During the offseason, it can be difficult to keep up with all the news and training updates happening across the teams. So each week, we will provide a curation of the most exciting upgrades, as well as other important news happening in the college gym world. Note the majority of the training updates highlighted will feature new skills and not someone training their same routine from the past season, for example.
Finally, note we are only able to share links to updates posted on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and not Instagram Stories or Snapchat. However, we will try to note any clips of note that we see on those disappearing platforms.
Springfield Alumna to Compete on American Ninja Warrior
Former Springfield gymnast and national champion Abby Clark competed in the Minneapolis qualifier of American Ninja Warrior on Monday, July 9, 2018. She has competed on the show before, previously running the course in Cleveland, Ohio in 2017.
Macy Toronjo on the Comeback Trail
Macy Toronjo, a UCLA junior who did not compete in 2018, primarily due to back pain, was seen training a beautiful, floaty tucked full-in on teammate Katelyn Ohashi’s Instagram Story. Here’s to hoping the Texas-native can get healthy, back into form and crack the top six in 2019.
Chloe DeVries Making a Comeback
Rutgers junior Chloe DeVries, who missed 2018 with an ACL injury, posted some training updates on floor and vault this week. DeVries was primarily a vault and floor specialist in 2017, though she did see time on all four.
Bailey Ferrer Preparing for January
Incoming LSU freshman Bailey Ferrer—who will arrive in January—is working on her college salute, showing it off after sticking a double layout on bars.
Shannon St. Jean Getting Ready for East Lansing
Shannon St. Jean, junior transfer to MSU, is working a Tkatchev. She is also training a loaded beam series: switch leap + split jump + layout stepout + beat jump (posted to her Instagram Story). St. Jean trained the combination in J.O., though we haven’t found video of her competing it. She could provide a boost to a Spartan bar lineup that never quite found its footing in 2018.
Brooke Bray is Competition Ready
Brooke Bray, a fifth-year for George Washington, trained a new beam combination: split leap + sheep jump + beat jump. Bray posted a season high 9.775 on the balance beam for the Colonials last year.
Katie Waldman Continues to Dominate
Rising sophomore Katie Waldman made a splash for William & Mary last season with record all around scores and a spot at regionals. And it looks like she will continue to thrive in 2019. Waldman is training a double arabian on floor and a front tuck + beat jump on beam.
Kentucky Gymnasts Gearing Up for Preseason
Many of the Wildcats are spending their summer working upgrades in preparation for the 2019 season. We spotted Sidney Dukes upgrading her normal Yurchenko half to a full, Hailey Poland working a gainer tuck full dismount on beam and Alaina Kwan training a Ray on bars.
Instagram Story and Snapchat Roundup
Sydney Ewing Brings Front Double Full to College
MSU freshman Sydney Ewing is in East Lansing and posted a front double full to her Instagram Story. She competed the pass in J.O., and we’re excited to see that she’s bringing the E pass to college.
Erin McLachlan Trains Floor
Rutgers junior Erin McLachlan, who was a beam specialist in 2018 but saw time on vault and bars in 2017, posted a strong double pike to her Instagram Story. Perhaps she is working to make her collegiate floor debut!
Alexis Beucler Trains Double Arabian
N.C. State junior Alexis Beucler posted a double arabian to the pit on her Instagram Story. It’s still in its early stages, but adding an E pass would be an exciting upgrade for the Wolfpack.
Catelyn Orel Trains Double Layout
Nebraska junior Catelyn Orel posted a double layout to her instagram story. She performed it on the Tumbl Trak, saying it is a “work in progress.”
Lindsey Bates Making a Comeback
SEMO sophomore Lindsey Bates, who is coming back from injury, posted a Jaeger to her Instagram Story, commenting that it is the first she has done since surgery. Bates was a staple on bars before her midseason injury.
Casey Betts Working Bars
Minnesota sophomore Casey Betts, who missed nearly all of 2018 after getting injured during the season opener, is back on bars. She posted a tidy bail handstand to her Instagram Story. The Gophers lost two important routines on bars, so having Betts as an option there gives them extra security on the event.
Ona Loper Back on Bars
Minnesota sophomore Ona Loper, who missed the second half of 2018 with an Achilles injury, is training bars again. Her comeback will be an important piece of the Gopher’s lineups this winter.
Sydney Converse on the Comeback Trail
Iowa State’s Sydney Converse is making progress n her injury comeback. She posted a back handspring on Tumbl Trak to her Instagram Story, commenting that it was her first time tumbling in 8 months. The senior was out all of 2018 after suffering an Achilles tear in preseason training.
Lea Mitchell Trains Full-In
MSU sophomore and standout all arounder Lea Mitchell posted a full-in to her Instagram Story. She anchored the Spartan floor lineup in 2018 with a solid double pike routine; the upgrade would help her compete with the top all arounders in the Big Ten and be a highlight of MSU’s floor rotation.
Alex Hyland Works Front Acro Series
Kentucky senior star Alex Hyland was spotted training a front aerial to front toss series on her Instagram Story earlier this week. Beam is definitely her strong suit, and she loves to play around with new skills and connections.
Article by the editors of College Gym News
