Women's Gymnastics Opens the 2021 Season at No. 13 Southern Utah
1/15/2021 12:00:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ITS GO TIME
Air Force opens the 2021 campaign in dual action at No. 13 Southern Utah University. Saturday's meet is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. inside the America First Event Center. Students will be allowed to pick up tickets for the meet beginning at 6:00 p.m. inside the Sharwan Smith Student Center Rotunda. Students must be able to present a valid Student ID and a recent negative COVID test in order to get a ticket.
The meet will be streamed live on PlutoTV channel 1055 and live scoring will be available at suutbirds.com.
UP NEXT
The Falcons travel to the University of Denver for a head-to-head meet on Sunday, January 24, in Hamilton Gymnasium. Action is slated for 2 p.m. MT.
WELCOME BACK
Air Force returns 15 letter winners from last season, highlighted by Air Force floor exercise record holder Tyler Davis and MPSF All-Conference selections Briona Carswell, Heidi Sand and Natalie Meyer.
Brittany McClure enters her second season with the Falcons, previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020. McClure joins the Academy by way of Ursinus College where she served as the assistant women's gymnastics coach.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
The Falcons are under the co-captaincy of Brooke Bruder and Jessica Kirkpatrick. Bruder and Kirkpatrick are both three-time letter winners.
NEW ADDITIONS
Jennifer Green has been named Air Force women's gymnastics head coach, according to an announcement on June 12 from Director of Athletics Nathan Pine. Green comes to the Academy from the University of Iowa where she spent six seasons as assistant coach.
"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Green to the Air Force Academy to lead our women's gymnastics program," Pine said. "Throughout the interview process, she demonstrated great enthusiasm for and understanding of the Academy's mission and her integral role in developing leaders of character for our Air and Space Forces. She has had an impressive career both as a coach and student-athlete and I'm confident our young women will benefit greatly from her leadership. We cannot wait for her to get started."
Polina Shchennikova enters her first season as Air Force women's gymnastics volunteer assistant coach alongside head coach Jennifer Green in the 2020-2021 season. Shchennikova joins the Academy by way of the University of Michigan where she spent the last two seasons as the Student Athlete Assistant Coach.
"Our cadet-athletes will also have the privilege to learn from Polina Shchennikova," head coach Green commented. "Her gymnastics career includes being on the USA National Team, winning two Big Ten Team Championships and was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She understands what it takes to be competitively great in the classroom and in the gym. Polina has a technical eye for gymnastics and a calming demeanor that will be a huge asset to our cadet-athletes and staff."
REPORTING FOR DUTY
Anya Ishida
Hometown: Bonney Lake, WA
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 26 … parents are Jason and Christa Ishida … has an older sister, Zosia … graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School … plans to major in civil engineering with a minor in Spanish … club teams were Auburn Gymnastics Center and Roach Gymnastics … Western National Champion (bars, all-around), third-place at JO National (floor medalist) … National Honors Society … hobbies are painting, baking, hiking spending time with friends, family and her dog … nickname is An (pronounced on).
Kimberly Kinkade
Hometown: Milmay, NJ
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 38 … parents are Christopher and Mary Jane Kinkade … has two brothers, Kevin and Kyle … graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy … plans to major in electrical and computer engineering with a minor in German … was the Level 10 state bar champions in 2018 … National Honor Society, Salutatorian, 4.0 GPA, Blue-Chipped … participated at Atlantic Coast Gymnastics … team captain and earned the senior award in her final home meet … nickname is Kimmy.
Grace Nelson
Hometown: Frisco, TX
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 16 … parents are Bob Nelson and Lesa Paxton … has two brothers, Dylan and Kaeden … graduated from Texas Connections Academy at Houston … plans to major in foreign area studies or military and strategic studies with a minor in German … participated at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics for 14 years … was a team captain … National Honor Society … loves to travel.
Maddy Ohren
Hometown: Moorhead, MN
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 37 … parents are Ron and Michelle Ohren … is the younger of two brothers, Jordan and Austin, and one sister, Abby … graduated from Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton … academic honors were Student Council, Philanthropy and Youth … hobbies are spending time with family and friends, going to her lake cabin, shopping and traveling … nickname is MO.
Elizabeth Shearns
Hometown: Millis, MA
Events: Uneven Bars, Balance Beam
Cadet Squadron 14 … parents are Richard and Denise Shearns … has three sisters, Casey, Maddy and Riley … graduated from Millis High School … plans to major in biology with a minor in Spanish … was on the team at Elite Gymnastics Academy in Ashland, Massachusetts, coaches were Ivan, Tara, Heather, Matt, and Jade … US Level 10 Top-100 on beam … Level 10 Regionals qualifier … US Level 9 Top-100 on vault … placed all-around at Level 9 Easterns (second on floor and third on vault) … Level 9 Regionals all-around and vault champion … hobbies are hanging out with friends and family, hiking and baking … nickname is Lizzy.
Madison Zinn
Hometown: Bogart, GA
Events: Balance Beam, Floor Exercise
Cadet Squadron 04 … parents are Cathie Zinn and Keith Smith … has two brothers, Brandon and Raybon, and three sisters, Leah, Abigail and Hannah … graduated from Westminster Christian Academy … plans to major in aerospace engineering … club team has won the state championship for eight years running … National Honor Society … nickname is Zinnie or Zinn.
