PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With the fall semester underway, Rutgers gymnastics welcomes four newcomers to campus. The group will be part of the 2018-19 season for the Scarlet Knights and includes freshmen Mia Betancourt, Kiera Doherty-Herwitz, Abigail Karolewski and Sage Littlejohn.
 
Mia Betancourt
Reading, Pa./Berks Catholic High School
 
Notes: Competed for Berks Gymnastics Academy for 14 years … reached the state, regional and national levels of competition … competed on all four events … an honor roll student throughout high school … daughter of Brandi and Paul Betancourt … has an older brother, Christian, who is on the track & field team at York College of Pennsylvania.
 
Coach Salim-Beasley Quote: "Competing in one of the most difficult regions in the country, Mia has had a tremendous amount of national experience as a Junior Olympic gymnast. She has qualified several times to the J/O National Championships, earning her the ability to represent Region 7. Mia's dynamic gymnastics shows through in her vault and floor routines. She has a very high level of difficulty on those events. Mia has the potential to contribute as an all-arounder."
 
Kiera Doherty-Herwitz
Bedford, Mass./Bedford High School
 
Notes: Competed for MEGA in Millis, Mass. … a J.O. National Championships qualifier in 2016 and 2017 … took first place on uneven bars and balance beam and second all-around at regionals in 2017 … claimed first on vault and floor exercise at the same meet in 2015 … won the Massachusetts state championship on balance beam in 2015 and 2016 … daughter of Kathleen Doherty and Alexander Herwitz … twin brother, Liam, is on the gymnastics team UC Berkeley and competed at U.S. Gymnastics Championships 2018 … intends to major in exercise science and plans to become an athletic trainer.
 
Coach Salim-Beasley Quote: "Kiera comes to us with Junior Olympic national experience. Her level of difficulty on bars and beam will give her the opportunity to challenge for lineup spots on those events. Kiera has a variety of skills on every event. She has the flexibility to compete multiple combinations in all of her routines. Her level of determination can lead to her making a possible contribution on every event."
 
Abigail Karolewski
Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough High School
 
Notes: Competed at Head Over Heels Gymnastics since 2008 … placed third on floor exercise, fourth on uneven bars and 10th all-around at the 2017 New Jersey State Championships … finished in the top 20 at 2017 Level 10, Region 7 Championships … took first place on vault at the Liberty Cup and finished second all-around at the Robin Cone Memorial Classic … placed in the top 10 at the Level 10 2016 New Jersey State Championships and qualified for Region 7 Championships … in the 2015-16 season, finished first on uneven bars, first on floor exercise and second all-around at the 2016 Sand Dollar Invitational (a Nastia Liukin qualifier competition) … at the Rutgers Twilight Knight Challenge, earned first on uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around … at the 2013  Level 9 Eastern National Championships, took fifth place on uneven bars and sixth place all-around … member of the first-place Level 9 Eastern National Championship team (Region 7) and contributed three scores to the team win … placed third on uneven bars and sixth all-around at Level 9 Regional Championships in 2013 … member of TOPS National Team B and trained at the Karolyi Ranch, National Team Training Center in Houston, Texas in 2009 and 2010 … an honor roll student … daughter of Kristine and Brian Karolewski … has two younger siblings, Ella and Evan … intends to major in pre-medicine.
 
Coach Salim-Beasley Quote: "Abigail is such an elegant gymnast. Her beautiful style will reflect well in the scores that she will receive from judges. It is so refreshing to see such a nice combination of artistry and difficulty in a collegiate gymnast. Abigail has the potential to be a strong all-around gymnast for us. We are confident that she will make an immediate impact in our bars and beam lineups."
 
Sage Littlejohn
Orlando, Fla./West Orange High School
 
Notes: Competed at Orlando Metro Gymnastics for eight years … a four-time Level 10 state qualifier from 2015 to 2018 … took first place on balance beam at the 2018 Florida State Championships  … competed at Level 10 regionals in 2015, 2016 and 2017 … earned a spot at Level 10 nationals in 2017 … a member of the National Honor Society … an honor-roll student … daughter of Nova and Joe Littlejohn … has three siblings, Bryson (a student at Morehouse College), Aspen and Jae … intends to major in business.
 
Coach Salim-Beasley Quote: "Sage comes from the same elite club gym as senior Eriel Santagado. She has had the opportunity to train at one of the best gyms in the country. Sage will use her club gym experience as the 2018 Florida State beam champion to make an impact in our beam. Sage's aggressiveness combined with difficult skills will give her the ability to earn high scores and become a mainstay in our beam lineup. She also has a unique floor routine that is sure to be a crowd favorite."
 
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