UCLA Gymnastics Signs Three More Star Recruits
April 15, 2015 | Gymnastics
The three will join two-time World all-around champion Simone Biles, 2014 World Championships gold medalist Madison Kocian and 2014 U.S. Championships competitor and 2015 Texas Level 10 state champion Macy Toronjo, who all signed in the early period last fall.
Ross, who hails from Aliso Viejo, Calif. and trains at Gym-Max, was the youngest member of the "Fierce Five" that won Olympic team gold in 2012. She continued to compete internationally after the Olympics and won the 2013 U.S. uneven bars and balance beam titles and a silver medal in the all-around. She was also a silver medalist in the all-around, bars and beam at the 2013 World Championships. In 2014, she repeated as U.S. beam champion and all-around silver medalist and helped the U.S. team win gold at the World Championships while capturing bronze in the all-around. Recently, she won the uneven bars crown at the City of Jesolo Trophy in Italy. Ross will be the second member of the "Fierce Five" to join the UCLA Gymnastics team. Jordyn Wieber is a second-year team manager for the Bruins.
"I just have felt from the time Kyla was little that she should come to UCLA," Kondos Field said. "I felt it was a perfect fit for her, and I'm so glad that she came to that realization as well. Coming to UCLA, she can have it all. You get a Kyla Ross once in a blue moon. She is the quintessential student-athlete, and coming in with amazing credentials as an Olympic gold medalist and multiple World medalist."
Ohashi comes to UCLA from WOGA in Plano, Texas. The 2013 AT&T American Cup all-around champion has had tremendous results internationally, winning a total of four gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the City of Jesolo Trophy in 2012 and 2011. In 2012, she dominated at the Pacific Rim Championships, winning team, all-around, bars, beam and floor gold in the junior division. She also won the junior all-around bars, beam and floor titles at the 2011 U.S. Championships and captured second in the all-around and first on bars at the 2010 U.S. Championships. Ohashi is currently competing at Level 10 and placed second on vault and beam at the State Championships last month.
"The world of gymnastics just loves Katelyn, and she's got such an international following," said Kondos Field. "I think I can speak for everyone in saying that we're so glad she is able to be healthy and competing this year. She's a beautiful gymnast, and she's extremely talented. She was born to do this sport. She's going to bring a lot of unique qualities to this team. I don't know if a lot of people know this, but she is hysterical. I'm really looking forward to having her in my life daily.
Preston, who hails from Loveland, Ohio and trains at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, is the Level 10 National Champion on vault with a score of 9.9. Preston also won the all-around and vault and placed second on beam and floor at the 2014 Level 10 State Championships and was fifth in the all-around and first on vault at the Region 5 Regionals.
"The minute I saw Madison, I thought, 'She's a UCLA Bruin,' and was so excited when she committed to us," said Kondos Field. "She reminds us a lot of Heidi Moneymaker. She has that type of dynamic and beautiful movement quality. We're really excited to have her."
Ohashi and Preston will enroll at UCLA in the fall, while Ross, along with Biles and Kocian, are planning to defer enrollment until after the Olympics in 2016.
"Our team really raised the bar this year with our home attendance breaking school records," Kondos Field said. "We know that this signing class will bring us the star power we need to take it to another level and to pack Pauley Pavilion in the years to come."