Snider Announces Incoming Pitt Gymnastics Class
11/12/2020 1:25:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
Four Panthers to Join Gymnastics Program
PITTSBURGH – Entering her fourth season at the helm of the Pitt gymnastics program, head coach Samantha Snider announced the signing of four incoming Panthers Thursday.
"From top to bottom, this is overall one of our most talented signing classes in recent years," Snider said. "We're looking forward to the immediate impact this class will have on our program and the next level of success these athletes will bring to Pittsburgh."
Snider added Marisa Aiello, Hallie Copperwheat, Nancy Kiner and Sidney Washington, who will each begin their careers at the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
Marisa Aiello | All-Around | Chesterfield, Mich. | Hunts Gymnastics Academy
CLUB
Level 10 Qualifier for the 2019 Women's JO National Championships … Tied for second on vault at the 2019 Region 5 Level 10 Championships … Placed third on bars, fourth in the all-around at the 2019 Level 10 Michigan State Championships … Three-time competitor at the Level 10 Michigan State Championships … First Alternate Nationals Qualifier Level 9 Jr 4 (2016) … Regional Qualifier Level 10 Jr C (2017) … Regional Qualifier Level 10 Jr E (2018) … Level 10 Nationals Qualifier Sr A (2019) … Won beam and placed second in the all-around at 2020 Elevate the Stage … Placed first on vault at the 2020 Tulip City Invitational … Level 10 competitor since 2016 with Hunts Gymnastics Academy.
PERSONAL
Born Dec. 11, 2002 … Daughter of Chris and Mary Aiello … Has two older brothers: Christopher and Nicholas … Enjoys cooking and caring for her pets, which includes two dogs, two cats and a sugar glider … Once owned a hedgehog, a chinchilla and turtles … Attended Regina High School … Member of the Honor Roll.
AIELLO ON PITT
"I chose to go to the University of Pittsburgh because of the incredible academics and especially for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Pitt gymnastics team. After my initial tour of the campus and meeting Coach Samantha Snider and her team, I knew that Pitt was the perfect fit for me."
SNIDER ON AIELLO
"Marisa is a powerful gymnast who we expect to contribute on all four events immediately. She's an outstanding young woman who we are excited to have as part of our future here at Pitt. She's the type of athlete who will continue to elevate our program's success on a national level."
Hallie Copperwheat | All-Around | Leighton Buzzard, England | Sapphire School of Gymnastics
CLUB
Six-time member of the Great Britain Gymnastics squad … Two-time member of the England Gymnastics squad … Represented England at the 2019 Leverkusen Cup in Germany … Placed seventh in the all-around at the 2019 Senior English Championship … Finished sixth on bars and 12th in the all-around at the 2019 Senior British Championships … Represented Great Britain as a junior at the 2018 Jeselo Trophy in Italy … Placed fifth in the 2018 Junior English Championships … Placed third in the AA at the 2017 Junior English Championships … 2014 AA British Champion … coached by Mel Bunyan and Annie Price for 10 years at the Sapphire School of Gymnastics.
PERSONAL
Born March 17, 2003 … Daughter of Stuart and Nicci Copperwheat … Has an older sister, Daniella … Attended Cedars Upper School … District champion in the 80m sprint in middle school … Ran a total of 121km during lockdown in 2020.
COPPERWHEAT ON PITT
"The top academics and incredible facilities Pitt has to offer are truly unmatched. The gymnastics team has such a family bond and as soon as I met Sam (Snider) and Ryan (Snider) I couldn't wait to be a part of the amazing program they and Dave (Kuzara) are building at the University of Pittsburgh."
SNIDER ON COPPERWHEAT
"Hallie is an outstanding gymnast who brings with her a wealth of international gymnastics experience. She will be a standout for us on all four events and will be exciting for Panther fans to watch. We are thrilled to have her in this signing class."
Nancy Kiner | All-Around | El Segundo, Calif. | Wallers' GymJam Academy
CLUB
Competed for Wallers' GymJam Academy in 2020 … Earned third place on beam, fourth place on bars and sixth place on vault at the 2020 Presidential Classic … Placed first on beam and second in the all-around at Chris Wallers' Heart of a Champion meet in February 2020 … Competing with Wildfire Gymnastics, was named runner-up on beam and third on bars at the 2019 Pacific Classic … Placed third on vault, bars and in the all-around at the 2018 Long Beach Open.
PERSONAL
Born Jan. 27, 2003 … Daughter of Maria and Michael Kiner … Has a younger sister, Alex … Grandfather is the late Ralph Kiner, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame who made his career debut with Pittsburgh, and whose jersey number 4 was retired by the Pirates in 1987 … Attended El Segundo High School … Three-time member of the Academic Honor Roll … Member of the National Honors Society … Won the Reflections Photography Contest as a sophomore … Had her work featured in the El Segundo Museum of Art in the photographic exhibit.
