheimer has excellent form and expression on floor, and Abney should see some time in the bars and beam lineups.
4. Kentucky
Class members: Delaynee Rodriguez, Cadence Gormley, Creslyn Brose, Cecily Rizo, Sharon Lee, Kaila Lawrence
Kentucky is only losing four NQS routines from last year’s roster, but these freshmen are strong enough to push returnees out of several spots. The biggest name in this class is Rodriguez, a former five-star recruit who won national titles on beam and floor in 2023. Gormley is a top contender to fill one of two lineup holes on bars and may also see some time in the beam lineup. Brose is a choreographer’s dream on floor; she could be a future anchor on the event. Rizo and Lee are both contenders to join Gormley in the bars lineup early on in their careers. Overall, this is the type of class that is going to make up a huge chunk of the Wildcats’ lineups for the next four years.
3. Alabama
Class members: Jamison Sears, Chloe LaCoursiere, Gabby Ladanyi
Alabama’s class is smaller than the rest of the top 10 on this list, but it makes up for its small size with some serious accolades. Sears was perhaps one of the best level 10s in the country in 2023, winning four national titles (all but beam) in May to bring the total to eight championships over the course of her club career. LaCoursiere has been known as the class of 2023’s bars queen since she made her level 10 debut, but she’s proven that she’s more than capable on the other events by winning the all around and vault titles in 2022 (in addition to bars, of course). Ladanyi earned a bars national title of her own during her junior season and is a strong prospect to add quality depth on every event. These are exactly the type of athletes Alabama needs in order to reclaim its spot in the national title conversation.
2. Florida
Class members: Danie Ferris, Anya Pilgrim, Skylar Draser, Kaylee Bluffstone, Alyssa Arana, Gabby Disidore
Florida continues its incredible recruiting hot streak by landing the No. 2 spot on this year’s freshman class rankings, this time with a combination of elite and level 10 athletes. Ferris has won a total of four national titles in only two seasons of competing level 10; if she hadn’t missed the 2023 season due to injury she likely would have added to that total. Her strongest event is vault–she scored three perfect 10s in 2022–but bars and floor aren’t far behind. Pilgrim and Draser have spent significant time competing elite gymnastics, but their strong level 10 results over the last two years more easily showcase their collegiate potential. Disidore is another former elite who should add depth on multiple events, but she’s competed sparingly over the last two seasons. Bluffstone is likely to see lineup time on the leg events, with Arana complementing her on bars and beam after winning national titles on both events in 2023.
1. Georgia
Class members: Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Ady Wahl, Heather Parker, Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Zora Morgan, Anya Turner
It’s no surprise that Georgia maintains its top signing class crown given the size and depth of this class. Lily Smith is surely going to be an instant favorite for many gymnastics fans once they’re introduced to her gorgeous lines and flawless technique on all four events, though she’s particularly known for her perfect scores on bars and floor. Snyder and Wahl are also legitimate all around contenders after very successful club careers. Parker and Battle have both won national titles on vault, with Battle and Morgan also earning titles on beam. Kelsey Lee should be a solid depth option for both vault and bars, and Turner may see time on floor. Georgia is only returning nine athletes from last year’s roster, so there will be plenty of opportunity for each of these freshmen to make an immediate impact and improve the team’s ranking.
The Full Rankings
| Rank | Team | Class Members |
| 1 | Georgia | Lily Smith, Holly Snyder, Ady Wahl, Heather Parker, Jaydah Battle, Kelsey Lee, Zora Morgan, Anya Turner |
| 2 | Florida | Danie Ferris, Anya Pilgrim, Skylar Draser, Kaylee Bluffstone, Alyssa Arana, Gabby Disidore |
| 3 | Alabama | Jamison Sears, Chloe LaCoursiere, Gabby Ladanyi |
| 4 | Kentucky | Delaynee Rodriguez, Cadence Gormley, Creslyn Brose, Cecily Rizo, Sharon Lee, Kaila Lawrence |
| 5 | Michigan State | Gabi Ortiz, Makayla Tucker, Isabella Trostel, Emma Misenheimer, Kendall Abney |
| 6 | Utah | Ella Zirbes, Camie Winger, Elizabeth Gantner, Olivia Kennedy |
| 7 | LSU | Konnor McClain, Kylie Coen, Amari Drayton, Brooke Simpson, Leah Miller |
| 8 | Oregon State | Sophia Esposito, Olivia Buckner, Taylor DeVries, Mia Heather |
| 9 | Arizona | Abigayle Martin, Sophie Derr, Ainsley Greever, Tirzah Wise, Sophia Maisel, Haley Havenor |
| 10 | Washington | Mary McDonough, Kristin Lin, McKenna Carnesi, Kira Bolden, Chelsea Hallinan |
| 11 | Illinois | Olivia Coppola, Mareli Muller, Maddie Vitolo, Lyden Saltness, Destiny Denning, Kendall Flury |
| 12 | Minnesota | Jordyn Lyden, Jenna Olshefski, Marisa Fisher, Kendall Landry, Sophie Swartzmiller, Leah Gonsiorowski, Sophia Nguyen |
| 13 | BYU | Ava Jorgensen, Brynlee Andersen, Mya Kirkham, Alilah Alvarado, Jadyn Harsh, Chloee Hoke, Hailey Openshaw |
| 14 | Oklahoma | Hannah Scheible, Keira Wells, Aspen Lenczner |
| 15 | Southern Utah | Brinlee Christensen, Niya Randolph, Rylee Miller, Elliot Bringhurst, Alyssa Fernandez, Alex Routsis, Maria Ferguson, Mackenzie Kelly, Caralia Martinez, Kendall McGuire, Marisa de Groot, Brinley Kitchen |
| 16 | California | Kyen Mayhew, Annalise Newman-Achee |
| 17 | Stanford | Sienna Robinson, Victoria Cluck, Sydney Razeghi, Temple Landry |
| 18 | Iowa State | Noelle Adams, Paige Wills, Ella Schell, Elizabeth Cairns, Lauren O’Brochta, Gracie Long |
| 19 | Missouri | Rayna Light, Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, Jessa Conedera, Kylie Minard |
| 20 | Ohio State | Courtney McCann, Maisyn Rader, Samara Buchanan, Grace Walker, Ellie Binger, Mary Green |
| 21 | Denver | Madison Ulrich, Maddison Reidenbach, Ashley Gallen, Amanda Hargraves |
| 22 | Penn | Reganne Cheang, Madison Perkins, Jordan Barrow, Jackie Tunney, Sophia Paris |
| 23 | UCLA | Sydney Barros, Katelyn Rosen, Alex Irvine, Paige Anastasi |
| 24 | Utah State | Sydney Jelen, Nyla Morabito, Isabella Vater, Mya Witte, Riley Sorrell, Alexis Boone, Hattie Wright |
| 25 | San Jose State | Mia Nelson, Devyn Valuch, Ella Power, Marissa Ashton, Olivia Reardon |
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Article by Jenna King
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