With the 2009-season signing class now in the books, what better time to take a look at the prospects for the 2010-season signing class? This is an exciting time in their careers for top-level gymnasts, and it is also the time when all the hours, days, weeks, months...heck, years, of recruiting the college coaches have put in comes to fruition.
Through the years, the real backbone of college gymnastics has been the Level-10, or 'JO' ('Junior Olympic') gymnast. That is as it should be, for the NCAA code of points draws heavily from the JO code.
Recently, however, a recruiting 'battle royale' has grown up around the Elite-level gymnasts and it is to them that we will direct our attention first. Don't be fooled, though, by our putting up the Elite Top 5 before the JO Top 5. We only did it that way, frankly, because it is easier to narrow the much smaller group of Elites down to a Top 5.
Elites don't necessarily have an advantage over JOs in college - and we will eventually come up with an overall, combined Top 10 list that, we believe, will show exactly that. Be that as it may, let's go on to the Elites:
Number 1 ~ Shayla Worley
Orlando, FL ~ Orlando Metro
Shayla Worley is on everybody’s wish list and it’s because she has superb skills on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise - and will easily augment a college team’s vault line-up with a very nice Yurchenko 1/1, or even a 1.5. Since her sister, Jolene, attends a smaller school in the state of Michigan on a gymnastics scholarship, Shayla may give some consideration either to following in her footsteps or by landing at a big-time college nearby (Michigan?). But in the end, if Shayla does not go pro before or immediately following the 2008 Olympics (she is pretty much a shoe-in to make the team), look for her to consider only the top schools for her signature. Odds-on favorites at this juncture – not taking the Michigan scenario into account - would be Florida, followed closely by Georgia and UCLA.
YouTube Playlist of Shayla Worley Videos
Number 2 ~ Bianca Flohr
Creston, OH ~ Cincinnati Gymnastics
Injuries have plagued this outstanding gymnast in the past year and a small growth spurt has required some adjustment as well, leading her recently to retire from the elite scene to focus on Level 10 competitions the next two years. Though only a junior in high school (home-schooled), Bianca has already started to take early visits to the top colleges on her list, including Alabama, Georgia and Michigan. She is expected to also check out Nebraska before making her final decision. Odds on favorites at this juncture: Michigan, due to a close friend from her former Flytz Gymnastics days (Becky Bernard). Flohr has world-class skills on the uneven bars and balance beam but these will likely be modified for Level 10 in order to pace her physical recovery over the next year. She also has dynamic dance and tumbling on the floor to offer and a solid Yurchenko 1/1 vault.
YouTube Playlist of Bianca Flohr Videos
Number 3 ~ Christa Tanella
Plano, TX ~ World Olympic Gymnastics Academy
Where has this gymnast been? She literally burst onto the scene this year at the US Classic, impressing everyone with, not only her elegant, graceful lines on the uneven bars and balance beam, but also with aggressive tumbling passes on floor. And, she has a very solid Yurchenko 1/1 vault that will score well in college. Her dance interpretation on floor rivals our fondest memories of Hollie Vise, and she is one of the few gymnasts with stylish choreography that actually matches her music and the timing of her tumbling. Some college coaches may be thrown off by her height and what appears to be the potential to grow taller over the next few years, but this will likely not dissuade too many of the top teams from pursuing her in earnest. At which college would she seem to be a good fit? We could see her at UCLA with former teammate, Allison Taylor. UCLA head coach, Valorie Field, probably would love the chance to coach her on the floor. Oklahoma, where former teammate Hollie Vise competes, may draw her attention, as could Florida since former WOGA gymnast, Kailey Tissue, is heading there next year. And, Georgia or Alabama are definite possibilities, as well, since both teams currently have WOGA gymnasts on their rosters. Stanford or Utah could certainly figure in heavily before the ink gets dry on her LOI. The best way to put it, the field is wide open. .
YouTube Playlist of Christa Tanella Videos
Number 4 ~ Randy Stageberg
Norfolk, VA ~ Excalibur Gymnastics
'Shooting star' may be the best description of Randy Stageberg. She hit some wonderful highs at the VISA USA Nationals in 2006, yet has had a somewhat up and down competition season in 2007, failing to make the national team in her second year as a senior international elite. She boasts terrific skills on all four events, but sometimes struggles with controlling her amazing power. Double layout, double front Arabian, 2 ½ punch layout, double pike passes on the floor show amazing amplitude, yet her consistency in completing these skills noticeably declined at the U.S. Classic and at Nationals in 2007. Perhaps the powerful skills that she struggles with harnessing in the elite tumbling world will find a more successful home in the less intense arena of NCAA collegiate gymnastics. Randy will be fought over by every team that can catch her eye. However, when it comes down to it, look for her to stay fairly close to the eastern or southeastern part of the country for her collegiate experience.
YouTube Playlist of Randy Stageberg Videos
Number 5 ~ Darlene Hill
Mt. Laurel, N J ~ Will-Moor Gymnastics
The only reason Darlene Hill is not #2 on our list is the fact that she is already age-eligible for college this next season, yet she has not participated in the recruiting process. For whatever reason, there is no indication right now that Darlene plans to pursue a college scholarship in the near future. Naturally, we here at GymGemz.com feel that college gymnastics is 'the place to be' for all high-level, college-age gymnasts. But the truth is, not everyone is interested in combining their gymnastics and academic careers. Be that as it may, for now it appears that Darlene is concentrating on her elite training schedule in hopes of making the Olympic training squad and has plans to participate in the Glasgow Invitational, her first international assignment as part of the US National Team for 2007-08.
Darlene has one of the most difficult floor routines (piked double front Arabian, followed by another double front Arabian in tuck position, 2 ½ punch layout and a back double pike to close) and a stand-out uneven bars routine that puts her in contention for Beijing if she stays healthy and improves her consistency. If at some point in the future Darlene should decide to pursue a college gymnastics career (rather than turn pro) we will certainly try and keep our readers updated with any news about which team she might be favoring.
YouTube playlist of Darlene Hill videos
Video interview with Darlene Hill
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