Temple University Athletics
Women's Gymnastics Begins Official Practice and Welcomes Seven Newcomers
9.18.15 | Women's Gymnastics
PHILADELPHIA – Temple women's gymnastics, under the new direction of head coach Umme Salim-Beasley, held its first official practice this afternoon on campus at McGonigle Hall.
"The excitement level was here. Starting today the girls knew what the expectations were," said Salim-Beasley. "They knew they were going to come in and have assignments that they were going to be held accountable to. We hit the ground running and they were excited, the energy level was high, and they kept moving the entire practice."
The Owls have already implemented new strength and conditioning regiments, adding in weight training and group fitness classes to their schedule.
"We are in a building phase and preseason is for that. We start off and then we build upon what it is that we are doing week after week," said Salim-Beasley. "The expectation is that they are going to continue to push themselves."
Salim-Beasley is welcoming seven newcomers to the team this year, including two transfers.
"They're eager and ready to go," said Salim-Beasley. "They had successful club careers and then coming into college they want to the same. They all bring their individual pieces into making this a whole team that is successful."
Joining the Owls from Rutgers University is Sahara Gipson. Gipson, originally from Oakland, N.J., competed one season with the Scarlet Knights, seeing action on both vault and floor, where she posted season highs of 9.85 on vault and 9.8 on floor.
Alexa Phillip joins the Owls after a year at West Virginia University. Phillip was a four-time JO Nationals qualifier, placing 10th on floor as a senior and 11th on bars as a sophomore and junior. The Bergenfield, N.J., native also holds two regional titles on bars, earned in her sophomore and junior years.
Five true freshman will be joining the Owls this season after successful club gymnastics careers. Sophia Valeri, a Berlin, N.J., native, comes to Temple after training with Atlantic Coast Gymnastics. Valeri was a New Jersey state silver medalist on bars as a senior, as well as a regional and NIT bar champion as a junior.
Hailing from Allendale, S.C., India Anderson comes to Temple after an impressive senior season. Training with Aiken Gymnastics, Inc., Anderson was able to capture fourth place all-around at Nationals, as well as a silver medal on bars and a bronze on floor. Anderson was also the Louise Peck College Scholarship for South Carolina Gymnasts recipient in her final season before graduating.
Elizabeth McDuffie of Baltimore, Md., enters the gym after qualifying for the JO National Invitational her senior year. During her final year, training at United Gymnastix, McDuffie saw three first place all-around finishes. She was also the state bar champion in her junior year and qualified for level 9 Eastern Nationals as a freshman.
The final two newcomers both come to Temple after training with Prestige Gymnastics. Kelsey Miller, of York, Pa., and Breahna Wiczkowksi, of Lititz, Pa., round out the incoming class for this season. Miller qualified for JO Nationals as a senior after placing third in the all-around at the state championships. Wiczkowski boasts two trips to JO Nationals as well as three trips to the regional championships and four state championship qualifications throughout her club gymnastics career.
The Owls are returning 10 gymnasts and will open their season on the road against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Click here to watch video.
"The excitement level was here. Starting today the girls knew what the expectations were," said Salim-Beasley. "They knew they were going to come in and have assignments that they were going to be held accountable to. We hit the ground running and they were excited, the energy level was high, and they kept moving the entire practice."
The Owls have already implemented new strength and conditioning regiments, adding in weight training and group fitness classes to their schedule.
"We are in a building phase and preseason is for that. We start off and then we build upon what it is that we are doing week after week," said Salim-Beasley. "The expectation is that they are going to continue to push themselves."
Salim-Beasley is welcoming seven newcomers to the team this year, including two transfers.
"They're eager and ready to go," said Salim-Beasley. "They had successful club careers and then coming into college they want to the same. They all bring their individual pieces into making this a whole team that is successful."
Joining the Owls from Rutgers University is Sahara Gipson. Gipson, originally from Oakland, N.J., competed one season with the Scarlet Knights, seeing action on both vault and floor, where she posted season highs of 9.85 on vault and 9.8 on floor.
Alexa Phillip joins the Owls after a year at West Virginia University. Phillip was a four-time JO Nationals qualifier, placing 10th on floor as a senior and 11th on bars as a sophomore and junior. The Bergenfield, N.J., native also holds two regional titles on bars, earned in her sophomore and junior years.
Five true freshman will be joining the Owls this season after successful club gymnastics careers. Sophia Valeri, a Berlin, N.J., native, comes to Temple after training with Atlantic Coast Gymnastics. Valeri was a New Jersey state silver medalist on bars as a senior, as well as a regional and NIT bar champion as a junior.
Hailing from Allendale, S.C., India Anderson comes to Temple after an impressive senior season. Training with Aiken Gymnastics, Inc., Anderson was able to capture fourth place all-around at Nationals, as well as a silver medal on bars and a bronze on floor. Anderson was also the Louise Peck College Scholarship for South Carolina Gymnasts recipient in her final season before graduating.
Elizabeth McDuffie of Baltimore, Md., enters the gym after qualifying for the JO National Invitational her senior year. During her final year, training at United Gymnastix, McDuffie saw three first place all-around finishes. She was also the state bar champion in her junior year and qualified for level 9 Eastern Nationals as a freshman.
The final two newcomers both come to Temple after training with Prestige Gymnastics. Kelsey Miller, of York, Pa., and Breahna Wiczkowksi, of Lititz, Pa., round out the incoming class for this season. Miller qualified for JO Nationals as a senior after placing third in the all-around at the state championships. Wiczkowski boasts two trips to JO Nationals as well as three trips to the regional championships and four state championship qualifications throughout her club gymnastics career.
The Owls are returning 10 gymnasts and will open their season on the road against the Central Michigan Chippewas on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Click here to watch video.
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