Turner, Gymnastics Add Five To 2016-2017 Roster
November 12, 2015 | Gymnastics
Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University gymnastics coach, Kerrie Turner, who led the Falcons to their best season since 2002, has announced the addition of five gymnasts for the 2017 season. Randi Morris, Shannon St. Jean, Alex Johnston, Taylor Worthington and Kelsi Kuprat have all committed to BGSU, and will join the team next fall.
Morris, a native of Arlington Texas, is the daughter of Michael and Sharron Morris, and attends James Martin High School. She is part of the Texas Dreams Gymnastics Club where she was the 2013 Level 9 Regional All-Around Champion, as well as the 2014 Level 10 Texas State All-Around Champion. Morris was a Junior Olympic National Qualifier in 2014 as well as in 2015, placing ninth on floor. She has three brothers, Michael, Berry and Anthony. Morris plans to either be a veterinarian or own her own business.
"I am so pleased with the quality of the student-athletes joining our Falcon gymnastics family during this signing period," said Turner. "Randi Morris is a dynamite gymnast from Texas with excellent potential in the all-around. Finishing 12th in the all-around at the Junior Olympic Gymnastics Championships this past May shows that Randi's gymnastics is going to continue to raise the level at BGSU and that she can handle the pressure of competing on the national stage. I am really looking forward to working with Randi."
St. Jean, from New Fairfield Conn., is the daughter of Gregory and Kimberly St. Jean. She attends New Farfield High School, and is part of the Gymnastics Revolution Gymnastics Club, where she serves as the captain. She also competes for her high school, coached by Brian Bakalar and Nicole Bongiorno. She was a 2015 Junior Olympic Nationals Qualifier, and brought home a first place finish at the Level 9 Conn. State Championship in 2011. St. Jean plans to major in neuroscience, and minor is spanish.
Johnston, who hails from Washington Township, N.J., is the daughter of Sean and Tracy Johnston and has two sisters, Abigail and Angela. She attends Westwood High School, and is currently a member of the Eastern National Academy of Gymnastics in Paramus, N.J. Johnston placed second in all-around and bars, as well as a fourth place finish on floor at the 2014 state meet. She was also a 2012, 2013 and 2014 state and regional qualifier. Johnston plans to major in apparel merchandising.
Worthington, a native of West Warwick, R.I., is the daughter of Juhnny and Lori Worthington, and sister to Alyssa Worthington. She attends West Warwick High School and is a member of Aim High Gymnastics Academy. Worthington is a three-time R.I. state champion (2013-2015) and was also a 2014 and 2015 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Qualifier. She plans to major in exercise science in hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
Kuprat, from Ringwood, N.J., is the daughter of Deborah LaCorte Controller. She is currently a student at Lakeland Regional High School and competes for North Star Gymnastics Club. Kuprat plans to major in early education at BGSU and hopes to one day become a pre-school teacher.
"Also joining our team are four excellent student-athletes, Shannon St. Jean, Alex Johnston, Taylor Worthington and Kelsi Kuprat. Shannon is a powerful athlete with some unique beams skills and an aggressive swing on bars. Taylor will bring a powerful vault and has beautiful work on balance beam and floor. Kelsi is very dynamic athlete, particularly on vault and floor. Alex swings bars well and also has a powerful style on the other events," said Turner.
Bowling Green opens the gymnastics season on the road on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. against Arizona State and the University of Nebraska in Tempe, Ariz. The Orange and Brown return nine gymnasts, led by seniors Alyssa Nocella and Caroline Ellingboe. Nocella was tabbed First-Team All-MAC for the second straight season, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Marny Oestreng in 1999-2001. Lauren Feely, last year's co-MAC vault champion, also returns to Turner's squad.
Morris, a native of Arlington Texas, is the daughter of Michael and Sharron Morris, and attends James Martin High School. She is part of the Texas Dreams Gymnastics Club where she was the 2013 Level 9 Regional All-Around Champion, as well as the 2014 Level 10 Texas State All-Around Champion. Morris was a Junior Olympic National Qualifier in 2014 as well as in 2015, placing ninth on floor. She has three brothers, Michael, Berry and Anthony. Morris plans to either be a veterinarian or own her own business.
"I am so pleased with the quality of the student-athletes joining our Falcon gymnastics family during this signing period," said Turner. "Randi Morris is a dynamite gymnast from Texas with excellent potential in the all-around. Finishing 12th in the all-around at the Junior Olympic Gymnastics Championships this past May shows that Randi's gymnastics is going to continue to raise the level at BGSU and that she can handle the pressure of competing on the national stage. I am really looking forward to working with Randi."
St. Jean, from New Fairfield Conn., is the daughter of Gregory and Kimberly St. Jean. She attends New Farfield High School, and is part of the Gymnastics Revolution Gymnastics Club, where she serves as the captain. She also competes for her high school, coached by Brian Bakalar and Nicole Bongiorno. She was a 2015 Junior Olympic Nationals Qualifier, and brought home a first place finish at the Level 9 Conn. State Championship in 2011. St. Jean plans to major in neuroscience, and minor is spanish.
Johnston, who hails from Washington Township, N.J., is the daughter of Sean and Tracy Johnston and has two sisters, Abigail and Angela. She attends Westwood High School, and is currently a member of the Eastern National Academy of Gymnastics in Paramus, N.J. Johnston placed second in all-around and bars, as well as a fourth place finish on floor at the 2014 state meet. She was also a 2012, 2013 and 2014 state and regional qualifier. Johnston plans to major in apparel merchandising.
Worthington, a native of West Warwick, R.I., is the daughter of Juhnny and Lori Worthington, and sister to Alyssa Worthington. She attends West Warwick High School and is a member of Aim High Gymnastics Academy. Worthington is a three-time R.I. state champion (2013-2015) and was also a 2014 and 2015 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic National Qualifier. She plans to major in exercise science in hopes of becoming a physical therapist.
Kuprat, from Ringwood, N.J., is the daughter of Deborah LaCorte Controller. She is currently a student at Lakeland Regional High School and competes for North Star Gymnastics Club. Kuprat plans to major in early education at BGSU and hopes to one day become a pre-school teacher.
"Also joining our team are four excellent student-athletes, Shannon St. Jean, Alex Johnston, Taylor Worthington and Kelsi Kuprat. Shannon is a powerful athlete with some unique beams skills and an aggressive swing on bars. Taylor will bring a powerful vault and has beautiful work on balance beam and floor. Kelsi is very dynamic athlete, particularly on vault and floor. Alex swings bars well and also has a powerful style on the other events," said Turner.
Bowling Green opens the gymnastics season on the road on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. against Arizona State and the University of Nebraska in Tempe, Ariz. The Orange and Brown return nine gymnasts, led by seniors Alyssa Nocella and Caroline Ellingboe. Nocella was tabbed First-Team All-MAC for the second straight season, a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Marny Oestreng in 1999-2001. Lauren Feely, last year's co-MAC vault champion, also returns to Turner's squad.
Players Mentioned
Bars, Beam, Floor
/ Gymnastics
All-Around
/ Gymnastics
All-Around
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