Nov. 18, 2012

TUCSON, Ariz. – University of Arizona women's gymnastics coach Bill Ryden announced Thursday that Gabby Bowling, Selynna Felix-Terrazas, and Mackenzie Valentin have signed National Letters-of-Intent to attend the school and do gymnastics. The four are expected to enroll and compete starting in the 2013-2014 school year.

A four-time level 10 Oklahoma State Champion, Bowling will join the Arizona gymnastics roster as an immediate contender. Bowling comes with 13 years of experience from Krafft Academy of Gymnastics under coaches Jean-Luc Carion and Kristi Krafft. So far in her career, Bowling is a four-time international competitor as well as a three-time national competitor in addition to qualifying to the J.O. National Championships all three years she has been eligible. Bowling also bolsters high scores of 9.75 on vault, 9.525 on bars, 9.650 on beam, 9.425 on floor and 37.750 all-around.

“Gabby was someone who was highly recruited by a lot of schools because she is such an all-around gymnast,” Ryden said. “I can’t tell you how excited we are to have Gabby on our team. With her skill level, she could walk into the gym tomorrow and compete. She’s a great kid with a great personality who will add great depth to the lineup.”

A Tucson local, Felix-Terrazas currently trains under Regina Mueller-Martin at Tucson Tumbleweeds Gymnastics. As a level 9, Felix-Terrazas took second place on vault with a 9.300, second place on beam with a 9.300, first place on floor with a 9.350 and first all-around with a 36.750 at the 2010 Region I Championships. That same year she swept bars with a score of 9.600 and the all-around with a score of 37.350 at the 2010 Western Championships. In her first year of level 10, Felix-Terrazas qualified to the J.O. National Championships, bolstering high scores from the season of 9.550 on vault, 9.450 on bars, 9.400 on beam, 9.475 on floor and 37.475 all-around.

“Selynna is a home grown product, but she is also a natural talent. Her upside is ridiculous; I have seen very few gymnasts who are as quick and as fast as Selynna,” Ryden said. “I knew the moment I walked in and watched her train that I wanted her on the team.”

Hailing from Mustang, Okla. Valentin comes to Arizona with 14 years of experience under coaches Christian Ivanon, Coral Borda, and Dejon Sawyer of Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy. Valentin took first place on vault with a score of 9.775 at the 2012 WOGA Classic. She also took second place on vault (9.750), bars (9.300), and all-around (36.700) in the 2012 Oklahoma Optional State Meet. Most recently, Valentin qualified to the 2012 JO National Championships and took second place on vault with a score of 9.650 and third place all-around with a score of 37.600.

“Mackenzie can add significant depth and challenge for competing time on all four events, and a high level of difficulty on all of them as well. This attracted us to her because she is an all-around athlete with the skill level necessary to compete for a starting job on our team,” head coach Bill Ryden said.

Overall, Ryden is extremely happy with the class and is excited to see what they will bring.

“These three recruits will contribute on every event. I consider all three of them pure all-arounders, so their addition brings us 12 events. [Associate head coach] John Court and I are smiling ear to ear about this year’s incoming class,” Ryden said.

While the girls are finishing up their senior years, the Arizona women's gymnastics team is preparing for the upcoming season, which begins January 6 in Berkeley, Calif.