PIONEERS INK TWO MORE GYMNASTS

DENTON, Texas – Michelle Graves and Rachel Zimmerman both signed National Letters of Intent to join the Texas Woman’s University gymnastics program in the fall of 2006.

          “I’m very excited about signing two quality athletes to the program. Both of these young ladies will fit in extremely well,” head coach Frank Kudlac said.  “The addition of Rachel and Michelle makes a total of four in the early signing period with Lindy Hickman and Leslie Pladson.”

          A native of LaVerne, Calif., Graves goes to San Demas High School.  Presently she competes for the Scega Temecula club team after spending 14 years with the Gymnastics/Gliders.

          She earned gymnastics MVP honors for four consecutive years (2001-04).  Additionally, Graves was named the Most Improved in 2002.  She received the 2005 Linda Metheney Muluihill Award on beam. 

          Graves enjoys surfing, wake boarding and water skiing in her spare time.

          “Michelle is a very strong and powerful gymnast,” Kudlac stated.  “Her best events are vault and floor exercise.”

          Zimmerman hails from Broken Arrow, Okla., and attends Union High School.  She currently competes for the Krafft Academy of Gymnastics after being a member of the Tulsa World of Gymnastics from 2002-05. 

          At the 2005 Level 9 Westerns, she finished sixth in the all-around and fourth on the uneven bars.  Zimmerman was also named the first alternate to the Level 10 junior Olympic Nationals in 2006.

          “Rachel is the salutatorian of her class and an accomplished gymnast out of Tulsa,” Kudlac said.  “Her strengths are balance beam and floor but she is a strong all-arounder.  She received a TWU Presidential Scholarship.”

          An Oklahoma academic scholar, she earned a “Certificate of Outstanding Academic Performance” from the Oklahoma State regents for higher education.  Zimmerman likes to sing and is active in choir.

          “In my estimation this signing class is one of the best in the history of the program,” Kudlac added.  “It is smaller than last year but strong academic and talent wise.  All four young ladies received academic scholarships in addition to an athletic award.”