(GYM) ***CLOSED***Gymnastics 2023 - 2024***CLOSED

Shilese Jones making College Gym News and not in a pleasant way:

News, Notes, and Surprises From the Start of the Class of 2024 Signing Period - College Gym News

Still No Shilese Jones
Sometimes it feels like lifetimes have passed since Jones first committed to Florida. Our latest information was that she intended to head to Gainesville in the fall of 2024 after the Paris Olympics, but four years after her originally planned signing day, she still hasn’t put pen to NLI, and Florida may have filled all its scholarship spots for the upcoming season. Everyone wants to know what the plan is here.

Get in line behind us Gator fans College Gym News. That or do your homework by calling Shilese for an interview. UF can't comment, but your news outlet can.

 

***SPECULATION ALERT***

Given that UF has not acknowledged Alyssa Orgen as of Saturday, 11/11/23, and there was no local newspaper coverage of Alyssa's signing day on 11/8/23, I'm beginning to think Alyssa is a preferred walk on who may only receive a ship if Shilese Jones does not come to UF. If this is the case, Alyssa's ship situation could drag on to next summer.

I don't know if it is within NCAA recruiting rules for universities to talk about preferred walk on athletes. However, the athletes do get preferential admissions help to enroll and become a part of the team.

 

UCLA hit the trifecta today. Tiana Sumanasekera, Jordis Eichman, and Nola Matthews committed to be in UCLA's 2025 class. This group visited UF last weekend. As I said in a post above, these ladies should all be 5-star gymnasts although two are rated 4 stars. Good on UCLA. In particular, I'd have liked to see Tiana be a Gator, but it isn't meant to be.

I also think UF commitment Amelia Disidore should be a 5 star.

 

Utah places HC Tom Farden on paid administrative leave:

Utah gymnastics coach Tom Farden placed on administrative leave (msn.com)

On the face of the paid administrative leave, it would appear that Utah held off on taking action until after national signing day. However, realistically the three 5-star gymnasts Utah signed likely knew something was up with Tom Farden yet signed to be at their heart felt collegiate location. Avery Neff, the #1 rated gymnast in the 2024 class said when she committed that it was in her heart to stay home in Utah to perform with the Red Rocks team.

 

Reminder for Gators Gymnastics Hype Night:

Gators Gymnastics on X: "#Gators is just 3⃣ weeks away! Get your tickets now! ️Dec. 4 | 6:30pm @OConnellCTR ️ $5 https://t.co/Vhe6fK6n0f #GoGators | ‍♀️ https://t.co/FF63jL1qrG" / X (twitter.com)

Get your tickets early, $5.00.

 

Trinity Thomas at National Team Camp:

hannah CANDA SUPREMACY on X: " TRINITY AT NATIONAL TEAM CAMP https://t.co/dEkn0RgTlO" / X (twitter.com)

It will not shock me when Trinity makes the Paris 24 USA National Team. JMO, a healthy Trinity Thomas is the second-best gymnast in the world close behind Simone Biles.

 

Trinity Thomas with Gabby Douglas at National team Camp:

Gymnastics Now on X: "Gabby Douglas is indeed at November National Team Camp and hanging with Trinity Thomas — comeback queens! @gabrielledoug) https://t.co/MoMqPCfYhh" / X (twitter.com)

Three wildcards who have not been in the process in 2023 will be for Paris 24:

Trinity Thomas
Gabby Douglas
Konnor McClain

Why Shilese Jones has no apparent interest in getting an education from UF for after gymnastics is befuddling to me. While Shilese may make the USA Olympics Team, it is certainly not a lock for her.

BTW, I feel stronger about Kayla DiCello's lesser chance of making Paris 24. I wish her the best, but just don't see her going to Paris as part of the USA Team. For her benefit, I hope I'm wrong. I'd love seeing her back with UF in January performing for UF and working out with Trinity Thomas and Leanne Wong.

 

What was a weakness for most of the 23 season, it looks like vault will be a strength in 24.

Dr. Sam, PhD on X: "Woah. Look at those 7 10.0 SV vault 4 freshies totally killing it! Ellie’s 1.5 back and looking great V’s 1.5 looking strong and ready Leanne with a beautiful DTY" / X (twitter.com)

Lots of 1.5s, Payton not shown because her hand slipped, and Sloane didn't participate getting over an illness. UF will get good impact from the true freshmen on the team.

Not shown is Morgan which is concerning to me this close to Hype Night and the 24 season. I have hopes Morgan can participate at top form on vault, beam, and floor. We'll see come Hype Night in a couple of weeks.