KINER ON PITT
"I chose the University of Pittsburgh because I felt the opportunities and the environment would help me thrive as a student, athlete and individual. Also, the gymnastics program at Pitt and the amazing coaches are everything I could ask for as an athlete. I am incredibly excited to be a Panther and I cannot wait to call Oakland my home. Another reason I chose to go to the University of Pittsburgh was due to my family's history in Pittsburgh. My grandfather, Ralph Kiner, made his career debut in Pittsburgh with the Pirates. After going to a Pirates game and seeing his retired number (4), I realized how amazing it would be to create a career and life for myself in the same city that was so good to my family."
SNIDER ON KINER
"Nancy is a beautiful gymnast with elegant lines who we expect to be competitive on multiple events. Her competitive spirit and passion for the sport are qualities which will push this program to new heights."
Sidney Washington | All-Around | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Gym America
CLUB
State Champion on vault, bars, floor and the all-around in 2019 … 2019 National Qualifier … 2019 Team National Champions in Junior F with Gym America … Placed first in the all-around at the 2020 Tim Rand Invitational, the Tampa Bay Turners Invite and the Wolverine Classic … First place in the all-around at the 2019 Gymnastics on the Grand meet, as well as Elevate the Stage, Excalibur Cup, Buckeye Classic and Wolverine classic.
PERSONAL
Born Feb. 23, 2003 … Daughter of Saddi and Channon Washington … Has a younger brother, Caleb … Member of the Gold Honor Roll at Saline High School … Father, Saddi, played basketball at Western Michigan University and is an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at the University of Michigan … Mother, Channon, also attended WMU, majored in dance and history and is working on her doctoral degree for educational leadership.
WASHINGTON ON PITT
"I chose Pitt because they represent a family. The team and the coaches seemed to have a strong family-like connection, and that is how I want to spend my last four years of my gymnastics career. The moment I met Sam (Snider), Ryan (Snider) and Dave (Kuzara), I felt I had an instant connection with them, and the day I knew I wanted to go to Pitt, I was 100 percent positive that it was the right choice for me."
SNIDER ON WASHINGTON
"Sidney is a phenomenal talent who we are thrilled to add to our program. We anticipate her having an immediate impact on all four events and she will be a key contributor in helping us continue to break records within our program."
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"From top to bottom, this is overall one of our most talented signing classes in recent years," Snider said. "We're looking forward to the immediate impact this class will have on our program and the next level of success these athletes will bring to Pittsburgh."
Snider added Marisa Aiello, Hallie Copperwheat, Nancy Kiner and Sidney Washington, who will each begin their careers at the start of the 2021-22 academic year.
Marisa Aiello | All-Around | Chesterfield, Mich. | Hunts Gymnastics Academy
CLUB
Level 10 Qualifier for the 2019 Women's JO National Championships … Tied for second on vault at the 2019 Region 5 Level 10 Championships … Placed third on bars, fourth in the all-around at the 2019 Level 10 Michigan State Championships … Three-time competitor at the Level 10 Michigan State Championships … First Alternate Nationals Qualifier Level 9 Jr 4 (2016) … Regional Qualifier Level 10 Jr C (2017) … Regional Qualifier Level 10 Jr E (2018) … Level 10 Nationals Qualifier Sr A (2019) … Won beam and placed second in the all-around at 2020 Elevate the Stage … Placed first on vault at the 2020 Tulip City Invitational … Level 10 competitor since 2016 with Hunts Gymnastics Academy.
PERSONAL
Born Dec. 11, 2002 … Daughter of Chris and Mary Aiello … Has two older brothers: Christopher and Nicholas … Enjoys cooking and caring for her pets, which includes two dogs, two cats and a sugar glider … Once owned a hedgehog, a chinchilla and turtles … Attended Regina High School … Member of the Honor Roll.
AIELLO ON PITT
"I chose to go to the University of Pittsburgh because of the incredible academics and especially for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Pitt gymnastics team. After my initial tour of the campus and meeting Coach Samantha Snider and her team, I knew that Pitt was the perfect fit for me."
SNIDER ON AIELLO
"Marisa is a powerful gymnast who we expect to contribute on all four events immediately. She's an outstanding young woman who we are excited to have as part of our future here at Pitt. She's the type of athlete who will continue to elevate our program's success on a national level."
