Aug. 16, 2011
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State gymnastics head coach Bob Conkling announced the addition of three new members to the team's 2011-12 roster Tuesday, with the additions of Heather Pena (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), Megan Yee (Aurora, Ill.) and transfer Kristen Lieberman (Lake Forest, Ill.).
Conkling is pleased to add talented newcomers to the Redbird gymnastics program and looks forward to working with them in the fall when they return to campus.
"With these latest additions to the program, we have a total of five new gymnasts for the fall," Conkling said. "All five of these gymnasts bring in a variety of talent and skills that should help us in the 2012 season on each of the 4 events."
Yee, a native of Aurora, Ill., attended Waubonsie Valley High School and was a member of the Naperville Gymnastics Club. During the 2009 season, Yee placed fourth on the balance beam at the Level 9 Eastern Nationals qualifier. She followed that up in 2010 by placing 10th in the all-around at the Level 10 state qualifier and was also a Level 10 regional qualifier.
"I'm excited about Megan joining our team this fall," Conkling said. "We all know how good Megan is on balance beam, and I see her battling to make line-up her freshman year on this event. What we don't know yet is how many events she will battle for this year or throughout her college career."
Pena comes to Illinois State via Pembroke Pines, Fla., and Charles W. Flanagan High School. A member of the Park Avenue Gymnastics Club team, Pena was a Level 9 regional champion on the beam and the floor exercise and advanced to the Level 9 Eastern Nationals. She was also a two-time Level 10 regional qualifier during her prep career.
"Heather is a very powerful gymnast with a lot of skills," Conkling said. "Floor and vault are her two best events, but I like her work on balance the beam, too. With Heather's power and talent, I think the sky is the limit for her college career."
A transfer from Boise State, Lieberman competed for Illinois Gymnastics Institute in Westmont, Ill., and was a Level 10 regional and national qualifier in 2010. She was second on the beam, fourth in the all-around and placed sixth on the floor at the 2010 regionals. She was also a Level 10 state and regional qualifier in 2009.
"It's a pleasure to have Kristen transfer back to her home state for her sophomore year," Conkling said. "Kristen is a strong all-around gymnast with vault and bars as her two best events, but floor is a close third. Kristen's strengths are that she is powerful and clean and we are really looking forward to helping her reach her goals as a college gymnast."
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