Incoming Freshman- SEC

Alabama

Katie Bailey

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: High Point Gymnastics Academy

Past Accomplishments:

·         2005-2006 TOPs

·         2009-2013 JO National Qualifier

·         2011 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitor

·         1st AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st AA at 2011 JO Nationals

·         1st AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

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

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

·         2013 JO National Competitor

How she can help the team: Bailey has certainly had quite the JO career with multiple all-around titles throughout the years. Though she is a strong all-arounder, her two best events are floor and bars. During the 2013 JO season, Bailey’s floor routine included a clean double arabian, which she has kept for her freshman season at Alabama. On bars, Bailey is consistent and hits all her handstands. For her first year at Alabama, Bailey can be expected to compete on her two best events, which is what she has been filmed training at Alabama.

Amanda Jetter

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym: Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy (OH)
Past Accomplishments:

·         2008-2012 National Team Member

·         3rd FX, 5th AA at 2008 Visa Championships

·         2nd FX at 2009 Covergirl Classic

·         5th AA at 2009 Visa Championships

·         2nd AA at 2010 Covergirl Classic

·         5th UB at 2011 Visa Championships

·         1st team, 4th UB at 2011 City of Jesolo Trophy, Italy

·         2012 Secret US Classic Competitor

·         2012 Visa Championships Competitor

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

How she can help the team: This former CGA elite wasn’t necessarily a top all-around gymnast during her elite years, but she did shine on floor and bars. When Jetter returned to level 10 for the 2013 season, she showed that she was a perfect fit for collegiate gymnastics when she earned second place on all of the events and in the all-around at the 2013 Ohio State Championships. Though Jetter is available to compete on any event, the place she would fit best is in the uneven bars lineup because he has clean lines and hits her handstands, which are crucial in NCAA gymnastics. Video from Alabama has shown her on bars including a double front dismount.

Dominique Pegg

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym:  Bluewater Gymnastics Club (Sarnia, Canada)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st VT, 4th team at 2010 Pacific Rim Championships

·         2nd VT, BB, 5th UB, 1st FX, 3rd AA at 2010 Canadian Championships

·         2nd UB, FX, 5th BB at 2011 Canadian Championships

·         2011 Canadian World Championship Team Member

·         3rd FX at 2012 Cottbus World Cup

·         3rd UB, BB, 2nd AA at 2012 Canadian Championships

·         2012 Canadian Olympic Team Member

·         5th team, 17th AA at the 2012 Olympics

·         3rd FX at 2012 Cottbus World Cup

How she can help the team: Though the accomplishments listed above do not necessarily prove this, Pegg is great on vault and floor due to her strong tumbling and variety. On floor, she is capable of a double layout and has nice height on all her passes. Although she medaled on beam and bars in 2012 at the Canadian Championships, Pegg often has balance checks and misses connections on beam and has some form issues and misses handstands sometimes on bars. She is, however, capable of doing a standing arabian on beam and had good height on her double tuck beam dismount in 2012. Alabama has a pretty solid lineup for vault and floor, especially with former World Champion Kayla Williams, but Dominique could definitely make her way into the lineup if needed. Otherwise, Pegg can be helpful on bars if she works on hitting her handstands and not separating her legs during the routine- which she has been improving as seen at Alabama’s Ghosts and Goblins intrasquad.

Mary Lillian Sanders

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Prattville YMCA (AL)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd VT, 6th UB, BB, 3rd FX, AA at 2011 Alabama Optional Judges Cup (10A)

·         5th BB, FX at 2012 Atlanta Crown Invitational (Sr. A)

·         3rd VT, 4th UB, BB, 2nd FX, 4th AA at 2012 Alabama Optional State Championships

·         1st VT, BB, 6th F, 3rd AA at 2013 National Gymnastics Challenge

·         1st VT, 6th UB, 3rd BB, 2nd FX, 4th AA at 2013 Alabama Optional State Meet

·         Level 10 VT State Champion

·         Level 10 VT Regional Champion

·         9th VT at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: Sanders’s best event is obviously vault, but she is pretty good on all four events which she has competed at Alabama’s Halloween intrasquad. She already has a good landing set on her vault, a nice front 1 1/2 to layout step-out combo on floor, great height on her double layout bars dismount, and has a good flight series on beam so far. The only video that could be found of Sanders was of the intrasquad from October, so there wasn't much to use, but if anything, it looks like Alabama is ready to use her for any event, not just vault.

