Pitt Gymnastics Signs Two During Early Period
11/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Nov. 11, 2010
PITTSBURGH -
The Pitt gymnastics team has received a signed letter of intent from Brianna Hogan of Hudsonville, Mich., and Haley Bodenheimer of Winston Salem, N.C., announced head coach Debbie Yohman Wednesday.
Hogan, ranked second in her class of 385 at Hudsonville High, will look to work towards a pre-med degree in order to become a physician’s assistant. Hogan trains at Gedderts’ Twistars, one of the top age group clubs in the country, where she earned the 2010 Michigan state all-around and bar titles, as well as runner-up finishes on the beam and floor exercise. In addition, Hogan finished third on the floor and fifth on the bars at Region 5 competition, and finished in the top two on the bars, beam and floor during most of the 2010 regular season.
“Bri is absolutely the kind of kid that coaches just love,” Yohman said. “She works hard, she’s respectful, she’s inquisitive and positive. From an athletic standpoint she’s strong, lean and healthy. From a gymnastics standpoint, she has a beautiful line, pretty skills and a ton of potential. We look at her as a future leader in many ways.”
In 2009, Hogan was a J.O. national qualifier, finishing 18th in the all-around. Hogan also earned the regional beam title and state bars title in 2009. As a Level 9 gymnast in 2008, Hogan was the Eastern National beam champion and finished fourth on the bars and seventh in the all-around. Club coach John Geddert stated “Bri combines the rare combination of talent with the desire to train hard and the personality of a saint. She is simply a million dollar kid.”
Hogan is involved in the National Honor Society and Student Council at Hudsonville High School, and serves as a “Big Sister” to 12 younger age group gymnasts at Twistars.
Bodenheimer will come to Pitt from RJ Reynolds High School and currently trains at Salem Gymnastics under Jason Braun. Additionally, Bodenheimer was home schooled from fourth to eighth grades while she trained in the USAG Elite/International program. Originally, she trained with Ludmilla Shoebe of Southeastern Gymnastics, who stated that Haley is the number one talent in the U.S. that she has coached and compares her to some of her Russian athletes who were among the best in the world.
“Haley will definitely leave her own mark, but she reminds me in so many ways of Andrea Arlotta, who was such a record setter for this Pitt team,” Yohman said. “The level and path of her training, her motivation, her talent, all leads us to believe that she’ll be a challenger for many of Drea’s records. Also, she is a fearsome competitor!”
Bodenheimer is a three-time Level 10 state and regional champion, a six-time National Team member and a 2005 and 2006 International Elite qualifier. In 2010, she was the state champion on vault, runner-up on bars and beam and placed 10th in the all-around at the Junior Olympics.
“Both Bri and Haley will bring with them not only their successful competitive experience but a great consistent technical foundation of the sport, which is demonstrated in their work ethic, progress and ultimately their success,” assistant coach Michael Rowe said. “They emulate the finest in every capacity of the attributes we’re striving for in recruiting athletes that will help move our program forward.”
Pitt’s gymnastics team will take to the mat for the first time in the 2011 season on Jan. 7 against Ball State at Fitzgerald Field House at 7 p.m. For additional information on the Panthers, visit www.PittsburghPanthers.com.
Players Mentioned
