Before the NCAA: Lesser Known Elites

Many collegiate gymnasts are actually former (or even current) elite gymnasts. Former National Team members often compete in the NCAA after ending their elite career, such as Olympians Bridget Sloan and Samantha Peszek. Though many well-known elites are currently in the NCAA, there are even more lesser-known former and current elites competing at the collegiate level.

Here’s a list of some top NCAA gymnasts that fans may not have known at the elite level.

Randi Lau

School: Penn State (LSU for two years)
Year: Junior
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Club Gym: Kokokahi Gymnastics

Elite Experience: Lau competed as a junior elite from 2006-2008 and has competed at several gyms in her career including WOGA. At the Visa Championships she he placed fifth on beam and eighth in the all-around, securing her place on the U.S. Junior National Team.

Jaclyn McCartin

School: Washington

Year: Junior

Hometown: West Covina, Cal.

Club Gym: Gliders/West Coast Elite

Elite Experience: In 2010, McCartin competed as a senior at the Visa Championships and finished 12th all-around and seventh on beam. Jaclyn is best known for her beautiful lines! 

Liz McNabb

School: Illinois

Year: Senior

Hometown: Fishers, Ind.

Club Gym: DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics

Elite Experience: Growing up, McNabb became best friends with 2008 Olympian Samantha Peszek as they trained at the same gym. In 2005, McNabb joined Peszek in the junior elite ranks at the Classic and Visa Championships. McNabb finished 14th all-around at Classics and 14th at Championships.

Shelby Salmon

School: Arkansas

Year: Senior

Hometown: Noblesville, Ind.

Club Gym: Sharp’s

Elite Experience: This Indiana native has trained at both DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics and Sharp’s, connecting her to 2008 Olympians Samantha Peszek and Bridget Sloan. In 2006, Salmon qualified as a junior elite and placed 9th all around at the US Classic where she competed under DeVeau's. Shelby ended her elite career at the Visas Championships after deciding to drop back down to level 10. Fun fact: Her cousins, Stephanie and Tim Gentry were also elite gymnasts and both competed for Stanford.

Michelle Shealy

School: Iowa State

Year: Senior

Hometown: Snellville, Ga.

Club Gym: Gwinnett Gymnastics Center

Elite Experience: Shealy qualified to the elite ranks in 2006 as a junior and competed at the US Classic and Visa Championships. Her best result was placing 17th on beam!

Austin Sheppard

School: Michigan

Year: Sophomore

Hometown: Murphy, Texas

Club Gym: WOGA
Elite Experience: Unlike most of the girls mentioned in this post, Sheppard was an elite who trained in the United States, but represented Hungary in international competitions. In 2011, she competed at the European Championships and the World Championships where she placed 11th on vault- her signature event! Unfortunately an injury in 2012 kept her from making it to the Olympics.

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Emma Sibson

School: Penn State

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Allen, Texas

Club Gym: Zenith Elite

Elite Experience: Sibson is following the trend of Canadian elites competing in the NCAA. Her situation is similar to Michigan’s Talia Chiarelli as she trained in the U.S. but competed internationally for Canada. In 2010-2012, Sibson competed at Elite Canada and various other elite competitions. She also competed at the Covergirl Classic and Visa Championships in 2010 under the American elite program. After these competitions she ultimately decided to compete for Canada at the elite level and as a level 10 in the United States. 

Erica Smith

School: WVU

Year: Senior

Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.

Club Gym: Eagles Gymnastics

Elite Experience: In June of 2006, Smith qualified to the elite level as a junior. She competed at the US Classic and Visa Championships (where she placed 12th on floor) before changing gyms from GAGE to Eagles Gymnastics. 

Nicole Szabo

School: UIC (Illinois-Chicago)

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa

Club Gym: Johannesburg Gymnastics Center

Elite Experience: This Johannesburg native has competed for South Africa internationally since 2009. Some of the major competitions she has been to include the 2010, 2011, and 2013 World Championships and the 2011 and 2012 Doha Challenge Cup.

Rachel Updike

School: Mizzou

Year: Junior

Hometown: Olathe, Kan.

Club Gym: Kansas Gymnastics Dance and Cheer

Elite Experience: While training at GAGE, Updike qualified to junior elite in 2006. She competed at Championships and was named to the U.S. Junior National Team after finishing 12th in the all-around and 10th on beam. Like most GAGE gymnasts, Rachel beautiful to watch particularly on beam and floor. 

Kellie Wanamaker

School: ASU

Year: Freshman

Hometown: Washington, N.J.

Club Gym: Parkettes

Elite Experience: Wanamaker qualified to junior elite in 2009 and competed in both the Classic and Visa Championships in 2010. Like most of the girls in this post, she returned to level 10 soon after.

By: Amanda and Ashlee