 

If Morgan can do bars, her elbow isn't as big of a problem as I thought. Alyssa Baumann had chronic elbow problems and she rarely performed on bars, very emotional about it. Morgan would be back to what her knees will allow her to do. It'll be interesting to see how many events she participates in. She looks to be in her best gymnastics shape since coming to UF.

Alyssa and Skylar need to work on reducing their leg separation. I'm sure the coaches will have them ready by January.

 

Utah and Tom Farden mutually agree on his leaving Utah:

Utah gymnastics, coach Tom Farden part ways after abuse allegations - Deseret News

I read that to be Tom Farden was made contractually whole to get him to leave. I'm wondering if any of the three 5-star gymnasts who signed with Utah are having second thoughts about going to Utah under these circumstances.

 

Well, not so shocking really. Utah's name is mud in the gymnastics world right now. They don't have much coming in the 2025 class as a result of the mess the university participated in.

I know a little about Utah's 24 signee Avery Neff, the #1 ranked gymnast in the 24-recruiting class, to want to know what the NCAA rules are when a coach leaves or is forced out mutually as in this case. Neff's final 3 were Utah, Oklahoma, and Florida. If she desires to leave, can she petition for a release from her NLI and reopen her recruitment? I keep seeing from tiger fan that OU is full, but I'd wager UF would have room for her.

 

UF Beam Workers:

Dr. Sam, PhD on X: "gators beam is a dream " / X (twitter.com)

So far, Morgan Hurd has been shown on bars and beam with floor to go.

Our freshmen don't look like freshmen. They look physically older than their class. I hope their mental ability to compete matches their physical skills.

 

The next 30 days should be interesting to watch. I'm thinking particularly about the 2024 class, but maybe some already on the roster wants out of that hell hole known as Utah Gymnastics now that they can do so and be immediately eligible elsewhere.

 

College Gym News 2024 Preseason Top 36 Poll:

College Gym News 2024 Preseason Poll - College Gym News

Team Total Points
1. Oklahoma 611; 16 first-place votes
2. LSU 580; 1 first-place vote
3. Florida 577
4. Utah 555
5. UCLA 529
6. California 518
7. Alabama 510
8. Michigan 497
9. Michigan State 485
10. Kentucky 477

Given what we've seen from our freshmen, I'm not surprised UF is at #3. The unknowns from the way too early CGNs poll when UF was ranked 5th are Leanne Wong, Payton Richards, Ellie Lazzari, and Morgan Hurd. It was originally thought that Leanne was following Kayla DiCello in deferring a year for Paris 24, Payton wasn't returning for her 5th year, and Lazarri and Hurd would be damaged goods. JMHO, UF will compete well against anyone in the nation.

I am surprised LSU didn't get more 1st place votes. Maybe CGN knows some of LSU's injuries from last season are still ongoing. I do think the ranking is right with OU and LSU at 1 and 2, but I also think it will be really close.

With Utah's transfers and coaching change, I'm a bit surprised the Red Rocks didn't drop out of the top 4.

UCLA may be a bit high with Jordan Chiles deferring for a year and another gymnast deferring a year to try to make the Canadian Olympic team.

Alabama could be a bit higher with a strong recruiting class and Luisa Blanco returning for her 5th year.

Kentucky is pretty much loaded too. I expect the Wildcats will be flirting with the top 8.

Arkansas will make some noise from the second 10. They have a terrific coaching staff and a solid lineup.

Georgia is loaded with young freshmen talent. If Courtney Coupet can get the most out of her freshmen, UGALY could be a pretty good team by the end of the year. However, I'm thinking the poodles are a year away.

Auburn is in the second 10, but I don't see them being a strong team. This is not the Auburn of two years ago with the Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist pulling the whole team up with her.

 

Gators Video of Thanksgiving Intrasquad:

2023 Gators Gym Thanksgiving Intrasquad Clips - YouTube

I'm liking what we're seeing from Hurd, Lazzari, and the freshmen.

 

The gymnast we haven't seen highlighted in the videos is Riley McCusker. No doubt she will be involved on bars, beam, and floor. JMHO, UF is going to have more talented and healthy depth than in the 2023 season.

I have a good feeling about this team. They are under no pressure to be the #1 or #2 contender with those spots going to OU and LSU in the preseason, but I think that is exactly where this team will end up. It will help that UF has a good schedule with a mixture of good teams and teams that I consider to be tune-ups. Avoid the injury bug and this team can go farther than what we were thinking after losing Trinity Thomas to eligibility and Kayla DiCello to deferment.

UF is going to have an outstanding team in the 2025 season too with or without Shilese Jones whom I have written off even though UF hasn't yet done so in its actions to date.