2014 Big 10 Incoming Freshmen Preview

Until the start of the NCAA season in January, our freshmen previews will provide some background info on the incoming freshmen for some of the top gymnastics schools in the nation.

In this preview, we take a look at some of the top schools in the Big 10 (Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota and Nebraska) and their freshman class. 

Michigan

Nicole Artz

Photo Credit: M.J. Martinie Photography 

Event(s): All Around
Last Gym: Champion Gymnastics USA (MI)
Past Accomplishments:

• 2012 JO Nationals- Floor exercise champion, 7th AA, 
•  2011 JO Nationals- 26th AA
•  2010 JO Nationals- 14th AA
•  2009 JO Nationals- 34th AA
•  2008 JO Nationals Competitor 
•  2006 Level 8 Regional Champion

How she can help the team: Nicole graduated high school a year early so that she could join the Wolverines this season! Her best event is floor exercise, where she has sky high tumbling and great execution! Nicole is also excellent on vault and beam and is looking to hopefully snatch a spot in the lineup on those events.





Talia Chiarelli

Photo Credit: Nicole Artz

Event(s): All Around
Last Gym: Brestyans Gymnastics (MA)
Past Accomplishments:

• 2013 Elite Canada- 1st BB, 5th VT
• 2013 Gymnix- 1st FX
• 2012 Artistic Gymnastics Meeting- 1st FX
• 2012 Olympic Test Event- 2nd Team (qualified a full team for Canada at the 2012 Olympics)
• 2011 Pan Am Games- 2nd Team, 5th BB
• 2011 Japan Cup- 3rd Team
• 2011 Canadian Championships- 6th AA, 3rd FX
• 2010 Visa Championships- 10th VT
• 2009 Visa Championships- 8th VT, 8th FX

How she can help the team: With experience at the elite level and on the international stage,  performing under pressure shouldn't be a problem for Chiarelli- who is a big recruit for Michigan. Talia hails from Brestyan's gymnastics where they are known for their powerful floor workers and vaulters...a place where we can expect to see Talia in the lineups for Michigan. Talia is also solid on beam and could see herself in that lineup too. Of course she lacks on bars where she most likely won't be competing, at least not this season. However Talia is one of the most anticipated recruits of all NCAA teams!




Illinois

Erin Buchanan

Photo Credit: Illinois Gymnastics

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym:  Capital Gymnastics National Training Center (VA)
Past Accomplishments:

·         2010 Level 10 Virginia Floor State Champion

·         2012 Level 10 Virginia All-Around State Champion

·         5th FX at 2012 JO Nationals

·         6th AA at 2013 JO Nationals

·         2008-2013 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         2009-2013 Level 10 JO National Qualifier

·         2010-2013 Level 10 Region 7 All-Star

How she can help the team: Buchanan's strongest events are vault and floor.  She is a good tumbler and is capable of performing a solid double arabian, which is a skill not often seen in NCAA, so if Erin incorporates that into her routine this season, it will be a rather exciting routine to watch. Buchanan is also a consistent vaulter and usually only has a small hop/step on her FTY. With the loss of star Alina Weinstein, whose strongest events were vault and floor, Buchanan has a good chance of sneaking her way into the Illini lineup.

Mary Jane Horth

Photo Credit: Illinois Gymnastics

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym: Gym World (OH)
Past Accomplishments:

·         2010 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitor

·         2010 Level 10 State Champion

·         2010 Level 10 JO NIT Champion

·         1st UB, BB, AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st BB, FX at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd FX at 2011 Level 10 JO Nationals

·         2011 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitor

·         2011 Level 10 JO National Qualifier

·         1st VT, FX 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st FX at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st UB at 2012 JO Nationals

·         10th VT, 1st UB at 2012 JO Nationals (Sr. B)

·         1st VT, UB, AA, 2nd FX at 2013 Ohio State Championships (Sr. B)

·         2nd VT, 4th UB, 1st BB, 1st AA at 2013 Region 5 Championships (Sr. D)

·         2013 JO National Qualifier

How she can help the team: Horth is a very strong AA competitor as she is strong on all four events. She has not competed in a while due to an injury that ended her final JO season early, so only time will tell how Horth will do this season. Horth's 2013 floor routine includes fun and unique choreography that definitely goes with NCAA gymnastics. Her vaulting is superb as she has excellent form and is often close to stuck landings; her 2013 vaults already looked NCAA ready. As a tall gymnast, Horth has nice, clean lines on bars and has a full twisting double back dismount. Depending her recovery timeline, Horth could possibly be added to any spot in the lineup.

