Junior Olympic National Championships 2015

These NCAA Teams Had The Best Meet At JO Nationals

These NCAA Teams Had The Best Meet At JO Nationals

May 19, 2015 by Becca Reed
These NCAA Teams Had The Best Meet At JO Nationals
The best level 10s from around the country competed at the Junior Olympic National Championships this past weekend in Des Moines, Iowa. Many of these top gymnasts have already committed to college and we took a look at where these college bound gymnasts finished this weekend to determine which college had the best competition. 
 
Many of the top NCAA teams like Florida and UCLA have committed elite gymnasts, who obviously didn’t compete this weekend. However, many other top teams like Alabama and Michigan had numerous future team members compete. (These total numbers may not be completely accurate due to the nature of undocumented verbal commitments).
 
Analyzing the number of gymnasts each college had competing, as well as the placement of those gymnasts, we determined which college teams had the best showing at JOs. Below are the top three schools. 

1. Michigan

 
Not only did Michigan have the most gymnasts competing, they had the best showing overall. Michigan had at least nine commits qualify to JO Nationals and each of these gymnasts had an exceptional competition. Scores in the 38s: Abby Brenner and Emma McLean both scored 38.35, Olivia Karas posted a 38.275, Lauren Farley earned a 38.125, and Natalie Wojcik posted a 38.075. Scores in the 37s: Madison Osman posted a 37.975, Maggie O’Hara and Abby Heiskell both earned 37.9, and Lexi Funk with a 37.8. 
 
24 for 24? How about 36 for 36! There was not one fall in all 36 routines and the lowest all-around score was still a big 37.8. Eight of the gymnasts finished in the top 10 all-around in their age divisions, and the ninth gymnast was close behind in 11th place. That means the lowest placement from all of their girls was still 11th all-around in the nation. 
 
The group also earned three event titles - Wojcik on floor (9.75), Farley on bars (9.625), and Karas on vault (9.875). Other stellar scores posted include Brenner and McLean who both earned 9.675 on floor, O’Hara’s 9.65 on bars, and Farley’s 9.625 on beam.
 
Michigan was by far the strongest college team out there this weekend and it will be exciting to see these gymnasts once they are really competing for the school! 
                                                                                                                                               
Gymnast Club Class Age Group Score Place
Olivia Karas IK 2015 Senior C 38.275 4th
Emma McLean Stars and Stripes 2015 Senior D 38.35 3rd
Lexi Funk IGI 2016 Senior B 37.8 9th
Madison Osman Orlando Metro 2016 Senior C 37.975 6th T
Lauren Farley WOGA 2017 Junior D 38.125 2nd
Maggie O’Hara Southeastern 2017 Senior A 37.9 7th
Abby Brenner Twin City Twisters 2018 Junior C 38.35 2nd
Natalie Wojcik Berks 2018 Junior C 38.075 7th
Abby Heiskell Southeastern 2018 Junior C 37.9 11th T

 
 

2. Alabama

 
Alabama had seven gymnasts compete at JOs and they all had great performances. Wynter Childers lead the group and won the Senior B division with a 38.55. She also took three individual event titles - vault with a 9.725, beam with a 9.65, and floor with a 9.675. Another top finisher was Makarri Doggette who scored a 38.425 for second place all-around in Junior B. She also won the beam title with a 9.625. 
 
Six out of the seven gymnasts placed in the top 10 all-around. Griffin James posted a 38.05 for eighth in Junior C, Shea Mahoney earned a 37.95 for seventh in Senior B, Jenna Bresette scored a 37.875 for seventh and Amanda Huang scored a 37.625 for eighth both in Senior D. Angelina Giancroce scored a strong 37.325 but ended up 20th in Senior D. 
 
The Bama commits performed remarkably as individuals as well as a group. 
                                                                                                                 
Gymnast Club Class Age Group Score Place
Jenna Bresette GAGE 2015 Senior D 37.875 7th
Angelina Giancroce Hayden’s 2015 Senior D 37.325 20th
Amanda Huang Brandy Johnson’s 2015 Senior D 37.625 8th
Wynter Childers Spearfish 2016 Senior B 38.55 1st
Shea Mahoney Legacy Elite 2016 Senior B 37.95 7th
Griffin James Gymstrada 2018 Junior C 38.05 8th
Makarri Doggette Buckeye 2019 Junior B 38.425 2nd
 


3. LSU

 
LSU had six commits who competed last weekend and similar to Bama, they had one all-around champion supported by five other strong performances. Kennedi Edney lead the group winning all-around in the Senior A division with a 38.6. She also won the vault title with a 9.825, bars with a 9.75, and floor with a 9.75. This feat alone is impressive but she was backed up by five other outstanding performances. 
 
