University of Minnesota Athletics
International Competitor Ana Balboa Joins Gopher Gymnastics Team
5/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Ana Balboa, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, is currently training at the Elite Gymnastics Academy under coach Adriana Porte. She brings a wealth of experience to Minnesota after appearing in numerous national and international competitions. In 2006, she competed at the World Cup in Lyon, France, and earned a 15th-place finish in the floor exercise. Another highlight of Balboa’s career was winning the all around title at the 2005 Mexican National Championship. She competed at the 2005 American Cup, where she finished ninth on beam. In 2004, Balboa finished eighth on the floor at the Panamericano de Especialidades in Maracaibo, Venezuela.
“Ana has been developed by one of the top international coaches in the Americas, Adriana Porte,” said co-head coach Jim Stephenson. “Adriana’s attention to artistry and detail, coupled with her diligent work to capitalize on Ana’s greatest assets, have combined to create a beautiful gymnast who will be competitive in the NCAA arena.”
Balboa is a 2006 graduate of Universidad Regiomontana, where she was honored for excellence in the classroom. She intends to major in marketing, human resources or psychology at the University of Minnesota. She is the daughter of Javier Balboa and Bella Gonzales. She has an older sister, Bella (21), and a younger brother, Javier (16).
Balboa follows in the footsteps of former Gopher gymnast Judy Cavazos, who also came to the University of Minnesota from the Elite Gymnastics Academy under the supervision of coach Adriana Porte. Cavazos competed for Minnesota from 1997-2000 and was an All-American on the uneven bars and was a three-time All-Big Ten honoree.
“Ana rounds out an exceptional recruiting class for the 2008 season, doubling our depth on each of the four events,” said co-head coach Meg Stephenson. “The coaching staff is thrilled with the potential this class will add to an already talented group of returning letterwinners.”