November 11, 2020 was an exciting day for gymnasts and gymnastics fans alike! National Signing Day! Take a look at where these National Team Members who make up the freshman class of 2021 have landed (sidenote, not all of these were announced yesterday but were included as they'll be beginning their journey in 2021 as well):
• Jordan Chiles - UCLA
• Morgan Hurd - Florida
• Emily Lee - UCLA
• Riley McCusker - Florida
• Kara Eaker - Utah
• Grace McCallum - Utah
• Aleah Finnegan - LSU
• Sunisa Lee - Auburn
• Sloane Blakely - Florida
Leanne Wong is also a member of this class but has teased fans everywhere with the announcement that she will publicly post her college of choice on Saturday.
Some of these athletes graduated from high school before 2021 but deferred college to continue training for the Olympics. Morgan Hurd, Jordan Chiles, and Riley McCusker graduated from high school in 2019 and had already delayed a year for this reason, but made the decision to defer once again in hopes of representing the US in Tokyo. Jade Carey graduated in 2018 and committed to Oregon State with the understanding that she would begin after the 2020 Olympics, and also decided to wait until 2021. Shilese Jones finished high school in 2020 and is also committed to Florida.
Other members of the current National Team, MyKayla Skinner and Simone Biles, are already in their 20s, and Sophia Butler, Kayla DiCello, Lilly Leppeatt, and Faith Torrez will graduate in 2022.
One thing is for sure when this group of ladies enter the NCAA world of gymnastics, it's going to make some pretty exciting competition. Morgan, Riley, Sloane, and Shilese will join former National Teammate Trinity Thomas to make an already top-rated program even stronger. Utah has excitedly talked of this being their best signing class in years. A group that will change the entire program for the better. I personally can't wait to see this remarkable group continue their journey as they take this next step.
But for now... Olympic training!
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