Hallie Copperwheat | All-Around | Leighton Buzzard, England | Sapphire School of Gymnastics
CLUB
Six-time member of the Great Britain Gymnastics squad … Two-time member of the England Gymnastics squad … Represented England at the 2019 Leverkusen Cup in Germany … Placed seventh in the all-around at the 2019 Senior English Championship … Finished sixth on bars and 12th in the all-around at the 2019 Senior British Championships … Represented Great Britain as a junior at the 2018 Jeselo Trophy in Italy … Placed fifth in the 2018 Junior English Championships … Placed third in the AA at the 2017 Junior English Championships … 2014 AA British Champion … coached by Mel Bunyan and Annie Price for 10 years at the Sapphire School of Gymnastics.
PERSONAL
Born March 17, 2003 … Daughter of Stuart and Nicci Copperwheat … Has an older sister, Daniella … Attended Cedars Upper School … District champion in the 80m sprint in middle school … Ran a total of 121km during lockdown in 2020.
COPPERWHEAT ON PITT
"The top academics and incredible facilities Pitt has to offer are truly unmatched. The gymnastics team has such a family bond and as soon as I met Sam (Snider) and Ryan (Snider) I couldn't wait to be a part of the amazing program they and Dave (Kuzara) are building at the University of Pittsburgh."
SNIDER ON COPPERWHEAT
"Hallie is an outstanding gymnast who brings with her a wealth of international gymnastics experience. She will be a standout for us on all four events and will be exciting for Panther fans to watch. We are thrilled to have her in this signing class."
Nancy Kiner | All-Around | El Segundo, Calif. | Wallers' GymJam Academy
CLUB
Competed for Wallers' GymJam Academy in 2020 … Earned third place on beam, fourth place on bars and sixth place on vault at the 2020 Presidential Classic … Placed first on beam and second in the all-around at Chris Wallers' Heart of a Champion meet in February 2020 … Competing with Wildfire Gymnastics, was named runner-up on beam and third on bars at the 2019 Pacific Classic … Placed third on vault, bars and in the all-around at the 2018 Long Beach Open.
PERSONAL
Born Jan. 27, 2003 … Daughter of Maria and Michael Kiner … Has a younger sister, Alex … Grandfather is the late Ralph Kiner, a member of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame who made his career debut with Pittsburgh, and whose jersey number 4 was retired by the Pirates in 1987 … Attended El Segundo High School … Three-time member of the Academic Honor Roll … Member of the National Honors Society … Won the Reflections Photography Contest as a sophomore … Had her work featured in the El Segundo Museum of Art in the photographic exhibit.
KINER ON PITT
"I chose the University of Pittsburgh because I felt the opportunities and the environment would help me thrive as a student, athlete and individual. Also, the gymnastics program at Pitt and the amazing coaches are everything I could ask for as an athlete. I am incredibly excited to be a Panther and I cannot wait to call Oakland my home. Another reason I chose to go to the University of Pittsburgh was due to my family's history in Pittsburgh. My grandfather, Ralph Kiner, made his career debut in Pittsburgh with the Pirates. After going to a Pirates game and seeing his retired number (4), I realized how amazing it would be to create a career and life for myself in the same city that was so good to my family."
SNIDER ON KINER
"Nancy is a beautiful gymnast with elegant lines who we expect to be competitive on multiple events. Her competitive spirit and passion for the sport are qualities which will push this program to new heights."
Sidney Washington | All-Around | Ann Arbor, Mich. | Gym America
CLUB
State Champion on vault, bars, floor and the all-around in 2019 … 2019 National Qualifier … 2019 Team National Champions in Junior F with Gym America … Placed first in the all-around at the 2020 Tim Rand Invitational, the Tampa Bay Turners Invite and the Wolverine Classic … First place in the all-around at the 2019 Gymnastics on the Grand meet, as well as Elevate the Stage, Excalibur Cup, Buckeye Classic and Wolverine classic.
PERSONAL
Born Feb. 23, 2003 … Daughter of Saddi and Channon Washington … Has a younger brother, Caleb … Member of the Gold Honor Roll at Saline High School … Father, Saddi, played basketball at Western Michigan University and is an assistant coach for the men's basketball team at the University of Michigan … Mother, Channon, also attended WMU, majored in dance and history and is working on her doctoral degree for educational leadership.
WASHINGTON ON PITT
"I chose Pitt because they represent a family. The team and the coaches seemed to have a strong family-like connection, and that is how I want to spend my last four years of my gymnastics career. The moment I met Sam (Snider), Ryan (Snider) and Dave (Kuzara), I felt I had an instant connection with them, and the day I knew I wanted to go to Pitt, I was 100 percent positive that it was the right choice for me."
SNIDER ON WASHINGTON
"Sidney is a phenomenal talent who we are thrilled to add to our program. We anticipate her having an immediate impact on all four events and she will be a key contributor in helping us continue to break records within our program."
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