NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State gymnastics head coach Bob Conkling announced Monday the addition of four new recruits who have signed a National Letters of Intent (NLI) to compete for Redbird gymnastics. Gabrielle Cooke (Chicago, Illinois), Anna Marema (Aurora, Illinois), Jessica Rothman (Chesapeake, Virginia) and Madison Solka (Cary, Illinois) will continue their education and gymnastics careers as Redbirds.
"I'm very excited to welcome a very strong 2016 recruiting class," Conkling stated. "Each of these four gymnasts is a strong all-around performer that could contribute immediately to our success and help us continue to improve as a team," said Conkling. "Any one or all of them could battle to compete in our lineup on all four events their freshman year."
Gabrielle Cooke | All-Around | Lane Technical HS | KI Gymnastics Club | Chicago, Ill.
Conkling on Cooke: "Gabi is an elegant and consistent gymnast that is strong on each of the four events and qualified for Junior Olympic Nationals this past season and for the National NIT tournament in 2014."
Anna Marema | All-Around | Oswego East HS | Phenom Gymnastics Club | Aurora, Ill.
Conkling on Marema: "Anna has been a top-level gymnast for five years and could help us on all four, events but she is especially strong on bars and beam. Anna was a regional qualifier in 2014 and 2015, taking seventh on uneven bars and third on balance beam in 2015."
Jessica Rothman | All-Around | Chesapeake Public/Great Bridge HS | Gymstrada Gymnastics Club | Chesapeake, Va.
Conkling on Rothman: "Jessica is a very consistent, well-rounded gymnast that is strong on all four events. She has proved her all-around consistency by qualifying to Junior Olympic Nationals the past two years and was the state balance beam champion in 2014."
Madison Solka | All-Around | Cary-Grove HS | Crystal Lake Gymnastics Club | Cary, Ill.
Conkling on Solka: "Madison has a lot of talent, has succeeded both in club and high school gymnastics, and has shown great improvement within the past year on all four events. At the 2014 Eastern Nationals, she was fourth in the all-around and national champion on both the balance beam and floor exercise, along with being the regional All-around and floor exercise champion. She was also the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Champion on uneven bars."
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