Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Gymnastics Inks Three To Latest Recruiting Class
11/21/2013 12:28:00 PM | Gymnastics
Catie Conrad, Kirsten Gendron and Kendall Valentin sign National Letters of Intent
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- Eastern Michigan Head Gymnastics Coach Steve Wilce announced the addition of three gymnasts to his team's latest recruiting class, Nov. 21. Catie Conrad (South Lyon, Mich.-Brighton), Kirsten Gendron (Birch Run, Mich.-Frankenmuth) and Kendall Valentin (Holmdel, N.J.-Holmdel) all signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Eagles beginning in the 2015 season.
"We expect this group of incoming freshman to have an immediate impact and we are excited to have athletes with such a history of success in high school," mentioned Coach Wilce. " All three athletes are solid in the all around and should add a lot to our program."
Conrad is a Level 10 gymnast from Conrad's Gymnastics and is coached by her father, Jonathon Conrad. The South Lyon, Mich. native has been to the Level 10 National Invitational meets in 2012 and 2013, while also recording a 9.8 on beam at the 2013 Battle of Champions.
Coach Wilce noted Conrad's strengths on bars and beam. "Catie swings big bars and has some unique skills on this event, and she has proven to score very high on beam."
Another Level 10 gymnast, Gendron is coached by George Young at Mid-Michigan Gymnastics. With strengths in three rotations (bars, beam and floor), the Birch Run, Mich. native qualified for Level 10 nationals in 2012 and 2013. She also proved her all around ability, placing first all around at the Sand Dollar Meet and runner-up in the all around at the IGI Meet in Chicago.
"Kirsten is very good on bars and has excellent skills on beam and floor," commented Coach Wilce.
Expect Valentin to compete on vault and bars when she arrives on campus. Like the other two future Eagles, she is a Level 10 gymnast, qualifying for nationals and placing fourth in the all around at the New Jersey State Meet in 2013. A native of Holmdel, N.J., Valentin hails from Head Over Heels Gymnastics Glub in New Jersey and is coached by Jason Bauer, Courtney Bodley, and Andrea Mlynar.
"Kendall is very consistent on beam and has a very big vault," added Wilce.
While these three future EMU gymnasts won't be able to compete until the 2015 campaign, the Eagles begin their 2014 season, Jan. 17, on the road with a Mid-American Conference dual meet with Kent State University.
"We expect this group of incoming freshman to have an immediate impact and we are excited to have athletes with such a history of success in high school," mentioned Coach Wilce. " All three athletes are solid in the all around and should add a lot to our program."
Conrad is a Level 10 gymnast from Conrad's Gymnastics and is coached by her father, Jonathon Conrad. The South Lyon, Mich. native has been to the Level 10 National Invitational meets in 2012 and 2013, while also recording a 9.8 on beam at the 2013 Battle of Champions.
Coach Wilce noted Conrad's strengths on bars and beam. "Catie swings big bars and has some unique skills on this event, and she has proven to score very high on beam."
Another Level 10 gymnast, Gendron is coached by George Young at Mid-Michigan Gymnastics. With strengths in three rotations (bars, beam and floor), the Birch Run, Mich. native qualified for Level 10 nationals in 2012 and 2013. She also proved her all around ability, placing first all around at the Sand Dollar Meet and runner-up in the all around at the IGI Meet in Chicago.
"Kirsten is very good on bars and has excellent skills on beam and floor," commented Coach Wilce.
Expect Valentin to compete on vault and bars when she arrives on campus. Like the other two future Eagles, she is a Level 10 gymnast, qualifying for nationals and placing fourth in the all around at the New Jersey State Meet in 2013. A native of Holmdel, N.J., Valentin hails from Head Over Heels Gymnastics Glub in New Jersey and is coached by Jason Bauer, Courtney Bodley, and Andrea Mlynar.
"Kendall is very consistent on beam and has a very big vault," added Wilce.
While these three future EMU gymnasts won't be able to compete until the 2015 campaign, the Eagles begin their 2014 season, Jan. 17, on the road with a Mid-American Conference dual meet with Kent State University.
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