Ball State University Athletics
Gymnastics Signs Three Student-Athletes for 2015-16
December 01, 2014 | Gymnastics
Three high school seniors – Sydney Finke, Morgan Fridey and Madie Howell – have signed national letters of intent to attend Ball State and compete on the gymnastics team in 2015-16, according to Cardinals' head coach Joanna Saleem.
“The recruiting class for 2015-2016 is exceptionally strong and will allow us to continue the momentum Ball State Gymnastics has gained since I took over the program last year,” Saleem said. “All three of these young ladies have national level competitive experience that will allow them to make an immediate impact as freshmen.”
Finke, who competes at Wright's Gymnastics in Greenwood, Ind., for Coach Michelle Hart and Ball State alum Paige Oswalt, participated in the 2014 National Invitational Tournament. She won the beam, placed second on the vault and the all-around, plus was third on the floor. A member of the Perry Meridian High School National Honor Society where she achieved academic letter honors and a letter for orchestra, Finke is the daughter of Timothy and Rebecca Finke. She owns a 3.92 grade-point average on the school's 4.0 scale and plans to major in social work at Ball State.
“Sydney Finke is an excellent all-around gymnast who will make an immediate impact to our team with her high skill level,” Saleem said. “Sydney is a hard worker who is dedicated to always pushing herself to achieve excellence.”
Fridey, a senior at Lower Dauphin High School in Pennsylvania, competes for Prestige Gymnastics for coaches Jen and Tony Fatta. She was a 2014 qualifier of the Level 10 Junior Olympic National competition and earned a fourth place on beam and the all around. A multi-sport student-athlete, Fridey holds school records in track and field as a member of the 400-meter relay and in the long and triple jump events. The daughter of Dave and Kelly Fridey, she owns a 3.78 GPA on the school's 4.0 scale and plans to major in exercise science at Ball State.
“Morgan has a unique set of gymnastics skills and a training philosophy we are looking forward to adding to the Ball State lineup,” Saleem said. “Morgan possesses an extraordinary level of grace and power which will allow her to excel as a gymnast in college.”
Howell is a senior at Fairfield high School in Hamilton, Ohio, and competes for coaches Whitney Snowden, Amanda Surine and Rachael Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy. Howell was the bar champion, beam runner-up and a third-place finisher in the all-around at the Ohio state meet in 2014. She earned a spot at the 2014 National Invitational Tournament where she placed second on both beam and in the all around. The daughter of Robert and Heather Howell, she owns a 3.58 GPA on her school's 4.0 scale and plans to major in education at Ball State.
“Madison is a top caliber gymnast on all four events with years of high level achievements,” Saleem said. “We are excited she will be part of the Ball State family. Her dynamic, eye catching gymnastics is just plain fun to watch.”
The Ball State gymnastics team will open is 2015 season Sun., Jan. 11 when they host Florida in Irving Gym at the Jo Ann Gora Student Recreation and Wellness Center at 1 p.m.
To keep up-to-date on Ball State gymnastics, follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateGym on Twitter.