Click here to watch her vault and other highlights from the Ghosts and Goblins Intrasquad!

Arkansas

Emily Bates

Event(s) VT, UB, FX

Last Gym: Central California Gymnastics

Past Accomplishments

·         3rd UB at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2012 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         Top 10 at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         3rd UB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

How she can help the team: Though Bates is listed to possibly compete on vault, bars, and floor; her best bet is bars as it is definitely her number one event. It is the only event she has placed top three on in the past few years, and it is the only event she included in her recruiting videos on YouTube. She usually hits her handstands and is capable of competing a variety of combinations and dismounts including a double tuck, a full-in, and a double double. 

Samantha Nelson

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Ace Gymnastics (MA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st FX, 2nd AA at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st FX , 2nd AA at 2010 Level 10 Regionals

·         2010 JO National Qualifier

·         1st FX, 3rd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st FX, AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd FX at 2011 JO Nationals

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

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

·         2012 JO National Qualifier

·         3rd AA at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd UB, 3rd BB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         6th BB, 3rd FX, 5th AA at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: Nelson is a great tumbler and seems to favor forward tumbling. Her 2011 floor routine included two front tumbling passes, one of them being a tucked double front. In addition to floor, her 2012 vault was rather unique handspring front layout. On beam, Nelson is calm even when she has balance checks, which is always a valuable ability, and has good height on her leaps and jumps. Though Nelson is pretty good on beam, she definitely shines on vault and floor.

Paris Ryder

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: GMGC Huntington (NY)

Past Accomplishments:

·         3rd BB, FX at 2009 Level 10 Regionals

·         2009 JO National Invitational Tournament Competitor

·         2010 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         3rd FX, 4th AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

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

·         2011 JO National Qualifier

·         2012 Level 10 State Championship Competitor

How she can help the team: Ryder is a power gymnast as she excels on floor and vault with her strong and powerful tumbling. In addition to her tumbling on floor, she also has nice split leaps and hits 180° almost every time, if not every time. Ryder’s vault has a lot of power, but she often lands low and to the side due to the lack of height in her vault that results from her block. Her tumbling and leaps on floor are great, so Arkansas can definitely use her there, and she can also be used on vault with a few improvements.

Amanda Wellick

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym: Legacy Elite (IL)
Past Accomplishments:

·         2006 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         2006 US Challenge Competitor

·         1st UB, BB, FX, AA at 2007 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd BB at 2007 JO Nationals

·         2d UB, 3rd AA at 2008 Level 10 Regionals

·         2008 JO National Qualifier

·         3rd AA at 2009 Level 10 State Championships

·         6th AA at 2009 Level 10 Regionals

·         Top 10 UB at 2009 JO Nationals

·         1st UB, AA at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd AA at 2010 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th VT, FX, 4th UB, 6th AA at 2010 JO Nationals

·         2010 Region 5 All-Star

·         6th VT, 8th FX at 2011 JO Nationals

·         1st UB, FX, 2nd AA at 2012 Level  10 State Championships

·         2nd AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd FX, 3rd VT at 2012 JO Nationals (Sr. C)

·         2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitior

·         9th AA at 2013 JO Nationals (Sr. D).

How she can help the team: Wellick is very good with her landings on all four events. On vault, she has good form and landings. Just like other Legacy Elite alumni, such as Anna Li and the Caquatto sisters, she is fabulous on bars. Her lines are clean, her form is wonderful, and she hits her handstands. On beam, she is capable of doing a single ring turn, which is a turn that is pretty rare and is good with her connections. On floor, she has nice height on her double pike and controls her turns well. Wellick is a good fit for any event, but bars is definitely one of the best places for her to be.

Florida

Claire Boyce

Event(s): All-Around
Last Gym: Texas Dreams
Past Accomplishments:

·         1st FX, 7th AA at 2009 American Challenge

·         4th FX at 2009 Visa Championships

·         2009 & 2010 US National Qualifier

·         1st FX, 2nd AA at 2010 Arizona Elite Qualifier

·         1st UB at 2010 Texas Elite Qualifier

·         7th UB at 2010 Covergirl Classic

·         2010 Visa Championships Qualifier

·         2nd AA at 2011 WOGA Classic

·         1st BB, FX, AA at 2011 Disney Elite Qualifier

·         1st BB, 2nd AA at 2012 WOGA Classic

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

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

·         1st AA, team at 2012 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: This former elite of the Dream Team has great lines and artistry that shine on floor and bars. Boyce gets good height on her tumbling passes, has nice combinations in her passes, has excellent landings, controls her Y-turn well, and her toes are almost always (if not always) pointed, which is a nice little detail. Florida has a lot of talent, but Boyce is very too talented too and has looked solid in training, so if a spot needs to be filled, she could honestly fill it no matter what event.

