Utah State Gymnastics Signs Three For 2015

After coming off its best season since 2007, Utah State [University] gymnastics signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, it was announced Tuesday [Nov. 25] by second year head coach Nadalie Walsh. Emily Briones (Bri-o-nez), Natalie Rainbolt and Madison Ward will enroll at Utah State and join the team next fall.

“I am really happy to have these girls join the Aggie family,” Walsh said. “The amount of Aggie pride these girls already have is exactly what this program needs to keep moving to the next level. Emily and Madison’s gymnastics brings a lot of difficulty and power, especially on floor. While Natalie’s difficulty is still incredible, what separates her is her beauty, lines and grace in her gymnastics.”

Briones is from San Antonio, Texas, and trains at USA Aerial Athletics. During this past season, she qualified to the Junior Olympic National Championships, tying for 12th in the all-around. At the Metroplex Challenge, Briones took home the top spot on beam, floor and the all-around. At the 2013 Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament (NIT), she placed first on beam, second on floor and third in the all-around.

Rainbolt is a native of Lawrence, Kan., and trains at Fuzion Gymnastics under coaches Jackie Flanery-Heredia and Michael Heredia. Rainbolt had a strong 2014 season, finishing second on vault, bars, floor and all-around at the Metroplex Challenge. In 2013, she qualified to Junior Olympic Nationals where she finished eighth on floor. She was also the state beam and floor champion as well as finishing second in the all-around.

A native of Rexburg, Idaho, Ward trains at Idaho Elite Gymnastics under Sergei Popov. In 2014, she qualified to Junior Olympics Nationals and was the Region 2 bar champion, while placing fifth in the all-around. She also took first on vault, floor and the all-around at the Gem State Invitational.

The Utah State gymnastics team opens its 2015 season with its Blue and White intrasquad meet Wednesday, Dec. 3, before beginning official competition at home against Air Force Friday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m.

For USU gymnastics ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

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