University of Minnesota Athletics
WGM: Golden Gophers Signs Three To National Letters of Intent
11/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"This group of gymnasts has decided to join our program because of all that this university has to offer," said Jim Stephenson. "They have gone through a course of research, and have decided on Minnesota because of the positive environment and because we are a teaching program."
Beattie competes for the gymnastics team at Bismarck High School, as well as with the Bismarck Gymnastics Academy. With the Bismarck Gymnastics Academy, she competed at the Junior Olympic Level 10 Regionals in 2004, where she placed sixth on the bars and vault, and finished ninth in the all around. In 2003, she competed at the Junior Olympic Level 10 Nationals and placed 16th on the vault and bars.
As a member of the Bismarck High School Demons gymnastics team, Beattie won every event at the 2004 state championship, setting a state record in the all around. She placed second in the all around at the 2002 and 2003 state meets, and led her team to championship titles in both seasons. She is a five-time letter winner at Bismarck High School, earning three letters in gymnastics (2002, 2003, and 2004), one in track and field (2004), and one in orchestra (2002). In track & field, she qualified for the state meet in 2004, where she finished sixth in the long jump and triple jump, and placed seventh in the pole vault. Beattie is also an accomplished dancer and competes as a member of the Northern Plains Dance Academy. She has won numerous academic awards, is a National Honor Society member, and was a semi-finalist for a National Merit Scholarship.
"Jade brings a multitude of talents to our program, she's a gifted person," said Meg Stephenson. "Jade was developed in a small club, and her coaches there have done a great job. At Minnesota, we will build on her current set of skills, she has the knowledge and energy to take gymnastics to the next level."
Carmelina Carabajal, an Albuquerque, N.M., native, competes for the Albuquerque Gymnastics School. She has won the Junior Olympic state title four times, and has competed at the Junior Olympic Regionals twice. She placed fifth at the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2004. In 2003, she finished 16th in the all around at Junior Olympic Regionals. Carabajal attends LaCueva High School, where she has served on the School Senate for four years.
"Carmelina is from the same gymnastics club as Laura Johnson, a junior on our team this season," said Jim Stephenson. "She was relatively unknown to most collegiate coaches, but she has characteristics that make her one of the top recruits in potential. She fits with our program so well because we're a teaching program."
Nouel Cason competes for the Flips USA Gymnastics Club in Reno, Nev. In 2004, she placed second on both the beam and vault at the level 10 state meet. Cason went on to win the all around at the Junior Olympic regional meet, qualifying her for the national meet. However, she sustained an injury while at last year's national meet and was unable to compete. She competed at Junior Olympic Nationals in 2002 and 2003, where she finished sixth in the floor exercise in 2002 and placed fifth in the floor exercise and all around in 2003. She was named the Team MVP at Flips for the 2004 competitive season. Cason is an honor student at Reed High School, and won the 2004 Outstanding Performance Award in Interior and Architectural Design.
"Nouel has trained at the same club as current Gopher Kelly Ganchan, and it's a club that is known nationally for it's classic approach to gymnastics," said Jim Stephenson. "She is an elegant performer, and will really compliment the look of Minnesota gymnastics," Meg added.
