The world of college gymnastics never truly stops, even in the offseason. One week can bring a whirlwind of news, from seismic shifts in coaching lineups to athletes unveiling jaw-dropping new skills in training. It’s easy to miss a beat, but don’t worry—we have you covered. This is your weekly dose of everything you need to know from the gymternet, delivering the biggest headlines, crucial updates, and stories you might have missed. Let’s dive into the week’s action!
Top Storylines
Texas State to Add Gymnastics for 2028 Season
Texas State University will make history as the first Division I team to sponsor gymnastics in Texas. The university also announced that Olympic gold medalists Jordyn Wieber and Carly Patterson will play major roles in developing the new program. Texas State will join Boise State, Oregon State, Southern Utah, and Utah State in the Pac-12 when it begins competing.
Spartans Reshape Coaching Staff
After Nicole Jones and Devin Wright departed Michigan State for Nebraska, the Spartans were slow to replace them amidst the coaching carousel. That changed this week with two new additions in East Lansing. Illinois assistant coach Rachel Inniss is joining the Spartans in the same role; Inniss has also served as an assistant coach at Temple and Penn State. Joining Inniss will be Alex Wright, a Dallas-area club coach who most recently coached at WOGA.
Transfer & Eligibility Updates
Incoming Transfers
- Minnesota junior Emma Slevin transferred to Arkansas for her second and final season of eligibility.
- Illinois State junior Ally Lau transferred to Pittsburgh for her final season of eligibility.
- Nebraska freshman Ahnna Kalmes transferred to Temple for the remainder of her eligibility.
- Fisk freshman Hadassah Diggs transferred to Southern Connecticut.
- Wilberforce freshman Mya Caines transferred to Greenville.
Fifth-Year Returns
- Kent State senior Heidi Schultz will compete for her fifth year of eligibility in 2027.
- Southern Utah senior Kayla Pardue will compete for her fifth year of eligibility in 2027.
Coaching & Staff News
- Stephanie Stoicovy Worrell is stepping down as head coach of George Washington after one season in the role. Stoicovy Worrell competed for George Washington as a gymnast and served on the coaching staff in various roles since 2015.
- Former Georgia assistant coach Oleksii Koltakov is joining Missouri’s staff in the same role.
- Arkansas assistant coaches Kyla Ross and Catelyn Branson were promoted to co-associate head coaches on new head coach Chris Brooks’s staff.
- UC Davis assistant coach Rebekah Thompson was promoted to associate head coach. 2027 will be her fourth season on the Aggies’ coaching staff.
- Illinois State assistant coach Kendra Combs was removed from the Redbirds’ roster after three seasons on the staff.
- Greenville associate head coach Maddie LaCoe was promoted to head coach of the program after one year on the coaching staff.
- Whitewater assistant coach Chloe Edgren was promoted to interim head coach. 2027 will be her seventh season on the Warhawks’ coaching staff.
Rehab Progress
- BYU freshman Taeva Greenberg posted a series of gymnastics pictures with the caption “leaving with a full heart, to everything that got me here.” Greenberg had entered the transfer portal in the offseason.
Recruiting Buzz
College gymnastics recruiting news moves fast! For in-depth coverage of commitments, signings, and all the latest recruiting developments, be sure to check out our weekly Recruiting Roundup.
Other Newsworthy Items
- Iowa rising junior Aurélie Tran earned the silver medal on bars at the Canadian Championships.
- California rising sophomore Tonya Paulsson modeled for Chanel in GQ Taiwan.
- LSU rising junior Kailin Chio was featured by the NHL for her attendance at Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
READ THIS NEXT: CGN Roundtable: All About Texas State
News curated by Katherine Weaver with assistance from the editors of College Gym News
