With no NCAA track record, incoming freshmen always add an element of mystery when predicting future stars. Some will emerge as unexpected standouts. However, some athletes show fantastic potential on their events that make them highly anticipated by their team’s fanbase and are listed below.
We included ten level 10s and five elite gymnasts on each event by considering past scores and performances, as well as their potential to shine at the NCAA level. In an effort to balance the names across all NCAA programs, we limited each list to two gymnasts per school. Today, we’re looking at bars.
Level 10s
Daisy Bowles, Iowa
The only two people to score a 10.0 on bars this season are both Iowa commits, adding great excitement for the program. Bowles was originally committed to Washington, where her sister, Morgan Bowles, competed, but after Jen Llewellyn left her head coaching position at Washington to take up the mantle at Iowa, Bowles followed suit. Bowles competes a gorgeous Ray, which will add another single-bar release to the Iowa lineup.
Ava Cash, Penn State
In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Cash did not place outside the top four on bars at any meet. This included two state and regional championships and two fourth-place finishes at nationals. The Nittany Lions lost their top two bar workers in Cassi Barbanente and Gabbie Gallentine, but this exceptional record highlights the tremendous potential impact Cash could have on this lineup with her fluid routine, which includes a difficult piked Jaeger.
Allison Cucci, Arkansas
State champion and bronze medallist on the event at both regional and national championships, Cucci is consistently strong on this event, scoring within 0.025 points in her last three meets. Her routine includes patient handstands and a van Leeuwen, which is a transition skill valued at E, the highest difficulty a collegiate skill can be. With the loss of Arkansas’ best bar workers last season in Maddie Jones and Mati Waligora, Cucci could play a large role in maintaining the high standard of that lineup.
Mackenzie Estep, Oklahoma
With the highest bars score of nationals and the third-highest bar score of the season, Estep is a strong contender for what was the strongest bar lineup in the country last season. With the loss of half that lineup, her addition will be warmly welcomed, though the competition for those spots is likely to still be exceptionally strong. She dismounts with a rare, well-executed full-twisting double tuck straight out of a full turn, which could add some difficulty to the Oklahoma lineup.
Ava Jackson, Ohio State
The Buckeye bar lineup is already looking improved with the transfer of Sadie Jane Berry from Georgia and the hopeful return of Payton Harris from injury, but freshman Jackson could have a substantial impact as well. Another who managed to score 9.950 this season, a mark only reached by five in the country on this event, Jackson likely hopes to be an immediate lineup regular. Also a national bronze medallist this season, Jackson dismounts with a difficult double layout with excellent form.
Ella Murphy, Oklahoma
Murphy switched from elite to level 10 for the 2024 season and had immediate success. While she did not compete for the latter half of the 2025 season, in 2024, she placed in the top 3 on bars in six of her seven meets. Murphy is known for her gorgeous toepoint and extension and has an extremely unique routine that includes straight-body handstands and sometimes an inbar transition skill. Her gorgeous execution is well-suited for the Oklahoma lineup.
Haley Mustari, LSU
Struggles with injury did not stop Mustari from having a successful 2025 season on bars, becoming both regional and national champion. Even more impressively, she won both those titles in 2024 and 2023 as well. Mustari has scored a 10.0 on bars an unbelievable eight times, and the last three occurrences even occurred in back-to-back meets. Competing with gorgeous extension and execution, Mustari has the potential to anchor the Tiger lineup even in her freshman season.
Autumn Reingold, Georgia
2024 national champion and 2025 state and regional champion, Reingold committed to Georgia as an unrated recruit, but has made tremendous improvements since her move to train at WCC. Her routine is packed with difficulty, including unique circling skills and a piked Jaeger. Paired with her excellent execution, this routine is sure to stand out at Georgia and is likely to find itself late in the lineup.
Lacie Saltzmann, Minnesota
Another elite turned level 10, Saltzmann’s shift allowed her to highlight her exceptional execution on bars. Opting to graduate a year early, Saltzmann is likely hoping to immediately contribute to lineups, and she has an excellent chance of doing so on bars. State champion, Nastia Liukin Cup bars runner-up, and national bronze medallist, Saltzmann has done exceptionally well in her singular level 10 season. Her routine includes a single-bar release and a well-controlled dismount that Golden Gophers fans can eagerly anticipate.
Sophie Schriever, Iowa
Bookending this list with Washington to Iowa commits that are the only ones in the nation to have scored a 10.0 this season, Bowles and Schriever are sure to be quite the duo in the lineup. Schriever won the bars title in her last six meets, which included the Nastia Liukin Cup, and state, regional, and national championships. With a floaty van Leeuwen, a unique front pike half dismount, and spectacular execution, Schriever will stand out in the Iowa lineup for all the best reasons.
Elites
Charlotte Booth, Auburn
British Olympic alternate Charlotte Booth suffered an unfortunate injury to her Achilles, but Tiger fans are hoping she will be recovered enough to compete some events when season starts, largely due to her prowess on bars. Her unique routine includes a Ray with a half turn directly connected into an Ezhova. Paired with her clean execution, this routine will certainly amaze the crowd in Neville Arena if she opts to keep these skills.
Myli Lew, Michigan
Lew had the second-highest execution score on bars at the US Classic, and there was no question as to why. Her jam-packed routine leaves questions as to what skills she will decide to compete for the Wolverines, but her consistently excellent toe point, leg form, and general fluidity put her in a great position to excel in their lineup. Unfortunately, she was unable to compete at national championships due to injury, but that has not hindered fans’ excitement for her Michigan debut.
Nola Matthews, UCLA
2023 Pan American bar champion and 2025 Varna Challenge Cup bar champion, Matthews has an extensive elite resume that should serve her well in her collegiate career as a Bruin. Matthews has good execution, especially on skills she is more likely to keep in college, such as her Pak Salto, and dismounts with a well-controlled double layout. Bars was UCLA’s lowest-ranked event last year, but Matthews could help change that this season.
Tegan Shaver, Nebraska
Shaver may not achieve the same high elite scores as some of the people on this list, but her routine is in good shape for college and could serve Nebraska well in the upcoming season. Fellow Canadian Emma Spence was Nebraska’s top bar worker last season, but Shaver’s strong swing and well-executed skills, such as her gorgeous Jaeger could help fill that void.
Paloma Spiridonova, Oregon State
After representing Bulgaria at the 2023 European Championships, Spiridonova was not seen in competition for a while. However, she competed level 10 at the WOGA Classic this season and came first on bars in her session and division, hopefully indicating that she has not lost the beautiful form she was known for. In 2023, she competed difficult skills such as a stalder pirouette, which builds excitement for her freshman season despite recent uncertainty.
Honorable Mentions
- Nina Ballou, LSU – Watch her routine
- Ana Bărbosu, Stanford – Watch her routine
- Kylee Bromley, Arizona State – Watch her routine
- Jordis Eichman, UCLA – Watch her routine
- Sevana Kasparian, Denver – Watch her routine
- Avery King, Arkansas – Watch her routine
- Brooke Pierson, Georgia – Watch her routine
- Abbi Ryssman, Utah – Watch her routine
- Scarlett Sonnenberg, BYU – Watch her routine
- Brynn Torry, Auburn – Watch her routine
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Article by Gemma Selby, with additional reporting from Brynn Robbins
