Pair of standout gymnasts sign with Florida Gators gymnastics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A pair of top gymnasts will join the Florida Gators gymnastics team for
the 2018 season, Gator head coach Jenny
Rowland announced Wednesday.

Megan Skaggs, a 2014-15 member of the U.S. Senior National Team, has been a part of
winning U.S. teams at the 2015 Pan American Games and City of Jesolo Trophy. Vanasia
Bradley (pronounced vuh-NAY-suh) was a top junior division elite level gymnast. She
missed two seasons recovering from injuries, but made her competitive return earlier
this year.

"Megan and Vanasia are both talented gymnasts. They will come in and be contributors
on each event," Rowland said. "I think overall their enthusiasm, determination,
excitement to come to college and start their new chapter in life is very
refreshing. I know they both bring a very strong work ethic and I feel like their
college careers are going to be very successful."

Meet the New Gators
Vanasia Bradley - Canton, Mich.
Qualified for junior international elite at the 2013 Florida National Elite
Qualifier...runner-up on bars at 2013 American Classic...sixth in vault in 2013
Secret U.S. Classic junior division and qualified for P&G Championships...tied for
second in 2013 P&G Championships junior division vault<https://youtu.be/xi99H4exWfg>
and 11th in all-around...sidelined for 2014 and 2015 seasons with injuries...at 2016
Michigan Level 10 State Championships, took third on bars...will graduate from
Canton High School in the spring of 2017...member of Splitz Gymnastics under coach
Eileen Spicker.

Coach Rowland says:
"She is a very talented athlete who unfortunately has been injured for some time.
Her senior year should be her first year back after two years of not competing. She
is a dynamic and powerful athlete. Vanasia is also very technically sound which will
be an asset for her collegiate routines. She should be a good contributor to us on
all the events. Vanasia should be able to jump right into vault and floor for us,
but believe that uneven bars is one of her best events. We are excited to have a
little more depth on bars next year."

Megan Skaggs - Marietta, Ga.
2014-15 U.S. Senior National Team...member of U.S. gold medal team at 2015 Pan
American Games (along with current Gators Rachel Gowey and Amelia Hundley) and took
silver on balance beam<https://youtu.be/3To5RaJLJhk>...part of U.S. team which won
2015 City of Jesolo Trophy in Jesolo, Italy...took 13th in all-around at 2015 P&G
Championships and 11th on uneven bars and balance
beam<https://youtu.be/LQ7LL3ZkcN4>...at 2014 P&G Junior Division Championships,
seventh on vault<https://youtu.be/6AvD0vv6AoI>, eighth on
beam<https://youtu.be/rJmnZa5piIo> and ninth in all-around...took seventh in 2014
Secret U.S. Classic all-around (junior division) and also fourth on bars, fifth on
vault...fourth in all-around in 2014 American Classic all-around (junior division)
plus third on vault, shared fifth on beam and eighth on bars...will graduate from
Georgia Cyber Academy in spring of 2017...member of Gymnastics Academy of Atlanta in
Kennesaw, Ga., and trains under coaches Irina Podgornaya and Jacobo Giron.

Coach Rowland says:
"Megan is a seasoned athlete nationally and internationally. She has done a very
good job on the competition floor, performing well when the lights are on. She
competed for Team USA at Pan Ams, winning the silver medal on balance beam. Megan is
very dedicated, methodical and loves gymnastics. Her grace is a stand-out aspect of
her gymnastics. She's a very elegant athlete to watch. Expect Megan to be a
competitor on all four events, with bars and beam being her strongest."

Gators in 2017:
The defending Southeastern Conference champion Gators open the 2017 season Jan. 8 at
North Carolina State.

The home season begins Friday, Jan. 13 when Kentucky comes to the Exactech Arena at
the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. For the first time in 2017, fans can purchase
reserved season tickets, ensuring they can sit exactly where they want to see the
dynamic and talented Gators compete.