GAINESVILLE, Florida – A quartet of gifted gymnasts – all who have represented their nation in international competitions – will represent the University of Florida next season. Gator head coach Jenny Rowland<http://www.gatorzone.com/gymnastics/staff/rowland> announced Wednesday the four who will join the three-time defending NCAA champion Gators for the 2017 season.
“This has to be among the best, if not the best, recruiting classes in the country. Each one has competed at the World Championships or the Pan American Games; winning many medals for their respective countries. With the strength and qualities that this class brings, the University of Florida will no doubt continue to be vying for national championship year after year,” Rowland said. “What I really enjoy about these athletes is they have so much passion for the sport of gymnastics; it is contagious. The Gator Nation will see first-hand that this class is a true crowd pleaser as their love for the sport shines through both on and off the competition floor. The UF Gymnastics Staff is definitely looking forward to fostering and coaching this class throughout their collegiate gymnastics career.”
Three members of this class own U.S. Senior National Team credentials – Alyssa Baumann, Rachel Gowey and Amelia Hundley and the fourth is a Canadian National Team member – Maegan Chant.
* Baumann is a two-time member of the U.S. Senior National Team, which includes the current roster. Baumann was a member of the U.S. team that won the 2014 World Championship. She took second on balance beam in the last two P&G Championships.
* Chant competed with Canada at the 2013 and 2014 World Championships. She won the 2014 Elite Canada vault competition and was runner-up on same event in 2015. Chant was part of Canada’s silver medal team at the 2015 Pan American Games.
* Gowey claimed the uneven bars gold at the 2015 Pan American Games and helped the U.S. win team gold at the same event. She is a two-time member of the U.S. Senior National Team.
* Hundley was part of U.S.’s gold medal teams at 2015 and 2014 Pan American Games. She took silver on floor and bronze on uneven bars at 2015 Pan Am Games. Hundley was a member of the 2014-15 U.S. Senior National Team.
Meet the New Gators
Alyssa Baumann – Plano, Texas
Member of U.S.’s gold-medal 2014 World Championships<https://youtu.be/lu0lJUKxW8w> team…second on balance beam at 2015<https://youtu.be/6YikEbX1Y3U> and 2014 P&G Championships<https://youtu.be/xZa16SPsuvM>…fourth in P&G Championships’ all-around in 2014 and seventh in 2015…attended final 2015 World Championships selection camp in October…member of U.S. team which won 2014 and 2015 City of Jesolo Trophy team title – also second on beam at both meets…seventh in junior division all-around at the 2013 P&G Championships – also fifth on floor and seventh on beam…sixth in all-around, uneven bars and floor at 2015 Secret U.S. Classic…U.S. Senior National Team Member<https://usagym.org/pages/athletes/athleteListDetail.html?id=165517> (2015-16, 2014-15)…U.S. Junior National Team Member (2013-14)…member of World Olympic Gymnastics Academy and coached by Laurent Landi and Cecile Canqueteau-Landi.
Coach Rowland says:
“Alyssa has such a graceful flair that is sure to be mesmerizing on all events. Her international competition experience will be a huge asset on the competition floor. Do not be deceived by only her poise and grace, as her power and will to strive for perfection are qualities that will definitely be a strong attribute to this team. Her qualities are sure to help this team continue to strive to be the best.”
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Maegan Chant – Waterdown, Ontario
Member of Canada’s silver-medal team at 2015 Pan American Games – also took fourth on vault<https://youtu.be/qFp2_mdFtmE>…2015 Elite Canada vault silver medalist…floor exercise silver medalist at 2015 Canadian Championships<https://youtu.be/IgwX0ZMnlsY>…second in vault and floor exercise at the 2014 Canadian Championships…part of Canada’s 2014 Pacific Rim Championship team which claimed the silver…took third on vault in 2014 Pacific Rim competition…2014 Elite Canada vault champion and runner-up on floor…claimed vault gold at 2013 Canadian Championships and third in all-around…won floor at 2013 Cottbus World Cup and claimed silver on vault…Also part of Senior Pan American Games teams in 2014, taking fourth on vault<https://youtu.be/2PP7euDmYRA>…Canadian National Team Member<http://www.gymcan.org/disciplines/womens-artistic-gymnastics/national-teams/maegan-chant> (2015, 2014, 2013), competing as part of Canada’s 2013 and 2014 World Championships’ team…member of World Class Gymnastics and coached by former Romanian World champion and Olympian Cristina Bontas-Tantaru and Gabriel Tantaru.
Coach Rowland says:
“It is always a great pleasure to have an athlete that brings an international flavor to our team. Meagan has a very calming demeanor which is always helpful on and off the competition floor. This is a quality that some athletes struggle with, but not Meagan. She possesses a true competitive spirit of striving to do all that she can to improve herself each day.”
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Rachel Gowey – Urbandale, Iowa
2015 Pan Am Games uneven bars champion<https://youtu.be/SaWrEgfvgzs> – member of U.S.’s gold-medal team…sixth on beam and bars at the 2015 P&G Championships…attended final 2015 World Championships selection camp in October…fourth in all-around at the 2014 Secret U.S. Classic – also took third in beam<https://youtu.be/9BPGK7NoKlY>…member of U.S. team which won 2014 City of Jesolo Trophy competition – also finished fifth in all-around…2012 Junior Olympic Junior B National balance beam champion – also second in all-around to current Gator Alicia Boren…missed portions of 2014 and 2013 season due to injury…U.S. National Team member (2014-15, 2013-14)…2012 J.O. National Team Member…member of Chow’s Gymnastics and coached by Liang Chow and Liwen Zhuang.
Coach Rowland says:
“Rachel has a very strong gymnastics foundation. She’s coached by one of the best coaches in the country and she proved to be very competitive both nationally and internationally. Rachel’s exquisite execution is second to none. Her ability to have so much control in her gymnastics sets her apart from others. She is a well-rounded all-around athlete.”
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Amelia Hundley- Hamilton, Ohio
Member of U.S.’s 2015 and 2014 Pan American Games championship teams…also claimed Pan Am silver medal on floor and bronze on uneven bars<https://youtu.be/KhYuWEY0ehY> in 2015…2015 Region 5 Elite Athlete of the Year<https://youtu.be/QesR2CieehQ>…attended final 2015 World Championships selection camp in October…sixth in all-around in 2014 Secret U.S. Classic<https://youtu.be/-Q4IiQba8AM> and P&G Championships…junior division uneven bars champion in 2013 P&G Championships – also placed third in all-around…second in junior division all-around at the 2013 Secret U.S. Classic…U.S. Senior National Team Member (2014-15)…U.S. Junior National Team Member (2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12)…member of Cincinnati Gymnastics and coaches by Mary Lee Tracy.
Coach Rowland says:
“You never see this young lady without a smile on her face. Amelia will be an amazing role model and leader to this young team. Her work ethic and strong gymnastics foundation has helped her throughout her international success. Amelia’s power and aggressiveness will be a huge asset to this team on all events.”
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Awesome to have such wonderful young women become new Lady Gators. Welcome aborad!