Texas Woman’s gymnastics signs two for 2008 freshman class

by PegNews wire

The eight-time USA Gymnastics Collegiate national champion Texas Woman’s University Pioneers signed two gymnasts to national letters of intent during the fall early signing period.

Rashonda Cannie, a native of Killeen, Texas, and Audrey Embree, a product of Blue Springs, Missouri, have both committed to TWU and will compete for the Pioneers gymnastics team beginning with the 2009 season.

Cannie has trained for the last ten years under the direction of Mark Walsh at the Texas Tumblers club in Harker Heights, Texas. A Level 10 gymnast, she was a 2007 Junior Olympics National Qualifer and finished 24th in the all-around. At the 2007 Region III meet, she finished third on vault, and fifth in the all-around and on floor. She also won the silver medal on vault at the 2007 Texas State Championship meet. Cannie will graduate from Harker Heights High School in May 2008 before enrolling at TWU.

Embree has honed her impressive gymnastics skills at the Great American Gymnastics Express club in her hometown of Blue Springs. Her coaches at Great American - Al Fong, Armine Fong, and Rodney Gust - also coached two members of the 2004 US Olympic Gymnastics team, Terin Humphrey (now competing at the University of Alabama) and Courtney McCool (now a member of the University of Georgia team). Embree is a Level 10 gymnast and a two-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier (in 2006 and 2007). At the 2007 Junior Olympic Nationals she placed 17th in the all-around with a score of 37.275. At the 2007 Region IV meet, she was the champion on floor exercise and uneven bars champion and the fourth place finisher in the all-around. She also finished second in the all-around at the 2007 Level 10 Missouri State Championship. Embree, who will graduate from Blue Springs High School in May 2008, is also an impressive student. She is a member of the National Honor Society of High School Students and was recognized on the prestigious list of Who’s Who Among American High School Students. Additionally, she is also a qualifier for the Presidential Classroom Scholarship for Excellence in Academics and Leadership.

TWU gymnastics head coach Frank Kudlac is pleased to have Cannie and Embree signed, sealed, and delivered.

“Rashonda is an extremely powerful gymnast. She is capable of performing big skills on all four events. Plus, she’s a Texas girl, and I always like to have in-state kids on my team,” said Kudlac. “Audrey is also very talented. She comes from a tremendous club and has competed at a very high level. I expect both of these young ladies to make an immediate impact for us in 2009.”

The 2008 Pioneer gymnastics team, led by senior co-captains Courtney Arno-Templet and Nicole Poling, will host their annual Intrasquad Meet next Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:00 p.m. and then open their 2008 season at the Cancun Classic in Cancun, Mexico on Friday, January 4, 2008.

Source: TWU