Our recruit ratings make it easy to discover all-arounders who will lead their teams to NCAA success in the coming years. However, event specialists play an important role on college teams too, and these gymnasts may slip under the radar while being recruited. Each year we take the time to highlight uncommitted, three-star, and/or unrated gymnasts who excel on each event, and this article focuses on bars.
Class of 2025
Brooke Boggess
Rating: NR
College: Michigan State
High Score: 9.850
Why She Stands Out: Boggess is part of an exceptionally strong incoming bars class at Michigan State. In fact, four out of five of their rated recruits have bars as their strongest event. Boggess is the only unrated recruit, as a result of only competing bars and beam, but bars could be considered her strongest event as well. She has a nice Ray and gorgeous toepoint, which could help her earn a place in the Spartan lineup.
Ariel Collum
Rating: NR
College: Southern Utah
High Score: 9.925
Why She Stands Out: Not only does Collum have fantastic execution, but she also competes difficult skills like a Říčná! She has tremendous potential to make a massive impact on the Thunderbirds’ bar lineup at Southern Utah.
Anna Pearl Stanley
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
College: North Carolina
High Score: 9.900
Why She Stands Out: The Tar Heels are another program bringing in a star bars class, and this is headlined by Stanley. She has a lovely swing and a very floaty double layout dismount. Keep an eye on her next season!
Alison Ritch
Rating: NR
College: Towson
High Score: 9.800
Why She Stands Out: Ritch managed to qualify to the All-Star session of nationals on bars in her very first meet back after ACL surgery. At nationals, she placed fifth on the event with her gorgeous routine that included a van Leeuwen. Towson will look forward to having her join its squad soon.
Class of 2026
Hayden Anderton
Rating: NR
College: Uncommitted
High Score: 9.875
Why She Stands Out: Like every ‘26 on this list, Anderton is uncommitted, though with her breakout season this year, she may not stay that way for long. She set a career-high 9.875 at states and followed it up with a regional event title and a fifth-place result on the event at nationals. Watch for her stuck double layout in the linked routine!
Jazlyn Jackson
Rating: NR
College: Uncommitted
High Score: 9.900
Why She Stands Out: Jackson’s routine is jam-packed with difficulty, including a Maloney, Pak, van Leeuwen, and front pike half dismount. However, even more impressive than that is her ability to perform these skills with excellent execution. Training at the same gym that Auburn gymnast Julianne Huff used to, we’ll have to wait to see if she gets snagged by the Tigers or if she branches out and commits to another program.
Seren Jackson
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
College: Uncommitted
Why She Stands Out: After winning the 2024 Canadian level 10 bars title, Jackson visited Texas Woman’s and New Hampshire before going on to win the same title again this year, heightening interest in where she’ll end up committing. Watch for her clear hip circle straight into a stuck full-twisting double tuck in the linked video.
Class of 2027
Avalie Brinn
Rating: NR
College: Uncommitted
High Score: 9.800
Why She Stands Out: Not only did Brinn compete a lovely routine in the All-Star session of nationals to tie for fifth with Ritch, but she’s also training several difficult skills, including a Říčná and a double front half out dismount. She’s definitely one to keep an eye on.
Cailin Dewell
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
College: Uncommitted
High Score: 9.625
Why She Stands Out: As much as there is to say about her spectacular toepoint and generally great execution, nothing stands out more than the fact that she consistently competes inbars. This is exceptionally rare, especially for a level 10 athlete, and it’s unlikely she’ll stay under the radar for long.
Emree Hofseth
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
College: Uncommitted
High Score: 9.825
Why She Stands Out: The younger sister of incoming Kentucky gymnast Addisyn Hofseth, Emree Hofseth stands out in her own right, largely as a result of her bars. She placed third on the event at nationals, with her highest score of the season and second-highest ever, demonstrating her ability to hit under pressure. Whether she ends up becoming a Wildcat like her sister or committing somewhere else, she will surely make an impact on this event if she continues to develop her potential.
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Article by Gemma Selby, with additional reporting from Jenna King, Brynn Robbins, and KT Couldrey.
