Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Team Adds Recruit to 2010-11 Class
June 07, 2010 | Gymnastics
Kristin Vignola, a senior at Delsea High School in New Jersey and a member of Atlantic Coast Gymnastics Club, has signed a national letter of intent to attend Ball State and compete on the women's gymnastics team, according to head coach Nadalie Walsh.
"Kristin is a decorated Junior Olympic gymnast," Walsh says. "We are really excited to have her high level skills and seasoned experience joining our team this fall. Kristin has a lot of standout floor skills and we are looking forward to adding her to the program. She is an outstanding student and we really believe she will become a great leader both academically and athletically."
Vignola competed from 2008-10 for the Atlantic Coast Gymnastics Club for coaches Nic Tomasette, Darlene Bland and Jesse Rappaport. She served as team captain and was a three time state and regional qualifier in addition to back-to-back appearances at the Junior Olympic Nationals.
Vignola qualified for the Level 10 Junior Olympic Nationals and finished 21st on the floor, 27th on the vault and 34th in the all-around. It marked her second straight appearance at the Junior Olympic Nationals, having placed seventh on the floor and 17th on the vault in 2009. Vignola managed top-10 finishes on the floor (2nd), vault (5th), bars (6th) and all-around (6th) at the state meet in 2010 and advanced to Regionals where she was second on the beam, floor and all-around plus was fifth on the bars.
At the 2009 State Meet, Vignola placed third on the floor, foruth on the beam and sixth on the vault. She advanced to Regionals and was third on the floor, sixth on the beam and seventh in the all-around.
In addition to her club gymnastics career, Vignola competed in club soccer for 12 seasons. She helped teams to eight indoor championships, five conference titles, the 2005 3 vs. 3 World Championships and a second place showing at the 2009 3 vs. 3 World Championships.
The daughter of Dan and Lidia Vignola, Kristin has two brothers -- Daniel and Matt -- competing in soccer at Drexel, and one sister, Kassie, who played soccer for Gloucester County College.
Vignola joins Aftyn Siemer, who is graduating in three years from Franklin Heights High School in Ohio, as a member of Ball State's 2010-11 recruiting class. Siemer has competed at Integrity Gymnastics Club for the last two seasons under the tutelage of 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist Natalia Laschenova, who won the gold while competing for the Soviet Union. For eight years, Siemer competed for Dave Anthony at Universal Gymnastics Club in Ohio.
