Incoming Freshmen: Georgia

Incoming Freshmen: Georgia

Jul 11, 2014 by Becca Reed
Incoming Freshmen: Georgia


As we continue to look at this coming year’s incoming freshmen class, we move on to the University of Georgia. The Gym Dogs have six impressive gymnasts joining their team to replace the three seniors they have lost.
 
 
Natalie Vaculik
Natalie is a member of the Candaian national team and recently decided to join the Gym Dogs this fall. Natalie is a strong all-around gymnast and has competed internationally for Canada, most recently at the 2014 Cottbus World Cup. Watch an interview with Natalie at that meet here. Natalie placed sixth all-around at Candian Nationals and second on bars. UGA head coach Danna Durante said that Natalie will bring a lot to their program with her international experience. Natalie’s sister Kristina Vaculik competes for Stanford and will be a senior this coming year.
 
 
Vivi Babalis
Vivi is another elite gymnast from Canada who was previously on the Canadian junior national team. In a UGA press release, Durante noted that Vivi’s “strengths are beam and floor - areas where we are looking to build our skill level and consistency.” Vivi performs an arabian double front on floor and double tuck off beam. In her YouTube videos, she can be seen training a double layout on floor and a pike Jeager on bars.

 
Gigi Marino
Gigi is a level 10 gymnast from Desert Devils Gymnastics in Mesa, Arizona. Gigi qualified for 2014 JOs where she placed 12th all-around and tied for fifth on floor. In a UGA press release,  Durante described Gigi as someone who is "somewhat quiet but has a very fiery spirit.” Danna also praised her powerful gymnastics, noting her explosive Yurchenko 1 1/2 on vault and her double layout and pike full-in passes on floor. Watch Gigi’s vault here and watch a Workout Wednesday with Desert Devils' level 10s here. Watch an interview with Gigi after she signed her NLI here where she talks about Georgia being the right fit and what she's looking forward to most about college gymnastics.
 
 
Hayley Sanders 
Hayley is a level 10 gymnast from WOGA and trains under Laurent Landi and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi. She qualified for JO Nationals last year and placed second on bars. In 2011, she also placed second on bars at JO Nationals. Hayley is a strong all-around gymnast but Durante sees her being a big contributor on bars. “She is strong on every event, but she is in a league of her own on bars with her beautiful lines and the way that she performs. We are looking forward to her strengthening our bars lineup, and she'll also provide valuable depth for us on vault, beam and floor” Watch her bar routine, with two huge releases, here. Watch her beam from 2013 states here.
 
 
Jasmine Arnold 
Jasmine is a level 10 gymnast from Elite Energy Gymnastics in Murfreesboro, TN. She qualified for JO Nationals the past three years. Watch Jasmine train a shaposh and new tumbling in her training video on YouTube. Durante on Jasmine: "Jasmine is a bright, hard-working young woman with an energetic personality. We are thrilled she has decided to join our Gym Dog family. We see a lot of potential in her, and we are excited to be a part of her growth and development." Watch Jasmine's beam from Regionals here.
 
 
Angelina Giancroce 
Angelina is a level 10 gymnast from Hayden’s International Gymnastics Academy in Evans, GA. She is not in a UGA press release but College Gym Fans notes that she will be walking on in the spring of 2015. She was a fourth year level 10 and qualified for JO Nationals this year where she tied for fourth on floor. Watch her floor routine from this year’s HNI here.


Who are you looking forward to seeing compete for the Gym Dogs? Tell us in the comments section below!
 
 

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