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Gymnast Salute

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Gymnast Salute is Dedicated to sharing stories and inspirations to increase your enjoyment of gymnastics. Join the Community by filling out the contact form and subscribing to the newsletter list under the contact tab.


Interview With Connor McCool
What made you want to coach gymnastics? I’ve been obsessed with gymnastics from the beginning, studying the rules in my early teens. I was always going to stay in gymnastics, but NCAA was the goal after supporting my teammates on the women’s team at Illinois and was drawn to the parity, support, viewership, and competitiveness of the women’s side of the sport. From early in college I decided that’s where I wanted to be. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you starte
nataliemalover
3 minutes ago4 min read


Interview With Natalya Scholes
How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport? I was 4 years old when I started the sport! My parents put me into the sport after watching me flip and swing on everything in sight, and my passion has never faded since! What is your favorite meet, your favorite and least favorite events, and the hardest/easiest skill you ever trained? My favorite meet is the Legacy Luau! My favorite event is bars, and I don't necessarily have a least f
nataliemalover
12 minutes ago3 min read


Washington Rise: Making Moves
If you want to see a team that is quietly building something really special, look at the Washington GymDawgs. Moving into the Big Ten is a huge challenge, but Washington has shown they are not backing down. They are working hard to climb up the rankings, bringing huge energy every single week and showing the whole country they are a team on the rise. The Engines of the Momentum The real reason this team is building so much momentum is their awesome coaching staff. Head Coach
Natalie Malover
3 hours ago2 min read


The Pitt Rise: Building Something Special in Pittsburgh
If you want to see a team that is quietly putting together all the pieces to be a major threat in the ACC, look at Pitt. Over the last few seasons, they have been working hard to climb the rankings, changing the culture, and getting their best scores in years. Plus, they are moving into a brand-new facility, making it a really exciting time for this program. Coaching Staff: The rise in Pittsburgh is led by Head Coach Casey Jo MacPherson. She knows exactly what it takes to
nataliemalover
6 hours ago2 min read


Penn State Gymnastics: A New Era
If you want to see the most exciting team on the rise in the Big Ten right now, look at Penn State. They are coming off a great season where they finished in the top 20 and made it to NCAA Regionals for the fourth year in a row. StateCollege.com Coaching Staff For the last nine seasons, Head Coach Sarah Brown was the leader who built this high-energy culture and kept the athletes healthy through a tough schedule. She did an amazing job, and she actually just took the head c
nataliemalover
13 hours ago2 min read


Missouri Gymnastics: The SEC's Rising Force
The Mizzou Rise: to SEC Powerhouse If you are looking for the most exciting upward trend in the SEC, look at the Mizzou Tigers. Over the last few years, the program has evolved from a team fighting for a regional spot into a nationally ranked powerhouse that consistently challenges the biggest names in the sport. Coaching Staff The momentum in Columbia is led by Head Coach Shannon Welker, who has been the architect of this rise. Welker has built a culture that is famously "t
nataliemalover
13 hours ago2 min read


The Rise of UCLA Gymnastics: A Legacy of Culture Over The Years
The Rise of UCLA Gymnastics: A Legacy of Culture Over Conquest Have you ever wondered what it feels like to fly? Or how a legendary program navigates a rough patch to climb back to the top? UCLA Gymnastics is a powerhouse, but its real impact goes way past the final score. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or you’ve never seen a meet, there is so much to learn from how they handle team culture. Speaking from my own experience—11 years as a club athlete, four years coaching, and t
nataliemalover
1 day ago3 min read


Michigan State:The Spartan Resilience
The Spartan Surge: Building a Powerhouse in East Lansing If you want to talk about building a program from the ground up, look at what’s happening in East Lansing. Michigan State has transformed from a program looking for its footing into a legitimate national powerhouse. Under Head Coach Mike Rowe, the Spartans have developed a culture of "accountability and unity" that is now the envy of many in the Big Ten. A Fresh Staff for a New Chapter There has been a big shift in the
Natalie Malover
2 days ago2 min read


The Twenty-Year Dynasty: Decoding the Legacy of Oklahoma Gymnastics
In college gym, coaching changes happen fast. Head coaches leaving, assistant roles swapping—it feels like it happens every single summer for most teams. But while everyone else is dealing with constant turnover, Oklahoma stays completely locked in. And the national titles just keep coming. With the news that Ashley Kerr is leaving after an incredible run, K.J. Kindler didn’t miss a single beat. She immediately brought Sooner legend Olivia Trautman back home to fill the role.
Natalie Malover
3 days ago2 min read


June Monthly Newsletter
In the month of June we had a lot of content all the way from featured interviews of coaches and athletes to how to get over a mental block to NCAA team spotlights. I am got the opportunity to interview so amazing coaches and gymnasts some of them include: University Of Interview Head Coach Josh Nilson University Of Iowa Gymnast Stella D Junior Elite Gymnast Alexis Reiner University Of Alabama Commit Kate LaCoursiere University Of Minnosota Gym-Act Team Head Coach University
nataliemalover
4 days ago1 min read