Suren "Jenny" Kanchanavaleerat

Photo Credit: Suren Kanchanavaleerat

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym: Naydenov (WA)
Past Accomplishments:

·         1st VT at 2011 Seattle Open

·         3rd VT, 2nd FX at 2012 Seattle Open

·         2nd VT at 2012 Gliders Invitational

·         2nd VT at 2013 Rock N Roll Classic

·         2013 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         4th VT at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

How she can help the team: Kanchanavaleerat is the latest addition to the Illini gymnastics team and is very powerful as shown in her vaulting and tumbling. She also has a nice, fluid swing on bars. There is not much video of her from 2013, but from what could be found, Kanchanavaleerat's power could cause her to be added to the vault and/or floor lineup.

Emily Lennon

Photo Credit: EmilyLennon.com

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym:  Gymtastics (Calgary)
Past Accomplishments:

·         Six-year elite gymnast for Canada

·         Team Alberta Member at 2010 Nadia Comaneci Invitational

·         1st AA at Gymnix 2011

·         1st AA at 2011 Provinicials

·         1st AA at 2011 Western Canadian Championships

·         2011 Team Alberta Member at the Canada Winter Games

·         2nd VT, FX at 2012 French International Tournament

·         5th VT, 2nd BB, 6th AA at Elite Canada 2013

·         Senior High Performance at Elite Canada 2013

·         Top-7 on VT, BB, FX at Gymnix 2013

How she can help the team: I believe Lennon is the first elite to join the Illinois women's gym program (in the last several years from which I could look up the roster) which means she is capable of executing big skills that haven't necessarily been done by any female Illini before her. One of Lennon's strongest events is beam as she has often made beam finals in several elite competitions. One of her beam combos from 2013 is a side aerial to back layout step-out, which is rather unique, so it would be fun to see in NCAA. Her performance factor on beam is excellent including her sassy choreography. She is also very cool, calm, and collected on beam which is always important. Another one of her strengths is vault; Lennon's vaults are both front entry including a handspring double pike half out. There is also a lack of video of Lennon from 2013, but she can use some of her distinctive elite qualities and experiences to make her way into the beam and vault lineup.

Sarah Lyons

Photo Credit: Illinois Gymnastics

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Aerial Athletics (TX)

Past Accomplishments:

·         4th AA at 2010 Metroplex Challenge

·         2010 Level 10 State Championship Qualifier

·         4th AA at 2010 Level 10 Regionals

·         2010 JO National Qualifier

·         3rd UB at 2011 Metroplex Challenge

·         2nd BB at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd BB at 2011 Level 10 State Championship

·         2nd AA at 2012 Houston National Invitational

·         Top 10 at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd UB, 4th AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         3rd UB at 2012 JO Nationals

·         1st VT, 3rd AA at 2013 Metroplex Challenge

·         1st VT, UB, AA at 2013 WOGA Classic

·         1st UB at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         2013 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

How she can help the team: Like Horth, Lyons is also a very strong AA competitor. She may not have done as well during the 2013 season compared to others, but she is still an excellent all-around gymnast. Of the four events, uneven bars is one of her stronger events. She has clean lines and nice form and often sticks her double layout dismount that is common in NCAA.

Minnesota

Bailey Abernathy (No Photo Available) 

Last Gym: Colorado Gymnastics Academy

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd UB, FX, AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         Top 10 AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2011 JO National Invitational Tournament Qualifier

·         3rd AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         Top 10 AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         3rd FX at 2012 JO National Invitational Tournament Qualifier

·         1st VT, 2nd AA at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         Top 15 AA at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

How she can help the team: After watching Abernathy's 2012 routines (video from 2013 was not found), it is evident that she favors  forward tumbling over backward. Her best events are vault and floor because of this. In 2012, Abernathy had a handspring entry vault and majority of her tumbling passes incorporate forward tumbling, which are great. With Abernathy's preference and talent for forward tumbling, she can provide a refreshing change to the Gophers' vault and/or floor lineups since forward tumbling is less common than backwards.

Athena Geisness

Photo Credit: Athena Geisness

Last Gym: Midwest Gymnastics Center (MN)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2010 Level 10 State Championship Qualifier

·         2011 Level 10 State Championship Qualifier

·         2011 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         2013 Level 10 State Championship Qualifier

·         2nd UB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

How she can help the team: Geisness's best event is definitely uneven bars, the event she has consistently competed. She hits her handstands and has unique and difficult combinations such as a piked jaeger to an immediate transition to the low bar. Her latest dismount is a half-in-half-out. Since bars is her best event and is the event she has competed most often and most recently, Geisness can possibly earn a spot in the bars lineup.

