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
Jen Llewellyn Named New Iowa Head Coach
Iowa announced Jen Llewellyn, former Washington head coach, as the new head coach of the Hawkeyes after Larissa Libby’s resignation in May. Llewellyn led the Huskies to three straight NCAA regional appearances in her three years with the program. Interim coach Jessa Hansen Parker will remain on staff as an assistant coach.
Raena Worley Appointed as Kentucky Assistant Coach
Former Kentucky gymnast Raena Worley will join the Kentucky gymnastics coaching staff as an assistant coach. Worley just finished her fifth season as the Wildcat’s second-most-decorated gymnast in program history, winning 30 all-around titles throughout her collegiate career.
Canadian National Championships & Olympic Trials Feature NCAA Athletes Past, Present, and Future
Gatineau, Quebec hosted the nation’s top gymnasts this past weekend, with athletes from multiple NCAA programs competing. Three current five-star recruits competed in the senior elite division, including 2020 Olympian Ava Stewart (Minnesota ‘28), 2023 National All-Around Champion Aurélie Tran (Iowa ‘28), and longtime gymternet favorite Clara Raposo (Utah ‘28). Other rated recruits in the senior elite division included a pair of Iowa commits in four-star Sydney Turner and three-star Cassie Lee as well as three-star Frédérique Sgarbossa (Iowa State ‘28). Former NCAA athletes Shallon Olsen (Alabama) and Denelle Pedrick (CMU) were also in the mix as was rising Nebraska senior Emma Spence. The 2024 Olympic team will be decided this week, and announced at the end of June.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Chae Campbell (UCLA), Cameron Machado (Alabama), Lauren Thomas (Iowa State), and Alexa Rothenbuescher (Maryland) all announced they will return for a fifth year with their current programs.
- LSU head coach Jay Clark says he believes Konnor McClain, who tore her Achilles during the Core Hydration Classic last month and subsequently underwent surgery, should be cleared to compete bars and beam at the beginning of the 2025 season.
- Whitney Snowden was promoted to associate head coach at Missouri.
Transfer News
- Abby Mueller announced her transfer to Missouri for her senior year, making her the fourth incoming transfer for the Tigers.
- Csenge Bácksay announced her move to Georgia after two seasons competing for Nebraska, making her the first incoming transfer following the recent coaching changes.
- Kaitlyn Ewald announced she is headed to Arkansas for her fifth year after spending four years at Illinois.
- Rising sophomore Heather Parker is transferring to Central Michigan. Parker only competed on floor once for Georgia last season.
- Rising senior Jenna Blair announced her transfer from Northern Illinois to Arizona State.
Training Updates
- Rising Ohio State junior Tory Vetter is training a Yurchenko one and a half into the pit.
- Incoming UCLA freshman Mary McGowan is training a double-twisting Yurchenko onto a mat in the pit.
- Incoming Arizona freshman Aubrey Krohnfeldt is training a Yurchenko full vault, an upgrade from her current Yurchenko half.
- Utah’s sophomores are putting in the work over the summer. Camie Winger is upgrading her series on beam to a back-handspring, layout, layout step out. Ella Zirbes posted a new floor pass to her Instagram story: a back one-and-a-half twist to a front one-and-a-half twist.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
