Gymnastics Adds Four to the 2019 Season
November 09, 2017 | Gymnastics
"The coaching staff and myself are very pleased with this class of recruits," Saleem said. "They all have very specific attributes that I believe will contribute to the future success of this program."
Livelsberger, a Kernersville, N.C., native and a three time Regional qualifier is an all-around gymnast from High Point Gymnastics Academy. Under the instruction of Rob Travers, Buddy Thorburn, and Tatiana Skrypnyk she placed 8th in the all-around competition in 2017. Later she advanced to the National spotlight where she placed fourty-fifth in the all-around.Â
"Marina is the total package, she is a hardworking, passionate student-athlete who has only just begun to hit her stride," Saleem stated. "While a strong all-around gymnast, she continues to add high level skills on uneven bars and floor which will make her a fan favorite on those two events. I believe the best is yet to come. Marina's personality fits in very well with our team. Her positive attitude, family values and strong academics will help her make an immediate impact as a member of the Cardinal family."
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Nychyk hails from Fort Meyers, Fla., where she trains as an all-around gymnast at Coast Elite under the coaching staff Cathi Curtis and Dave Zwiefelhofer. She is a five time Regional qualifier and a two time Junior Olympic National qualifier with numerous event state titles, Florida State Champion 2016 (FX), 2017 (UB, FX, AA).Â
"Marissa is a seasoned veteran having competed as a level 10 gymnast for 6 years," Saleem said. "Her experience as a five-time Regional Qualifier and two-time JO Nationals Qualifier is an invaluable asset for this softer spoken young lady. She has a quiet confidence about her, but make no mistake, she is a competitor. She is excited to start her collegiate experience and join our team. I see her being a quiet leader helping those around her to keep their focus in the gym and on the competition floor."Â
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Wiest, a Lexana, Kan., native and 2017 JO National floor champion, will come to Ball State from Fusion Gymnastics. She is a four time Regional qualifier, placing fourth in the all-around in 2016 and 2017.
"I am so happy to have Julia join our team next year," Saleem said. "She has a very bubbly, outgoing personality that is contagious. Her family values and being one of five children provides a solid background of working well with others and independent problem-solving skills. Watching Julia compete gymnastics is like watching art, she draws you into the routine and makes you want to see it again. She is a successful high caliber gymnast, the 2016 JO National Floor Champion, and has a huge vault, beautiful beam and is very strong in the All-Around. Her training environment at Fusion Gymnastics has taught her how to train like a colligate gymnast and I believe she will make an impact on the Cardinal history books early in her career."
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Elsadek, an all-around gymnast from Lakewood Ranch gymnastics, competed in the all-around for coaches David and Laura Parraga. She is a two time Regional qualifier placing fourth in the all-around in 2017. In the same year Elsadek moved onto JO Nationals where she placed thirty-seventh in the all-around competition.
"Sandra had a strong gymnastics year in 2017, qualifying for JO Nationals for the first time," Saleem said. "Something that stood out to me in the recruiting process is that her coach described her as a late bloomer, stating that the summer before her junior year things just started to click for her, both gymnastically and socially. Since then she has been unstoppable. She is hungry to prove herself on the competition floor and in the classroom. I enjoy her no nonsense, hard working approach to her gymnastics training. She is a powerful gymnast that should make the floor line up exciting to watch. She is also a strong all-around gymnast who will add quality depth to our line-ups."
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