Gymnastics Signs Three
Nov 20 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Nov. 20, 2014) - Rutgers gymnastics and head coach Louis Levine have announced the signing of three gymnasts to National Letters of Intent starting in the 2015-16 academic year. The Scarlet Knights welcome Riahanah Ali (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Michelle Amoresano (Whippany, N.J.) and Aya Mahgoub (Nashua, N.H.) to the program.
"We are very excited with these three great additions to our Rutgers family," Levine said. "Each of these ladies brings a special quality to our team that we believe will help to continue to push our program to new levels as we prepare for our first season as members of the Big Ten Conference."
Riahanah "Ray" Ali
Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron High School
Notes: Top-25 performer in the all-around at 2014 Junior Olympic Nationals … also posted a top-10 mark on vault and a sixth-place finish all-around at 2013 Junior Olympic Nationals … placed second in all-around at the Michigan State Championships in 2014 … finished first on vault and second all-around at the Luau in Leos meet … member of the Oakland Gymnastics Training Center.
Levine on Ali: "Ray has a tremendous love for Rutgers. We have had a great opportunity to work with Ray at our camp the last few years and are excited to continue to work with her for the next four years. She is a tremendously powerful athlete that will come in and push for a spot in the lineup on every event, especially vault and bars."
Michelle Amoresano
Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park High School
Notes: Top-12 all-around at 2014 Junior Olympic Nationals … also a top-20 finisher on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise at Nationals … 2014 New Jersey uneven bars champion … finished third on vault at the Parkette Invitational … also placed second all-around and on balance beam in 2013 at the New Jersey State Championships … member of the North Stars Gymnastics Academy.
Levine on Amoresano: "Michelle is one of the top gymnasts in New Jersey this year. She comes from the prestigious North Stars Gymnastics club that most recently produced former Rutgers gymnasts Jenna Zito and Nicole Romano. Michelle has made huge strides as an all-arounder the last couple of years and I expect that she will continue this trend with the potential to have an impact on our team on all four events as a freshman."
Aya Mahgoub
Nashua, N.H./Virtual Learning Academy Charter School
Notes: Member of the Egyptian National Team … placed third in vault at 2014 Junior Olympic Nationals … three-time Junior Olympic National qualifier … finished third on vault and eighth in all-around at the 2014 Massachusetts State Championships … placed fourth all-around and second on vault at Level 9 Regionals … earned first-place finish on floor and all-around at the Brestyan Las Vegas meet … member of Brestyan's American Gymnastics.
Levine on Mahgoub: "Aya has had tremendous success on both the national and regional level and brings international competitive experience to our team as a member of the Egyptian National Team. She is a great athlete who will have an immediate impact on our vault lineup while having the potential to be an all-arounder during her career 'On the Banks.'"
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