INDIANAPOLIS, March 30, 2020 – Following an abbreviated 2020 women’s collegiate gymnastics season, which was cut short due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, USA Gymnastics today announced First- and Second-Team All-American selections.
These individuals represent the 12 DI, DII and DIII colleges and universities whose women’s gymnastics programs operate with fewer than seven-and-a-half full scholarships. These include Brown University, Centenary College, Cornell University, Lindenwood University, Seattle Pacific University, Southeast Missouri State University, Southern Connecticut State University, Texas Woman’s University, the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Bridgeport, West Chester University and Yale University.
While All-American selections are typically based on results from the USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships, given the truncated conclusion to the 2020 season, this year’s honorees were determined based on cumulative performance results through week ten of the regular season. The top-ten finishers in each event and the top-eight all-around gymnasts were named First-Team All-Americans. The next finisher(s) in each event and next two all-around athletes were selected to the Second Team.
2020 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Nationals All-Americans
First-Team All-American
- All-around
Darian Burns, Seattle Pacific University
Ryan Henry, Lindenwood University
Anna Kaziska, Southeast Missouri State University
Jessica Meakim, West Chester University
Bria Northrop, Texas Woman’s University
Julianna Roland, University of Bridgeport
Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso, Southeast Missouri State University
Hannah Stahlbrodt, Southern Connecticut State University
Vault
Cami Bea Austin, Centenary College
Darian Burns, Seattle Pacific University
Alyssa Firth, Yale University
Gayla Griswold, Lindenwood University
Kiah Johnson, West Chester University
Aleah Leman, Lindenwood University
Bria Northrop, Texas Woman’s University
Julianna Roland, University of Bridgeport
Anna Salamone, United States Air Force Academy
Daisy Woodring, Texas Woman’s University
Uneven bars
Katie Bailey, Lindenwood University
Jacey Baldovino, Yale University
Darian Burns, Seattle Pacific University
Mei Li Costa, Brown University
Regan Dillon, University of Bridgeport
Kathryn Doran, University of Bridgeport
Courtney Mitchell, Lindenwood University
Bria Northrop, Texas Woman’s University
Anna Salamone, United States Air Force Academy
Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso, Southeast Missouri State University
Melanie Wojewoda, West Chester University
Balance beam
Katie Bailey, Lindenwood University
Jacey Baldovino, Yale University
Sarah Boyd, West Chester University
Briona Carswell, United States Air Force Academy
Lindsay Chia, Yale University
Emma Firmstone, Yale University
Ryan Henry, Lindenwood University
Anna Kaziska, Southeast Missouri State University
Courtney Mitchell, Lindenwood University
Maya Reimers, University of Bridgeport
Julianna Roland, University of Bridgeport
Floor exercise
Cami Bea Austin, Centenary College
Darian Burns, Seattle Pacific University
Alyssa Firth, Yale University
Isabel Goyco, Texas Woman’s University
Gayla Griswold, Lindenwood University
Anna Kaziska, Southeast Missouri State University
Jessica Meakim, West Chester University
Bria Northrop, Texas Woman’s University
Maya Reimers, University of Bridgeport
Julianna Roland, University of Bridgeport
Second-Team All-American
- All-around
Jade Buford, Yale University
Kendall Sanders, Centenary College
Vault
Gabrielle Kistner, University of Bridgeport
Heidi Sand, United States Air Force Academy
Aimee Titche, Yale University
Uneven bars
Hayley Bangart, University of Bridgeport
Balance beam
Miyuki Matsune, Seattle Pacific University
Floor exercise
Natalie Meyer, United States Air Force Academy
Coaches of the year were also announced. These honors are voted on by the head coaches of the participating college and university programs. Ashley Lawson, Southeast Missouri State University, was named the Ken Anderson Coach of the Year while Becky Ferraro, University of Bridgeport, was selected as Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Mari-Rae Soper Award was presented to the Southern Connecticut State University team to recognize their tremendous and inspiring perseverance. Following the passing of teammate Melanie Coleman, who suffered a fatal fall during practice, and a mid-season coaching change, SCSU gymnasts demonstrated unrivaled passion, dedication and devotion to the sport in the face of tragedy and heartbreak.
In appreciation of this year’s senior athletes who saw their final season cut short, USA Gymnastics named the inaugural USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate Nationals Senior All-Star Team comprised of the top-ten seniors on each event. A list of all competing senior athletes – those who have exhausted their eligibility or will be graduating – is available here.
USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Senior All-Star Team
Cami Bea Austin, Centenary College
Katie Bailey, Lindenwood University
Sarah Boyd, West Chester University
Sienna Brane, Seattle Pacific University
Jade Buford, Yale University
Darian Burns, Seattle Pacific University
Rebecca Chong, Yale University
Emma Firmstone, Yale University
Ryan Henry, Lindenwood University
Samantha Henry, Cornell University
Erin Howell, Brown University
Jacqueline Kutcher, Southern Connecticut State University
Miyuki Matsune, Seattle Pacific University
Dorothy Mims, Centenary College
Bria Northrop, Texas Woman’s University
Evelyn Patient, Cornell University
Maci Prescott, Cornell University
Maya Reimers, University of Bridgeport
Anna Salamone, United States Air Force Academy
Mackenzie Slee, Southeast Missouri State University
Hunter Vincent, Texas Woman’s University
Lena Wirth, Seattle Pacific University
USA Gymnastics also announced this year’s Scholar Athletes. These are gymnasts in their second, third or fourth years of eligibility who possess a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 in the previous two semesters or three quarters on a 4.0 scale.
Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States, encompassing seven disciplines: women’s gymnastics, men’s gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics, gymnastics for all (a.k.a. group gymnastics) and, most recently, parkour. USA Gymnastics sets the rules and policies that govern the sport of gymnastics, including selecting and training the U.S. Gymnastics Teams for the Olympics and World Championships; promoting and developing gymnastics on the grassroots and national levels, as well as a safe, empowered and positive training environment; and serving as a resource and educational center for the more than 200,000 members, clubs, fans and gymnasts throughout the United States. The organization is deeply committed to creating a culture that encourages and supports its athletes and focuses on its highest priority: the safety and well-being of athletes and our community.