Standout Class to Join Gator Gymnastics Team
Friday, November 14, 2014 | Gymnastics
An outstanding trio of gymnasts signed with the two-time defending NCAA Champion University of Florida gymnastics team, Gator head coach Rhonda Faehn announced Friday. The three will join the Gators for the 2016 season.
“We are thrilled to welcome this talented and highly motivated group to the Gator Gymnastics program,” Faehn said. “These student-athletes possess great technical execution, incredible work ethic and a desire that will continue the Florida Gators on the path of excellence athletically as well as academically.”
This class includes a two-time U.S. Senior National team member – Peyton Ernst - and a pair of reigning Junior Olympic Level 10 champions – Alicia Boren and Lacy Dagen.
· Ernst, a Senior International Elite competitor, was part of the 2013-14 and 2012-12 U.S. Senior National Teams. Since 2013, Ernst represented the U.S. in competitions in Canada, Italy, Mexico, Japan and Germany. She was fourth in 2013 P&G Championships' all-around, uneven bars and balance beam competition.
· Boren is the winner of all-around titles in the last three Junior Olympic National Level 10 Championships, claiming a total of seven J.O. event titles since 2012. Boren won the 2012 Nastia Liukin Cup floor exercise competition.
· Dagen took the 2014 J.O. Level 10 – Senior A balance beam title, while also claiming third in all-around and fourth in vault. She qualified to Junior International Elite with runner-up finish at 2012 Gliders National Elite Qualifier. The same year, she won the American Classic Junior floor exercise competition.
| Meet the New Gators | |
| Alicia Boren – Franklin Lakes, New Jersey | |
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| Three-time Junior Olympic National Level 10 all-around champion… 2014 J.O. Level 10 – Senior B all-around, balance beam and floor exercise champion… shared the vault title with current Gator freshman Alex McMurtry… won 2013 J.O. Level 10 – Junior D all-around and floor exercise titles – also took second on uneven bars and third on vault… 2012 J.O. National Level 10 – Junior B all-around champion – also runner-up on vault and third on beam… second on vault and tied for fifth on floor at 2013 Nastia Liukin Cup… also shared first on floor at 2012 Nastia Liukin Cup… 2014 Region 7 Senior B all-around, beam and floor champion – also took second on vault… three-time member of U.S. J.O. National Team (2014, 2013, 2012)… member of North Stars Gymnastics Academy and coached by Tony Gehman. |
| Photo by Lloyd Smith | |
| Coach Faehn Says: | |
| “Alicia is one of the most powerful and dynamic gymnasts to sign with a Gators. She is an incredibly tough competitor with wonderful consistency. Her team first attitude will only add to her many talents. I would expect Alicia to be an all-around competitor, but our fans will be amazed by her power on floor and vault. Alicia's love for the Gators runs deep, as both of her parents are Florida graduates.” | |
| Lacy Dagen – Pleasanton, California | |
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Photo by Heather Maynez | 2014 Junior Olympic Level 10 – Senior A balance beam champion – also third in all-around and fourth in vault… member of 2014 Junior Olympic National Team… 2014 Region 1 Championships – Senior A all-around, vault, balance beam and floor exercise champion… took floor exercise title in 2012 American Classic Junior 1 competition… seventh in vault in 2012 Visa Championships Junior Division… placed eighth in vault in 2012 Secret U.S. Classic Junior Division… qualified to Junior International Elite with runner-up all-around finish at 2012 Gliders National Elite Qualifier… fourth in all-around at 2012 WOGA National Elite Qualifier… sat out 2013 competition due to injury… member of San Mateo Gymnastics in Northern California and trains under coaches Armen Astoian and Oksana Bystrova. |
| Coach Faehn Says: | |
| “Lacy is a dynamic competitor with great attention to detail. She has a passion for gymnastics that shows through her performances. Lacy is especially strong on the power events, as well as the balance beam. Lacy has an “all in” attitude and will be a tremendously positive presence on the team.” | |
| Peyton Ernst – Coppell, Texas | |
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| Senior International Elite gymnast and two-time member of U.S. Senior National Team (2013-14 and 2012-13)… member of U.S. National team which won Pacific Rim and City of Jesolo Trophy team titles in 2014 – also second in all-around in Jesolo Trophy meet… second in all-around in both Mexican Open and Tokyo World Cup in 2013… fourth in all-around, uneven bars and balance beam at 2013 P&G Championships… won 2013 Secret U.S. Classic balance beam – also all-around and floor exercise runner-up and fourth on bars… tied for seventh in 2012 Visa Championships' junior division all-around and eighth in both vault and balance beam… member of U.S. team which won USA-Germany-Romania tri-meet and City of Jesolo Trophy in 2013 – second in tri-meet and fourth at Jesolo Trophy all-around competitions… trains at the Texas Dreams Club in Coppell, Texas… coached by 1991 World Championships' all-around gold medalist Kim Zmeskal-Burdette and Chris Burdette. |
| Photo by John Cheng | |
| Coach Faehn Says: | |
| “Peyton has already reached incredible heights on the international elite level and will bring excellence and poise to all four events. She is a skilled and confident competitor and will have an immediate impact on our program. I know that Peyton will have a tremendous Gator career. She has a beautiful and unique style to her gymnastics that will bring an artistic flair to the Gator line up.” |
