Gymnastics Welcomes Five Newcomers
Sep 06 | Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With the fall semester beginning today, Rutgers gymnastics welcomes five newcomers to campus. The group will be part of the 2016-17 season for the Scarlet Knights and includes Chloe DeVries, Kaitlyn Hall, Emma Karas, Polina Poliakova and Jenna Rizkalla.
"I am excited to add these five girls to our team," head coach Louis Levine said. "They will play an integral role in our success this season and over their four seasons of competition."
Chloe DeVries
Venice, Fla./Venice High School
Notes: A member of the Tampa Bay Turners for the last six years … a three-time Level 10 regional qualifier … also had three appearances at Level 9 Eastern national event … daughter of Marcia Williams and Jon DeVries … older sister, Naomi DeVries, recently graduated from North Carolina State and competed in gymnastics … has a younger sister, Gabi.
Kaitlyn Hall
Raytown, Mo./Archbishop O'Hara High School
Notes: Competed for Xtreme Gymnastics … won the Missouri state championship on all four events plus the all-around in 2013 … took first on vault and all-around in 2014 … appeared at two Junior Olympic Nationals, taking fourth all-around in 2013 … earned first on all events plus all-around in the Christmas on the Chesapeake competition.
Emma Karas
Port Matilda, Pa./ State College Area High School
Notes: Competed for Nittany Gymnastics Academy from 2006-16 … a Level 10 Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament qualifier in both 2014 and 2015 … placed fifth at Level 10 Pennsylvania State Championships on uneven bars in 2015 … earned seventh place on vault at 2014 Level 10 regional meet … competed at the regional meet three times … achieved High Honors in the classroom all four years in high school … collected the 2015 Outstanding Student in Advanced Nutrition Award … received Power of the Paws (Pride, Achievement, Work, Spirit) Award in 2013 … daughter of Keith and Colleen Karas … father played football at Case Western Reserve University … has two older brothers, Adam and Jared … Jared plays ice hockey at Lebanon Valley College … cousin, Andrew, swam for Ohio State and participated in the 2008 Olympic Trials.
Polina Poliakova
Norwich, Norfolk, Great Britain/Notre Dame High School
Notes: A member of the England National Squad since 2011 ... competed on the regional team from 2008-11 … part of club gymnastics for the last nine years, including most recently with the Pipers Vale Gymnastics Club … named Female Gymnast of the Year in 2013 and 2014 … earned junior prefect in eighth and ninth grade and senior prefect in 10th grade … picked up Achievement of Elite Sports Award in 2014 … daughter of Larissa and Roy Heard … born in Russia … bilingual … performed in the ceremony of the Olympic torch in 2012 when it passed through Norwich with collaborated sports group "Pulse" … plans to major in sports therapy and psychology at Rutgers.
Jenna Rizkalla
Westfield, N.J./Westfield High School/Bowling Green
Notes: Enrolled at Rutgers after spending freshman academic year at Bowling Green … intends to major in exercise science … a four-year letterwinner on the Westfield High School gymnastics team … named 2014 North Jersey Section 2 High School Gymnast of the Year … won the Judith & Bruce McClane Memorial and National High School Gymnastics Association scholarships in 2015 … named all-state on floor exercise in 2014 … placed fourth on floor exercise, eighth on balance beam and uneven bars and 10th all-around at the 2014 New Jersey State Championships … took first on vault, floor exercise and all-around at the 2014 North Jersey Section 2 Championships … also swept first place on vault, uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around at the 2014 Union County Championships … competed at the club level Surgent's Elite School of Gymnastics … achieved a perfect 10.0 on vault to win first at the 2015 JOGA State Championships, also winning balance beam, floor exercise and all-around … set records all-around and on balance beam and vault in winning at the 2014 JOGA State Championships … a Distinguished Honor Roll student in the classroom … inducted into the Italian Club Honor Society and picked up the President's Award of Academic Distinction … daughter of Paul and Marie Rizkalla … has an older brother Paul, who competed on the Michigan men's gymnastics team from 2012-15 and won two Big Ten and NCAA titles.
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Players Mentioned
