TRADITION ~ PRIDE ~ EXCELLENCE
Wildcats To Watch Vault
Uneven Bars
The 2013 vault squad will look very familiar with five of the top seven back in action. These five returning athletes all scored 9.75 or better last season. The squad is searching for depth from the other returning gymnasts and the newcomers.
The 2013 bar squad will have to make up for two top bar routines from last year, Ali Carr and Danielle Reibold. A combination of experienced athletes and some newcomers will have to step up to meet the challenge. Depth will be an issue, but there is great potential for an outstanding bar lineup again this year.
Austyn Fobes (pictured) has a dynamic and consistent Yurchenko full (round off onto the board, back handspring, back layout full). Once again she will be an anchor for vaulting. SV=10.0
Fobes has proven to be one of the top competitors in the nation on this event (PB of 9.95) and will once again be a dynamic force. She competes a high-flying Tkachev, Pak salto and competed a double layout dismount last season. She is working on adding a full twist to the dismount. Austyn has shown she can do this routine with perfect execution.
Jillian Hudson stepped up in 2012 to compete as one of the top UNH vaulters. She should once again be a solid contributor and is working to stick her Yurchenko full. SV=10.0 Hannah Barile competes a piked Quervo (front handspring, half twist back pike salto off ). This unique vault is more difficult than it is given credit for in the judging system. Hannah is working to perfect this vault and fall training has her as one of the most consistent vaulters this season. SV=10.0 Cour tney Connors showed great consistency last year and will once again be counted on for her Yurchenko full. She needs to stick her vault to contribute all she can on this event. SV=10.0 Erika Rudiger competed a Yurchenko half and a Yurchenko full last season. She focused on the full this summer and fall with great success. Erika should step in as a key vaulter for the 2013 season. SV=10.0 The sixth spot in the lineup is up for grabs! Lauren Brodie is a newcomer who competed a Yurchenko full in the Junior Olympic program and is just returning from a sprained ankle. She should see action as the season progresses. Elissa Solomon is also a freshman who should contribute on the event as she is capable of performing a Yurchenko half. Alexa Profit competed a Yurchenko half and is working to solidify this vault as the collegiate program is only given one opportunity to hit a vault. Catarina Broccoli, Jannelle Minichiello and Rebekah Bubnar are all training 10.0 vaults. Any one of them could be ready as the season progresses.
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Returnees: Jen Aucoin, Hannah Barile, Courtney Connors, Alie Davis, Austyn Fobes, Kayla Gray, Adrienne Hill, Jillian Hudson, Erin Machado, Becca Marrama, Jannelle Minichiello, Erika Rudiger Newcomers: Kelsey Aucoin, Lauren Brodie, Rebekah Bubnar, Catarina Broccoli, Cassy Izzo, Brittany Prestia, Alexa Profit, Elissa Solomon, Courtney Thompson
Wildcat Gymnastics
Jen Aucoin (pictured) returns to this event having scored extremely well for the Wildcats all last year. She swings a dynamic, clean routine that the judges love, and she should be a solid competitor again this year. She does a unique free hip circle hop hand change to an immediate straddle back handstand which is loaded with judging bonus points. Rudiger has speed, power and a tenacity to be solid this year. She can be an outstanding uneven bar competitor and should compete a dynamic routine including a Jaeger and an upgraded dismount series which includes a full twisting giant and a solid full twisting double back. Kayla Gray has the potential to be great on this event. She has beautiful lines and swings skills that are flawless. She has missed some training time this fall, but should be ready to go. Some of her highlights include a toe shoot half immediate Jaeger and a beautiful stalder immediate toe front half dismount. Barile is very close to adding a high flying Geinger to her already solid bar routine. Like Aucoin she does a unique combination with a hop change to straddle back handstand and a great double lay out dismount. If she can combine that with the Geinger she will excel on bars and be a welcome addition to the lineup. Brodie has experience on this event and can perform a solid routine with a Jaeger, blind change to pike back handstand and a double lay out dismount. She has the ability to step into the lineup and make a big contribution on bars. Broccoli has the routine that can score extremely well for the‘Cats. She has excellent form and execution on her blind half to Jaeger and is upgrading her dismount to a double layout. If she can become consistent in the gym she will add to the team’s depth. Hudson, Minichiello and Alie Davis have made major improvements on this event and all have routines to watch. Jillian can put together a series of skills that receive the bonus needed to compete on this event. Jannelle has upgraded her dismount series to a giant full to blind change to double front dismount. Alie and Jannelle perform nice Pak saltos that give them the high level release required. Bubnar, Cassy Izzo, Cour tney Thompson and Solomon all have the ability to work their way into the lineup. Each of these athletes needs to make steps towards improving a skill or cleaning up execution to contend for a spot. All of them have the dedication and drive to make that happen.