University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Signs Three on National Signing Day
11/10/2021 1:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics program has signed three student-athletes to the class of 2026, head coach Jenny Hansen announced Wednesday.
"We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming these three incredible young women to our program," Hansen said. "Brooklyn [Rowray], Seria [Johnson] and Sarah [Moraw] have stood out to us throughout the entire recruiting process as young women committed to excellence in both their academics, gymnastics and most importantly as wonderful people that are a tremendous fit with our culture. All three have the potential to become all-around competitors as early as their freshman seasons and will make an immediate impact the moment they walk on to campus. In addition, this group has a wonderful balance of power and artistry that will continue to elevate the level of gymnastics here at Minnesota."
Seria Johnson - Gymnastix Training Center, Buford Georgia - Peachtree Ridge High School
Johnson, a Woodstock, Georgia native, competes for Gymnastix Training Center in Buford, Georgia and attends Peachtree Ridge High School. A 2021 Level 10 Regional Champion on vault and floor, Johnson earned a third place finish on vault at the 2021 JO National Championships. She claimed top honors in the all-around, on vault, bars and beam at the 2021 Georgia State Championships. Johnson was a state qualifier in 2020 and a regional qualifier in 2019. At the 2019 Georgia State Championships, Johnson took second on floor, third on bars and third in the all-around. She boasts numerous academic accolades, including the academic honor roll in her Literature and Spanish courses.
"We learned about Seria later in the recruiting process but she immediately grabbed our attention," Hansen said. "She is another beautiful competitor that also combines grace and power in every event. She has incredible potential and we can't wait to help her develop over the next few years. In addition, she really enjoys performing and will be an instant fan favorite."
"When considering what college I wanted to attend, I was looking for three main components," Johnson said. "I wanted a coaching staff that truly cared about me as a person, not only what I could bring in my gymnastics. I wanted a team that has a strong bond like a family, because I know how important it is to have people supporting you day in and out. Lastly, I wanted a team that wanted to win! I want to raise the collegiate bar, and I know that this team already has,and will continue to do that! So that's why I chose the University of Minnesota."
Sarah Moraw - Champion Gymnastics USA - West Ottawa High School
Moraw, a native of Holland, Michigan, competes for Champion Gymnastics USA and attends West Ottawa High School. She is a four-time national qualifier, winning the national championship on beam and the all-around in 2021. Moraw was named to the 2021 DP All-Star Team and was named the DP 2021 Athlete of the Year for her accomplishments. In 2019, Moraw was the regional all-around champion, and she is a three-time regional champion on beam. At school, Moraw has earned numerous awards including the 4.0 award, math academic excellence award, social studies academic excellence award and the scholar athlete award. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
"Sarah had a breakout year last season, claiming the JO National Championship in the all-around and on balance beam," Hansen said. "She is very consistent and is always interested in ways to get better. She is incredibly mature and inquisitive, two wonderful qualities that will help her realize her potential over the next few years."
"I chose the University of Minnesota because the philosophies of the coaching staff were parallel to those of my coaches now and I fell in love with the atmosphere that the team has created in the gym," Moraw said. "I also value that the school has a variety of majors and opportunities to choose from. Additionally, the campus is beautiful and exactly what I picture when I think of college."
Brooklyn Rowray - Chow's Gymnastics - Carlisle High School
Rowray, a native of Carlisle, Iowa, currently competes at Chow's Gymnastics and attends Carlisle High School. A 2021 DP Nationals qualifier, Rowray recorded a 38.225 at the 2021 National Championship. She also was a 2019 Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and 2019 JO National qualifier. Rowray boasts career highs of 9.675 on vault, 9.725 on beam and 9.750 on floor. At Carlisle High School, she is also a member of the National Honor Society.
"Brooklyn has made tremendous strides over the past years training at the world-renowned gymnastics club Chow's Gymnastics in Iowa," Hansen said. "She is already a standout on both beam and floor exercise, and she has the ability to compete for a line-up spot on vault and bars. She is a great leader by example and driven in all areas of her life."
"I chose the University of Minnesota because on top of great academics and athletic success, the coaching staff and team are amazing! I went through the recruiting process during COVID-19, so I spent many nights on zoom calls and phone calls with the coaches and team. This really helped me to get to know them better and what their program valued. A few things that really stood out to me was how long the coaching staff has been together, how close the team was and how they really focus on preparing their student-athletes for life after college."