Three gymnasts will join the University of Florida gymnastics team for
the 2008 season, Gator Head Coach Rhonda Faehn announced Wednesday
Three gymnasts will join the University of Florida gymnastics team for the 2008
season, Gator Head Coach Rhonda Faehn
announced Wednesday. Lynn Silcock Denblyden of Balwyn,
Australia, Alicia Goodwin of
Dallas, Texas
and Lauren Ykimoff of Orlando all signed
national letters of intent with the Florida
program.
Denblyden claimed the vault title at the
2005 Australian National Championships and has represented her country in many
international events. Goodwin and Ykimoff both have qualified for the Level 10 Junior
Olympic National Championships. Goodwin is the 2006 Level 10 Texas State uneven
bars champion while Ykimoff claimed the same event title at the 2006 Region 8
Level 10 Championships.
“All three knew they wanted to come to Florida from the start.I think the three are the total package - talented gymnasts, excellent
students and wonderful individuals. I think that Lynn, Alicia and Lauren will
be able to step right in and contribute immediately to our program,” Faehn
said. “They all are skilled gymnasts that are excited to be Gators. We look
forward to having them join our program next fall.”
Lynn (Silcock)
Denblyden 2003-05
Senior International Elite Australian National Team member (did not compete
in 2006)…won vault at 2005 Australian National Championships…also runner-up
on uneven bars, third on balance beam and fourth in all-around at same
meet…sixth on uneven bars at the 2005 Gent World Cup held in Belgium…runner-up in the 2005 Australia vs. China vault competition…coached
by Michelle DeHighden at MLC Gymnastics Clubs in Melbourne.
"Lynn brings competition experience from a
very high level to our program. She's done many international competitions
and knows the high level of pressure that comes in those competitive
situations.She's done a phenomenal
job. She is wonderful on the even bars and strong on the vault, although I
consider her to be a very strong all-arounder.Lynn
has a strong work ethic and a desire to help the Gators win a national
championship.” - UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn
Alicia Goodwin
Advanced to the 2006 Level 10 Junior Olympic National
Championships…at 2006 Level 10 Texas State Championships, won uneven bars
title plus took third in balance beam and all-around…2003 Level 9 Western
Championships all-around, beam and floor champion…second on vault and uneven
bars at same event…trains at Metroplex Gymnastics in Dallas. Texas…coached by
Bryan Streeter and Dave Marus…owns a 3.984 grade point average at the Spring
Creek Academy located in Plano, Texas.
"Alicia is known
for her artistry and her beauty.I
compare her to Corey Hartung (sophomore All-American on the Gator team).I am always looking for the gymnast that
will stand out on the competitive floor and in a way, bring back the elegance
and the beauty of gymnastics.Alicia
has those traits and she really impressed me with her maturity and her dance.
She is the strongest on bars and beam, but her floor and dance is just
amazing. She is an unbelievable student as well and she knew that she wanted
to be a Gator from day one."- UF Head Coach Rhonda
Faehn
Lauren Ykimoff
Four-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National Championships
qualifier…claimed uneven bars title at 2006 Region 8 Level 10 Championships
and third in all-around…2005 Region 8 vault champion and runner-up in both
all-around and balance beam…trains at Orlando Metro and coached by Jeff Wood
and Christi Barrinos…4.0 student at Olympia High School.
"Lauren is an extremely
talented gymnast. She’s training at Orlando
Metro, so we know she has the skill level and work ethic needed to compete at
the collegiate level.She will be a
tremendous benefit to Florida.I see similarities in Lauren and Ashley
Reed (junior gymnast for UF and former Orlando
Metro member). Ashley was considered a sleeper when she came into Florida and she ended up surprising everyone to be UF’s
top all-arounder as a freshman. Lauren definitely has the same potential and
will thrive in the collegiate arena. Her strongest events are vault and
floor, but she has tremendous work ethic and is strong on all the events. Her
stellar academics and outstanding character convinced me that she was the
all-around package.” - UF Head Coach Rhonda Faehn
PRINT
SHARE