Silvia Colussi-Pelaez

Event(s):  All-Around

Last Gym: Futures Gymnastics (Ontario)/International elite for Spain

Past accomplishments:

·         1st AA at 2011 Canada Winter Games

·         3rd AA, 5th BB in 2011 Great Britain/Spain/Portugal Friendly

·         2011 Spanish World Championship Team Member

·         4th UB, 3rd FX, 6th BB at 2012 Osijek Grand Prix

·         2012 Spanish European Championships Team Member

·         2012 Spanish Olympic Test Event Team Member

·         6th FX at 2013 Cottbus World Cup

·         1st UB at 2013 Gymnix International

·         3rd VT, BB, FX, AA at 2013 Spanish National Championships

·         2013 Spanish World Championship Team Member

·         Eponymous skill: sideways/transverse aerial on balance beam performed at the 2013 World Championships

How she can help the team: Colussi-Pelaez is a joy to watch, especially on beam where she is known for her difficult skills and combinations. She may have balance checks often, but it is still a pleasure to watch her on the apparatus because she brings grace and elegance while performing difficult skills. She also brings these same qualities to the floor. One of her passes includes a tucked full-in and a Memmel turn. Though she may not excel on bars or have the most difficult routine, she does have gorgeous lines and her toe-point is present throughout the duration of her bar routine. As previously said, Florida is full of talent, but Colussi-Pelaez’s recent elite and international experience can give her an edge over some of Florida’s former elites, such as the Caquattos and Bridget Sloan. If Rhonda Faehn wants to bring a transverse aerial to her beam lineup, she knows where she can find it.

Georgia 

Ashlyn Broussard

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: WOGA (Plano)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st BB, 2nd AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

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

·         3rd BB at 2012 JO Nationals

·         2nd VT, UB, 3rd FX, AA at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

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

·         2013 JO National Qualifier

How she can help the team: As a WOGA gymnast, Broussard has the artistry that the gym is known for- which is evident when she competes on floor. Her leaps are clean and sharp on beam and floor and she has good form during vault. The Bulldogs can look to her for a spot on any event really, but Georgia’s Head Coach Danna Durante appears to be planning to use this WOGA alum on vault, beam, and possibly floor. At Georgia’s Sneak Peek exhibition, Broussard scored a 9.9 on beam, but only a 9.35 on floor.

Kiera Brown

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: World Class Gymnastics (VA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st UB, 2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th VT, 3rd UB, AA at 2011 JO Nationals

·         2011 JO National Team Member

·         2011 Region 7 All-Star

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

·         1st VT at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st UB, 4th AA at 2012 JO National Invitational Tournament

·         2013 Nastia Liukin Cup Competitor

·         1st BB at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

How she can help the team: During her last JO season and her last State Championship meet, Brown tore her Achilles on her last event preventing her from competing for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, Brown is back in competition shape as she competed in Georgia’s preseason exhibition on beam and bars, two of her best events.

Watch her on bars here.

Lauren Johnson

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym:  Gwinnett Gymnastics Center (GA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd VT at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         2010 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         3rd AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         3rd AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012 JO National Qualifier

·         3rd UB, 4th VT at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

How she can help the team: Johnson’s best event is definitely vault. She can be a little bit sloppy in the legs, especially on bars, but is capable of bringing in a decent vault for Georgia. She did not compete in Georgia’s exhibition, but if Durante ever needs someone to vault, she can look to Johnson. There is no video of Johnson from 2012 or 2011, so it is difficult to comment on her other events.

Morgan Reynolds

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Georgia Elite Gymnastics

Past Accomplishments:

·         5th AA at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         2010 Level 10 Regional Qualifier

·         1st AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT, UB, AA, 3rd BB, 4th FX at 2012 Level 10 Prep State Championships

·         2nd AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st UB, BB, AA, 2nd FX, 4th VT at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         3rd FX at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012, 2013 JO National Competitor

How she can help the team: Coach Durante put Reynolds in the vault, bars, and floor lineup for Sneak Peek and she did well on all three events, scoring no lower than a 9.8. It would be no surprise to see her compete those events during the season. If she remains consistent, continues to score this well throughout the season, and a beam spot is open, she could even compete all-around.

