Nov. 9, 2011
FALL 2011 COMMITMENT VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
AUBURN – The Auburn gymnastics program and head coach Jeff Graba announced the addition of six gymnasts for the 2013 season on Wednesday.
Caitlin Atkinson (Houston, Texas/Cypress Academy), Lexus Demers (Blaine, Minn./Midwest Gymnastics), Keara Glover (Oklahoma City, Okla./Dynamo Gymnastics), Kathryn Kluz (Wixom, Mich./Oakland Gymnastics), Kelsey Kopec (Alpharetta, Ga./Ultimate Gymnastics) and Kara Koster (Aurora, Ill./Illinois Gymnastics Institute) each made known their intentions of joining the Auburn program for the 2012-13 school year.
“The 2012-13 class is one of the largest and most talented gymnastics classes in the program’s history,” Graba said. “I am very excited about the group as a whole along with being very excited about each and every one of the athletes. With this group of athletes, I think the future is extremely bright for Auburn gymnastics.”
The NCAA signing period began on November 9 and concludes on November 16.
Profiles on the Newest Tigers
Caitlin Atkinson
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Club: Cypress Academy
Notes: Has competed as a junior/senior elite since 2009 … Placed third in all-around and vault at Elite Qualifier in 2011 … All-Around Champion at 2010 Senior Elite Metroplex Challenge … Placed 20th in all-around at 2010 Cover Girl Classic in senior elite division … Placed 33rd in all-around at the 2009 Cover Girl Classic in junior elite division.
Coach Graba on Atkinson:
“Caitlin has been competing for years as an ‘Elite’ gymnast. She brings a fun and determined attitude to Auburn along with an enormous amount of talent. She is extremely powerful and will be fun to watch.”
Lexus Demers
Hometown: Blaine, Minnesota
Club: Midwest Gymnastics
Notes: Won floor exercise at the 2011 Chicago Style Meet … Qualified for the NIT meet after battling a minor injury late in the season … Placed 14th in all-around at 2010 Junior Olympic Nationals … National Floor Champion at 2010 Junior Olympic Nationals … Placed fifth in the all-around at Region 4 meet.
Coach Graba on Demers:
“I have been following Lexus’ career for a long time and am so excited that she chose Auburn to continue her gymnastics career. She is a former Junior Olympic National Champion on the floor exercise and I feel she will help us not only there, but also as an All-Around gymnast as well.”
Keara Glover
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Club: Dynamo Gymnastics
Notes: Placed seventh in beam and 32nd in all-around at 2011 Junior Olympic Nationals … Region 3 Beam and All-Around Champion … Placed fourth in bars, eighth in vault and 15th in all-around at 2010 Junior Olympic Nationals … Region 3 Bars, Beam and All-Around champion … Has scored 38 or higher in the all-around four times in the last two seasons.
Coach Graba on Glover:
“Keara has competed at a national level for many years now and has a vast amount of competitive experience. She will bring a great deal of experience and a vibrant personality to our program.”
Kathyrn Kluz
Hometown: Wixom, Michigan
Club: Oakland Gymnastics
Notes: Placed second in vault and seventh in all-around at 2011 Junior Olympic National Championships … Placed second in all-around at Region 5 Championships … Region 5 Vault Champion … Placed second in vault and seventh in all-around at 2010 Junior Olympic National … Placed second in vault and sixth in all-around at Region 5 Championships … .Has scored 38 or higher in the all-around six times in the last two seasons … Goes by nickname “Kait”.
Coach Graba on Kluz:
“Kait is an absolutely tremendous athlete. She comes from a very competitive club program and has been successful at the highest national level meets as well as having international experience. I think she will help our program out immensely and we are extremely excited that she will be a Tiger Gymnast next year.”
Kelsey Kopec
Hometown: Alpharetta, Ga.
Club: Ultimate Gymnastics
Notes: Placed sixth in all-around and floor at 2011 Junior Olympic NIT … Won the floor and was second in uneven bars along with placing ninth in all-around at Region 8 Championships … Placed third in bars at 2010 Region 8 Championships.
Coach Graba on Kopec:
“Kelsey chose Auburn over some other great opportunities and we couldn’t be more thrilled. She should have an immediate impact on our bar line-up and I can see her working quickly into the other events as well.”
Kara Koster
Hometown: Aurora, Ill.
Club: Illinois Gymnastics Institute
Notes: Finished in the top two on bars and top three in all-around at three meets and scored a 38.2 in all-around at the UGA Classic … Missed the 2011 postseason with an ankle injury … Placed ninth in the bars and 21st in the all-around at 2010 Junior Olympic National Championships … Placed second in bars and seventh in all-around at 2010 Region 5 Championships.
Coach Graba on Koster:
“Kara brings a tremendous work ethic and attitude to our program. She has some of the best form that I have seen lately. If I had to specify her best event I would have to say bars, but we expect great things out of her on all of the events.”
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