TUCSON, Ariz – Interim head coach John Court has released the official Arizona Gymnastics staff for the 2017-18 season. Newcomers include assistant coach Dianna Ranelli, volunteer coach Andrea Synder-Pedersen, and manager Charlotte Spencer. David McCreary, entering his third year with the GymCats, has also been promoted to associate head coach.
 
"I am honored and thrilled to welcome Dianna, Andrea, and Charlotte into our program," said Court. "Dianna's perspective as a former student-athlete, who competed on a national level along with her years of coaching experience and background in physical therapy will provide great value to our student-athletes."
 
Ranelli has over 20 years of gymnastics coaching experience under her belt, and has spent the previous nine years working as the head coach and gym manager of Spring Gymnastics in Tucson.
 
"I'm very thankful to John and David for this opportunity to work along side them," said Ranelli.  "I'm excited to pass on my knowledge and experience to help the team and staff reach their goals for the upcoming season."
 
Ranelli is an alumna of the University of Michigan, where she helped her team reach the NCAA Super Six three out of four years and was Big Ten All Academic her entire collegiate career. She also worked closely with Michigan head coach Beverly Plocki.

"I'm really excited for Dianna to have been given this opportunity," said Plocki. "She is a very positive and compassionate coach and she will be a tremendous addition to Arizona."
 
Snyder-Pedersen spent 22 years as an NCAA gymnastics judge, who also coached at Saratoga Gymnastics for 23 years. She graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in physical education and earned her master's in health education.
 
"I'm really looking forward to coaching with John," said Synder-Pedersen. "I've known him since coaching at the University of Vermont and I think this is a great opportunity and I'm looking forward to it."
 
"I have known Andrea for many years now and have always respected her as a person and for what she has done for the sport of gymnastics," said Court. "Having another coach who is able to give quality skill instruction and also provide feedback based on her years as a gymnastics official will only make us perform better as a team."
 
Spencer is a freshman at the University of Arizona, studying architecture. She is from Scottsdale and is the younger sister of junior Danielle Spencer. Charlotte was involved in gymnastics for almost 10 years but unfortunately had to retire her freshman year of high school due to a serious injury. She enjoys drawing, reading, and hiking.
 
McCreary, who has spent the past two years as an assistant coach for the Cats, will now be the associate head coach, working along side Court. Prior to Arizona, McCreary worked at the University of Washington for nine seasons. In 2011, McCreary was named the Assistant Coach of the Year and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year.

"I am honored and grateful to continue this journey we started two years ago here at Arizona," said McCreary. 
 
"Our program has benefited from having David on staff the last two seasons," said Court. "His coaching experience at the collegiate and elite level makes us stronger as a unit and his dedication to our student-athletes has been unwavering."
 
Returning to the Arizona Gymnastics staff is Rob Harris, strength and conditioning coach; Samantha Yeoman, athletic trainer; Sarah Howard, academic counselor; and Jordan Hall, team manager.
 
"Our strongest asset as a staff is that we are all on the same page and have incredible knowledge is our assigned areas," said Court. "We have worked hard over the summer planning for this season and we are excited to get things started."
 
Stay connected with Arizona Gymnastics. Follow the GymCats on social media and join them through the 2017-2018 season! You can follow the team at arizonawildcats.com/gymnastics, on Facebook at facebook.com/ArizonaGymnastics, and on Twitter @AZGymnastics.