Rutgers Roundup

Rutgers women's gymnastics head coach Chrystal Chollet-Norton has announced the addition of nine incoming student athletes compromising the Scarlet Knights' 2008 recruiting class.

The class includes five New Jersey standouts in Stacy Ruderman (CherryHill), Nicole Schwartz (Somerset), Jessica Kerley (Maplewood), Katelyn Raymond (Burlington) and Kerry Silverman (Randolph). Also comprising this deep class is a pair ofMaryland gymnasts inMelanie Brother (Crofton, Md.) and Danae Johnson (Silver Spring, Md.), Illinois native Alexandra Belvis (Addison, Ill.) and Pennsylvania native Stephanie Orkwis (Indiana, Pa.).

Brotherjoins the squad from Arundel High School in Gambrills, Md. She is a Level 10 gymnast and trains at Docksider gymnastics under the direction of BobOuellette. Brother has qualified for Level 10USA Regionals each of the past two years and placed seventh last year on the uneven bars at the regional competition. In 2004, Brother qualified for Level 9 USA Eastern Nationals, where she took ninth on the vault.

Ruderman, out of CherryHill EastHigh School, has committed to Rutgers for the 2008-09 academic year. She trains at Will Moor School ofGymnastics under the direction of Kim Bonus, where she is a USA Level 10 competitor. In 2005, Ruderman qualified for the Level 9 Eastern Nationals Championship, where she took eighth on the balance beam.

Johnson, a Level 10 USA Gymnastics competitor from Silver Spring, Md., competes atHillsGymnastics under head coach Kelli Hill. Johnson has qualified seven times as a USA Level 10 regional qualifier and spent four years with the national team.At the 2008USALevel 10 statemeet, she placed third on both the floor exercises and vault and fifth in the all-around.

Schwartz, the 2007 Star-Ledger and Home News Tribune High School Gymnast of the Year, is another Level 10 USA gymnast. FromBishop GeorgeAhrHigh School, she competes with club coach Valdi Kolasa. In 2007 and 2008, Schwartz was a Level 10 regional qualifier and in 2007 finished in 12th place in the all-around exercises at the regional competition.

The Scarlet Knights welcome four other Garden State standouts. Kerley, who attends ColumbiaHigh School inMaplewood, is a Level 9 USA gymnast and competed withNYC Elite. Raymond, fromBurlington and Burlington Township High School, comes to Rutgers after earningUSALevel 9 status and competing with Will Moor gymnasticswith coachKimBonus. Silverman is a Level 10 USA Gymnast from Randolph and Randolph High School where she competed with Rettigs School of Gymnastics, and was a 2008 Level 10 regional qualifier. She placed 19th in the all-around at the event.

Belvisjoins the Scarlet Knights fromAddison, Ill. and Addison Trail High School. She attends the Illinois Gymnastics Institute where she is a Level 10 USAGymnast.

Rounding out the deep recruiting class is Orkwis, a Level 9 USAGymnast from Indiana, Pa., and Indiana Area Senior High School. Competing at Gymkhana Gymnastics, Orkwis was a 2007 state and regional Level 9 qualifier.

Rutgers finished this past season with a mark of 11-13-1 overall and placed eighth at the EAGL Championships.