University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Gymnasts Ink Two
11/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
University of Minnesota head men’s gymnastics coach Mike Burns has announced the signing of two student-athletes to national letters-of-intent. Harris Coleman (Gainesville, Fla.) and Josh Wokurka (Lombard, Ill.) will both join the Gophers for the 2009-10 school year.
Coleman, who trains at Sun Country Gymnastics Club, is the 2008 junior national runner-up on the pommel horse. He is also an accomplished diver, finishing third in the state championships recently.
“Harris will improve our pommel horse lineup the moment he steps foot in the Cooke Hall gym,” Burns said. “This young man is going to be a true impact player and not only on the pommel horse. He will certainly help out in several other events as well, including parallel bars, floor exercise and high bar. With his diving ability, he is obviously a well-versed athlete with multiple talents.
“Harris (Coleman) first caught my eye at the 2008 Junior National Championships,” Burns added. “We knew we needed a strong horse man to replace graduating senior and 2008 Big Ten runner-up Kit Beikmann. Harris is a perfect fit for our needs in 2010. Harris is also a great kid, who seems to fit perfectly with our team. I was glad his mother, Anne, was able to join him on his recruiting trip and see what the University of Minnesota has to offer her son.”
Josh Wokurka trains at the Bartlett (Ill.) Gymnastics Center. He was a member of the 2007 Level 10, Age 14-15 Junior National Team.
“Josh will bring talent to the Gopher lineup on all six events and he will be counted on heavily as a freshman in the 2009-2010 season,” Burns said. “I foresee lots of growth in Josh’s gymnastics abilities. He has a great base to start from. One of the things I really like about Bartlett Gymnastics is the way their coaching staff and their athletes have developed a true team atmosphere with their program. Josh is the ultimate team player and we are really excited about him joining our program next fall.
“Josh is not only a great gymnast but he’s a great kid as well,” Burns added. “He comes from an awesome family with very supportive parents. I feel very fortunate to have a kid like Josh joining this program.”
Burns is excited about the addition of both student-athletes to his squad.
“Signing both Josh and Harris was great for Minnesota gymnastics and I feel strongly that these two young men are going to make a big difference in the future success of Golden Gopher Men’s Gymnastics,” Burns said.
The 2009 Minnesota Men’s Gymnastics season begins Jan. 9 with the team’s annual Alumni Meet. The regular season opens at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago on Jan. 17.
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