Beth Roberts

Event(s): VT, BB, FX

Last Gym: Tift Gymnastics Academy (GA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st UB, 2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         7th AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2011 JO National Qualifier

·         3rd UB at 2012 National Gymnastics Challenge

·         1st UB at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         3rd UB at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th AA at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         4th FX, AA at 2013 JO National Invitational Tournament

How she can help the team: On vault, Roberts has nice form in the air and lands well. She also competes fairly well on bars. She appears to be a taller gymnast, so she has nice lines and is pretty good in terms of hitting her handstands.

Rachel Schick

Event(s): VT, UB, BB

Last Gym: Gliders (CA)

Past Accomplishments:

·         1st VT, 4th AA at 2010 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd VT at 2010 Level 10 Regionals

·         1st VT at 2011 WOGA Classic

·         1st BB, 2nd AA at 2011 Level 10 State Championships

·         4th AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th VT at 2011 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: Schick did not compete in 2012 or 2013 due to injuries, and she also did not compete in Georgia’s exhibition, so it is hard to comment on her gymnastics at the moment. Prior to 2012, Schick had lovely lines on uneven bars and was a pretty powerful tumbler. If her gymnastics are the same or better than they were in 2012, then she can be a possibility for the Bulldogs’ vault, bars, or floor lineup.

LSU

Sydney Ewing

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Acadiana Gymnastics (LA)

Past Accomplishments:

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

·         5th AA at 2011 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012 JO National Qualifier

·         1st VT, BB, FX, and AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd VT, BB at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2nd VT, 1st FX, 5th AA at 2012 JO National Invitational Tournament

·         2nd VT, AA, 4th BB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         5th VT at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: Ewing is a powerful gymnast, so her strengths are vault and floor. She is a fantastic tumbler and has great landings. Her vault form isn't perfect, but if fixed, she has the potential to score well.

Ashleigh Gnat

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: ACE Gymnastics (FL)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2012 Nastia Liukin Cup

·         1st VT, BB, AA at 2012 National Gymnastics Challenge

·         1st VT, BB, FX, AA at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         1st VT, BB, FX, 2nd AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         3rd VT, FX, 5th AA at 2012 JO Nationals

·         Perfect 10 on VT at 2013 Lady Luck Invitational

·         3rd VT, 8th AA at 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup

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

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

·         1st VT, FX, 3rd UB, 2nd AA at 2013 JO Nationals

How she can help the team: As many gym fans know, Gnat is an excellent all-around gymnast and is pretty great on every event. During LSU’s intrasquad meet, Gnat placed third in the all-around, so Gnat could be placed anywhere in the lineup on any event. Though Gnat excels in the all-around, she is wonderful on vault and floor because she is an excellent tumbler with lots of power and she knows how to perform well.

Shonacee Oliva

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Brandy Johnson's (FL)

Past Accomplishments:

·         2010 Nastia Liukin Cup

·         3rd UB, FX, 2nd AA at 2012 National Gymnastics Challenge

·         2nd VT, BB, AA, 3rd FX at 2012 Level 10 State Championships

·         2nd VT, BB, 4th FX, 5th AA at 2012 Level 10 Regionals

·         2012 JO National Qualifier

·         2nd VT, UB, BB, AA, 3rd FX at 2013 Level 10 State Championships

·         3rd VT, 2nd BB at 2013 Level 10 Regionals

·         3rd VT, BB, 1st UB, FX, AA at 2013 JO National Invitational Tournament

How she can help the team: Oliva is a solid all-around gymnast, but only when she hits bars. When she hits, she scores well. She is capable of doing equally well on every event, but her weakness does statistically appear to be bars. If she solidifies her bar routine, she could be placed on any event.

Shae Zamardi

Event(s): All-Around

Last Gym: Flicka Gymnastics Academy (British Columbia)
Past Accomplishments:

·         2nd VT at 2011 Canada Winter Games

·         6th UB at 2011 Canadian Championships

·         7th UB at 2012 Canadian Championships

·         6th VT, 7th UB at 2013 Canadian Championships

·         2nd UB at 2013 Elite Canada

How she can help the team: According to her LSU Tigers bio, this Canadian elite will be vying for a spot in the Tigers’ bar lineup due to the elite skills she possesses on the apparatus.



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