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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Gymnastics Announces Newcomers for 2016-17 Season
11/1/2016 4:25:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
DURHAM, N.H. – University of New Hampshire gymnastics head coach Gail Goodspeed welcomed five student-athletes to the squad in the fall of 2016. Lexi Calandra (Suffern, N.Y.), Brittany Capozzi (Derry, N.H.), Riley Freehling (Southington, Conn.), Ava Watkins (Cherry Hill, N.J.) and Emma Winer (Georgetown, Mass.) join a Wildcats team that finished second at the 2016 East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) Championship and was undefeated at home last season.
"We are extremely excited about the newcomers to our team and look forward to their contributions," said Goodspeed. "They increase our depth on every event as well as enhancing our high skill level."
"Riley Freehling and Ava Watkins will challenge for a spot in the all-around, Emma Winer and Lexi Calandra have strengths on vault, beam, and floor and should challenge for a lineup spot on all three," Goodspeed added. "Lexi also has the ability to compete on bars, while Emma is not training the event this season while recovering from a shoulder issue. Brittany Capozzi has beautiful beam and floor, and is a possible contender on both of these events having already gained a year of collegiate experience. These additions to the team will push the upperclassmen to continue to improve as well as making an immediate impact on the lineup."
Calandra is a four-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and four-time Regional competitor who trained at Galaxy Gymnastics in Orangeburg, N.Y. She was the balance beam champion and captured second place in the floor exercise at the 2016 Level 10 New York State championships. Calandra, who was a member of the Italian National Honors Society, has multiple skills that will allow her to contribute in all four events.
Capozzi, a sophomore who transferred from the University of Bridgeport, was a Level 10 JO National competitor and took second place in the 2015 High School Regional all-around competition while representing Pinkerton Academy. During her freshman year at Bridgeport, Capozzi compiled a 3.6 GPA and was named to the Dean's List. The Derry, N.H. native looks to be a fierce competitor on the beam and floor in 2017.
Freehling, a three-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor, was a member of the Connecticut Gymnastics Academy in Wallingford, Conn., where she was coached by her father, Brock Freehling, and Dawn Albon. As a senior in 2016, she placed 10th in the all-around, sixth on beam and seventh on uneven bars at nationals. Freehling also was the champion on bars, beam, and in the all-around competition at regionals. She was also the all-around and balance beam champion at the state meet in 2016. Her skills in all events will find her fighting for an all-around spot in the upcoming season.
Watkins is a two-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and four-time regional qualifier who competed for Todd Weiss, Tom Krupa, and Chris Fennel at TNT Elite Gymnastics. In 2016 she was a regional competitor and finished third on bars and floor. Her 2015 accomplishments include competing at the Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championship where she placed sixth on beam. That same year she was the regional champion in the all-around and beam, as well as placing third on bars. She was named to the honor roll in each of her four years at Cherry Hill West High School. The New Jersey native will also challenge for a spot in the all-around this year.
Winer, a two-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and three-time Regional competitor. Winer was the Champion on the vault, beam, floor, and all-around at Regionals during her senior year and was also the beam Champion at the State meet. She suffered an injury during her junior season, but returned to again qualify for Nationals in 2016. The Massachusetts native was a member of the National Honor Society at Georgetown High School. Winer will seek to compete on vault, beam and floor exercise in 2017.
For more information on the UNH gymnastics program, visit www.unhwildcats.com.
"We are extremely excited about the newcomers to our team and look forward to their contributions," said Goodspeed. "They increase our depth on every event as well as enhancing our high skill level."
"Riley Freehling and Ava Watkins will challenge for a spot in the all-around, Emma Winer and Lexi Calandra have strengths on vault, beam, and floor and should challenge for a lineup spot on all three," Goodspeed added. "Lexi also has the ability to compete on bars, while Emma is not training the event this season while recovering from a shoulder issue. Brittany Capozzi has beautiful beam and floor, and is a possible contender on both of these events having already gained a year of collegiate experience. These additions to the team will push the upperclassmen to continue to improve as well as making an immediate impact on the lineup."
Calandra is a four-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and four-time Regional competitor who trained at Galaxy Gymnastics in Orangeburg, N.Y. She was the balance beam champion and captured second place in the floor exercise at the 2016 Level 10 New York State championships. Calandra, who was a member of the Italian National Honors Society, has multiple skills that will allow her to contribute in all four events.
Capozzi, a sophomore who transferred from the University of Bridgeport, was a Level 10 JO National competitor and took second place in the 2015 High School Regional all-around competition while representing Pinkerton Academy. During her freshman year at Bridgeport, Capozzi compiled a 3.6 GPA and was named to the Dean's List. The Derry, N.H. native looks to be a fierce competitor on the beam and floor in 2017.
Freehling, a three-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor, was a member of the Connecticut Gymnastics Academy in Wallingford, Conn., where she was coached by her father, Brock Freehling, and Dawn Albon. As a senior in 2016, she placed 10th in the all-around, sixth on beam and seventh on uneven bars at nationals. Freehling also was the champion on bars, beam, and in the all-around competition at regionals. She was also the all-around and balance beam champion at the state meet in 2016. Her skills in all events will find her fighting for an all-around spot in the upcoming season.
Watkins is a two-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and four-time regional qualifier who competed for Todd Weiss, Tom Krupa, and Chris Fennel at TNT Elite Gymnastics. In 2016 she was a regional competitor and finished third on bars and floor. Her 2015 accomplishments include competing at the Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championship where she placed sixth on beam. That same year she was the regional champion in the all-around and beam, as well as placing third on bars. She was named to the honor roll in each of her four years at Cherry Hill West High School. The New Jersey native will also challenge for a spot in the all-around this year.
Winer, a two-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor and three-time Regional competitor. Winer was the Champion on the vault, beam, floor, and all-around at Regionals during her senior year and was also the beam Champion at the State meet. She suffered an injury during her junior season, but returned to again qualify for Nationals in 2016. The Massachusetts native was a member of the National Honor Society at Georgetown High School. Winer will seek to compete on vault, beam and floor exercise in 2017.
For more information on the UNH gymnastics program, visit www.unhwildcats.com.
Players Mentioned
AA
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BB, FX
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
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AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
V, BB, FX
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