Rachel Haines

Last Gym: Geddert's Twistars (MI)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st UB, FX, 2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         Top 10 on VT, UB, 2nd FX, 4th AA at 2011 JO Nationals

·         4th AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st UB, 2nd AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th BB, 8th FX, 9th AA at 2012 JO Nationals

·         1st VT, UB, BB, AA at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT, UB, AA at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         4th FX, AA at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team:  Haines is an excellent all-around gymnast as she's placed well in many competitions and has won every event (except floor) and the all-around at least once at a major competition (state/regional/national) during her final JO season. Although Haines did not win floor at any major competitions in 2013, floor is an event that Haines does excel at as she placed 4th on the event at Nationals. Haines has brilliant tumbling and is a wonderful performer, which would make her a great fit for a spot in Minnesota's floor lineup. However, Haines could very well be placed on any event necessary.

Check out Rachel in action (here) 

Bailie Holst

Photo Credit: Bailie Holst

Last Gym: Premier Gymnastics of the Rockies (CO)

Past Accomplishments:

·         Two-time JO National Qualifier

·         2nd VT, AA, 1st BB, FX at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st BB, 2nd FX, AA at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         2013 JO National Qualifier

How she can help the team: As the reigning Region 3 Level 10 beam champion, it's obvious that Holst's best event is beam. She composed on the beam and is pretty good with her connections. Her second best events would be vault and floor. She has a lot of power when vaulting and is clean in the air. Her tumbling is also good, and she hits her passes. Holst's composure on beam makes her a good candidate for a spot in the beam lineup, and if needed, she can also be placed into the vault or floor lineup.

Kaitlin Rahon

Photo Credit: Kaitlin Rahon

Last Gym: Kips Gymnastics (CA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         Two-time JO National Qualifier

·         3rd BB, 5th FX, 4th AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012 Region 1 All-Star

How she can help the team: Video of Rahon was hard to find, but from what could be found, it's safe to say that Rahon shines on floor. She is an excellent tumbler and knows how to sell a routine which is perfect for an NCAA gymnast.

Check out Kaitlin in action (here)

Nebraska

Jennie Laeng

Photo Credit: Jennie Laeng

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Olympic Dreams (OH)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd UB at 2009 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd UB at 2009 JO National Invitational Tournament

·         6th AA at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         2010 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         2010 JO National Invitational Tournament Competitor

·         2011 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitor

·         2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st VT, BB, AA at 2011 JO National Invitational Tournament

·         1st UB, 3rd AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2012 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         5th UB, 7th BB at 2012 JO Nationals

·         2nd BB at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

How she can help the team:  Laeng did not have a long postseason in 2013, but it was still successful as the rest of her level 10 career was. Her strengths are definitely beam and bars. She is fabulous on beam as she is confident and is great with connections; Laeng even has a Gainer dismount (that she is capable of sticking) which makes her NCAA ready. On bars, she has an excellent toe point and clean lines and almost always hits her handstands. Video of Laeng from 2013 was not found, but if her skills and technique are at least the same as they were in 2010 and 2011, then she can definitely be a great beam/bar worker for the Huskers.

Ashley Lambert

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: World Class Gymnastics (VA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd AA at 2008 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT, FX at 2008 Level 10 Regionals

·         2008 JO National Qualifier

·         1st AA at 2009 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st AA at 2009 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th FX at 2009 JO Nationals

·         2009 Covergirl Classic Competitor

·         2009 Visa Championships Competitor

·         1st BB, FX, AA at 2011 State Championships

·         1st VT, FX, 3rd AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2011 JO National Qualifier

·         2nd VT, FX at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd FX, 5th AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012 JO National Qualifier

·         1st VT, UB, AA, 3rd FX at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st UB, FX, 2nd AA, VT, 3rd BB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st BB, 4th FX at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: After suffering a severe neck injury and taking an entire year off from gymnastics, this former elite has come back strong and is ready to compete in the NCAA. Lambert is a powerful gymnast, so it makes sense that one of her strongest events is floor. Her tumbling is superb which includes a sky-high double layout, and her leaps get tremendous height as well. She has great energy when performing on floor, so she's definitely one to watch out for in the Huskers' floor lineup.

Read our interview with Ashley while she was on the comeback trail after breaking her neck! (here)

Information regarding results, events, and gyms were found at the respective websites of the gymnasts and schools.

By: Amanda