Gymnast Salute: Home Page
Welcome to the ultimate hub for all things gymnastics! Whether you’re looking for exclusive athlete interviews, community spotlights, or deep dives into the sport we love, the Gymnast Salute homepage is where it all lives. Dive into the latest stories and join the conversation! https://www.gymnastsalute.com/
Natalie Malover
4 days ago1 min read


Gymnast Salute: Subscribe
Don’t miss a single interview or deep dive! Join the Gymnast Salute community to get the latest gymnastics news, behind-the-scenes stories, and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here: https://www.gymnastsalute.com/subscribe
Natalie Malover
4 days ago1 min read


Bruin Magic Meets the Code of Points: Decoding UCLA’s Powerhouse Coaching Staff
UCLA’s Strategic Masterclass: The Art of the Perfect Staff While the rest of the NCAA is busy dealing with crazy off-season staff changes, UCLA is quietly playing chess. When Janelle McDonald took over the program, her mission was clear: fix the team culture, bring back that classic "Bruin Magic," and do it all without losing any technical precision. Fast forward to now, and she has completely delivered. She’s guided the Bruins back to the top, including a massive NCAA runner
Natalie Malover
7 days ago3 min read


Interview With Josh Nilson
What made you want to coach gymnastics? I actually never planned to be a gymnastics coach! I coached to pay for my degree and fell in love with it. Were you a gymnast yourself growing up before you started coaching the sport? I was! My first competition I was 6 years old. I competed for 11 years when a motorcycle accident sideline my training. How did you help your athletes overcome mental blocks? I think the most common thing I do is take everything back one step immediately
nataliemalover
Jul 22 min read


The New Reality: Navigating the Gymnastics Transfer Portal
My favorite beam picture when I was a gymnastics Miss it so much! Flipping the Script: Navigating the Double-Edged Sword of the NCAA Gymnastics Transfer Portal If you feel like the rosters in NCAA gymnastics are shifting faster than ever, you’re not imagining things. The "Transfer Portal" has officially become one of the most significant—and complex—parts of collegiate gymnastics. As a coach, I see the portal as a double-edged sword: it provides incredible freedom for athlete
Natalie Malover
Jul 23 min read


Interview With Iowa Gymnast Stella
How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport? I was 8 when I took my first rec gymnastics class. I was 9 when I joined team and got serious with it. Originally, I was in dance. I started dance when I was 2 years old. As I got older I started teaching myself how to tumble in the grass of my front lawn. I taught myself how to do back handsprings, back tucks, round off tumbling, etc. My parents then put me into acro class at my dance st
Natalie Malover
Jul 24 min read


Interview With Alexis Reiner
How old were you when you started gymnastics, and what originally drew you to the sport? I started gymnastics when I was 6 years old. My mom had done gymnastics growing up, so my parents thought I’d give it a try because of the discipline and life lessons it teaches. We had tried just about every other sport and activity, but I got bored with all of them. Gymnastics was different—it challenged me every day, and I fell in love with always having something new to learn. What is
nataliemalover
Jul 22 min read


Auburn Gymnastics: An New Era
Auburn’s New Era: The Ryan Roberts Effect If you’ve been following the SEC coaching carousel, you know it’s been a massive off-season for Auburn. With a new head coach and a staff full of fresh energy, there is a lot of buzz surrounding the Tigers right now. As a coach and judge, I love seeing programs make moves to "elevate"—and that is exactly what Auburn is doing. Here is the breakdown of why this team is a must-watch for the 2027 season. The Visionary: Ryan Roberts The bi
Natalie Malover
Jul 12 min read


A Dive Into The Texas State Gymnastics Head Coach Sarah Brown
History in the Making: Sarah Brown Named Head Coach of Texas State’s Inaugural D1 Gymnastics Program Texas gymnastics is officially entering a brand-new era, and they just found the perfect powerhouse to lead the charge. On June 30th, 2026, Texas State University made waves across the NCAA gymnastics community by announcing former Penn State head coach Sarah Brown as the very first head coach in the program's history. As Texas State prepares to launch the first-ever Division
nataliemalover
Jun 302 min read


Cal Gymnastics: Building A New Tradition
The Cal Golden Bears: A New Era in Berkeley When Geralen Stack-Eaton took the helm as the 14th head coach of the California Golden Bears in the summer of 2025, she inherited a program with a proud legacy—and she immediately set out to put her own stamp on it. In her first season, Stack-Eaton led the Bears to a top-15 national ranking and a second-place finish in the ACC regular-season standings, proving that Cal is still a powerhouse in this new era. California Golden Bears A
Natalie Malover
Jun 302 min read
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