Reagan Campbell scored a 38.0 for sixth all-around, Bridget Dean earned a 37.65 for eighth all-around, Ashlyn Kirby posted a 37.775 for 10th, Julianna Cannamela scored a 37.15 and Kaitlyn Szafranski scored a 36.9. Four out of the six girls placed in the top 10 all-around. Szafranski also won the Senior C bars title with a 9.6. 
 
This was another impressive showing from a strong group of gymnasts who will be sure to shine in NCAA. 
                                                                                                       
Gymnast Club Class Age Group Score Place
Julianna Cannamela Southeastern 2015 Senior C 37.15 23rd
Kaitlyn Szafranski Parkettes 2015 Senior C 36.9 32nd T
Kennedi Edney Precision 2016 Senior A 38.6 1st
Ashlyn Kirby Shooting Stars 2016 Senior B 37.775 10th T
Reagan Campbell Texas Dreams 2017 Senior A 38.0 6th
Bridget Dean Orlando Metro 2017 Senior A 37.65 8th
 

Honorable mentions:

Auburn
Cal Berkeley
Denver
Illinois
Kentucky
Missouri
Pitt
Utah 
 
 

MORE INFO: Top five finishers in each division with their intended college:

 
Junior A 
1. Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars - 38.3 - uncommitted
2. Kelsey Knox, Dynamo - 38.225 - uncommitted
3. Chae Campbell, Metroplex - 38.2 - uncommitted
4. Tori Tatum, Twin City Twisters - 38.15- uncommitted
5. Kiya Johnson, Texas Dreams - 37.925- uncommitted
 
Junior B
1. Kai Rivers, Twistars - 38.575 - uncommitted
2. Makarri Doggette, Buckeye - 38.425 - Alabama
3. Maddie Quarles, Twin City Twisters - 38.15 - uncommitted
4. Matilyn Waligora, Olympia - 38.075 - uncommitted
5. Brenna Brooks, WOGA - 38.05 - uncommitted
 
Junior C
1. Rachael Lukacs, North Stars - 38.375 - Georgia
2. Abby Brenner, Twin City Twisters - 38.35 - Michigan
3. Alexandria Ruiz, ACE - 38.3 - Denver
4. Karrie Thomas, American Twisters - 38.25 - Maryland
5. Shaylah Scott, Metroplex - 38.225 - uncommitted
 
Junior D
1. Alexia Burch, Gym Nevada- 38.3 - uncommitted
2. Lauren Farley, WOGA - 38.125 - Michigan
3. Catherine Rogers, Epic Gym - 38.1 - North Carolina
4. McKinley Pavicic, Academy of Gymnastics - 38.05 - Boise State
5. Evy Schoepfer, Triad - 38.95 - Oklahoma
 
Senior A
1. Kennedi Edney, Precision - 38.6 - LSU
2. Kynsee Roby, Triad - 38.475 - Nebraska
3. Kyla Bryant,Georgia Elite - 38.4 - uncommitted
4. Lynnzee Brown, GAGE - 38.125 - Denver
5. Mariah Peterson, Epic - 38.05 - Cal Berkeley
 
Senior B
1. Wynter Childers, Spearfish - 38.55 - Alabama
2. Cassidy Keelen, Texas Dreams - 38.375 - Cal Berkeley
3. Jade DeGouveia, American Twisters - 38.225 - uncommitted
4. Stephanie Day, Aerial Athletics - 38.175 - Auburn
5. Karen Howell, Olympia - 38.025 - Illinois
 
Senior C
1. Macy Toronjo, Texas Dreams - 38.65 - UCLA
2. MaKenna Merrell, All American Gym - 38.625 - Utah
3. Madeline Karr, Twin City Twisters - 38.4 - Denver
4. Olivia Karas, IK - 38.275 - Michigan
5. Jamie Stone, World Class - 38.075 - Ohio State
 
Senior D
1. Alicia Boren, North Stars - 38.8 - Florida
2. Kirah Koshinski, Northeast - 38.475 - West Virginia
3. Emma McLean, Stars and Stripes - 38.35 - Michigan
4. Sarah Means, Gymcats - 38.175 - Boise State
5. Sabrina Garcia, Prestige - 38.05 - Penn State