CHECKING THE CALENDAR
The Falcons, with head coach Jennifer Green at the helm in her first season, will open the season January 16 at Southern Utah.
Air Force will host two home meets on the season, starting with Texas Woman's University coming to the Academy, February 28, and San Jose State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) action, March 5.
The Falcons' regular season will feature eight road meets from January 16 to March 13 before traveling to Davis, California, to compete in the 2021 MPSF Championship, hosted by UC Davis.
Regular season opponents will include Southern Utah, the University of Denver, Centenary, Lindenwood, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Texas Woman's University, Arizona, and MPSF opponents UC Davis, Sacramento State and San Jose State.
Following the league championship, Air Force's top performers will shoot for invites to the NCAA Regionals, slated April 2-4, at a location to be determined.
Air Force will conclude the 2021 campaign at USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals, hosted at Southeast Missouri University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, April 10-11.
2020 SEASON RECAP
Women's gymnastics concluded the 2020 season with a 2-12 overall record and a 1-2 mark in MPSF action, finishing fourth in the league. The Falcons set a season-high team score of 193.825 with six individuals earning 16 first-place finishes on the season. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the MPSF tournament, NCAA regionals, USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals tournament and the NCAA national tournament.
Air Force opens the 2021 campaign in dual action at No. 13 Southern Utah University. Saturday's meet is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. inside the America First Event Center. Students will be allowed to pick up tickets for the meet beginning at 6:00 p.m. inside the Sharwan Smith Student Center Rotunda. Students must be able to present a valid Student ID and a recent negative COVID test in order to get a ticket.
The meet will be streamed live on PlutoTV channel 1055 and live scoring will be available at suutbirds.com.
UP NEXT
The Falcons travel to the University of Denver for a head-to-head meet on Sunday, January 24, in Hamilton Gymnasium. Action is slated for 2 p.m. MT.
WELCOME BACK
Air Force returns 15 letter winners from last season, highlighted by Air Force floor exercise record holder Tyler Davis and MPSF All-Conference selections Briona Carswell, Heidi Sand and Natalie Meyer.
Brittany McClure enters her second season with the Falcons, previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach in 2020. McClure joins the Academy by way of Ursinus College where she served as the assistant women's gymnastics coach.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
The Falcons are under the co-captaincy of Brooke Bruder and Jessica Kirkpatrick. Bruder and Kirkpatrick are both three-time letter winners.
NEW ADDITIONS
Jennifer Green has been named Air Force women's gymnastics head coach, according to an announcement on June 12 from Director of Athletics Nathan Pine. Green comes to the Academy from the University of Iowa where she spent six seasons as assistant coach.
"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Green to the Air Force Academy to lead our women's gymnastics program," Pine said. "Throughout the interview process, she demonstrated great enthusiasm for and understanding of the Academy's mission and her integral role in developing leaders of character for our Air and Space Forces. She has had an impressive career both as a coach and student-athlete and I'm confident our young women will benefit greatly from her leadership. We cannot wait for her to get started."
Polina Shchennikova enters her first season as Air Force women's gymnastics volunteer assistant coach alongside head coach Jennifer Green in the 2020-2021 season. Shchennikova joins the Academy by way of the University of Michigan where she spent the last two seasons as the Student Athlete Assistant Coach.
"Our cadet-athletes will also have the privilege to learn from Polina Shchennikova," head coach Green commented. "Her gymnastics career includes being on the USA National Team, winning two Big Ten Team Championships and was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. She understands what it takes to be competitively great in the classroom and in the gym. Polina has a technical eye for gymnastics and a calming demeanor that will be a huge asset to our cadet-athletes and staff."
REPORTING FOR DUTY
Anya Ishida
Hometown: Bonney Lake, WA
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 26 … parents are Jason and Christa Ishida … has an older sister, Zosia … graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School … plans to major in civil engineering with a minor in Spanish … club teams were Auburn Gymnastics Center and Roach Gymnastics … Western National Champion (bars, all-around), third-place at JO National (floor medalist) … National Honors Society … hobbies are painting, baking, hiking spending time with friends, family and her dog … nickname is An (pronounced on).
Kimberly Kinkade
Hometown: Milmay, NJ
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 38 … parents are Christopher and Mary Jane Kinkade … has two brothers, Kevin and Kyle … graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy … plans to major in electrical and computer engineering with a minor in German … was the Level 10 state bar champions in 2018 … National Honor Society, Salutatorian, 4.0 GPA, Blue-Chipped … participated at Atlantic Coast Gymnastics … team captain and earned the senior award in her final home meet … nickname is Kimmy.
Grace Nelson
Hometown: Frisco, TX
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 16 … parents are Bob Nelson and Lesa Paxton … has two brothers, Dylan and Kaeden … graduated from Texas Connections Academy at Houston … plans to major in foreign area studies or military and strategic studies with a minor in German … participated at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics for 14 years … was a team captain … National Honor Society … loves to travel.
Maddy Ohren
Hometown: Moorhead, MN
Events: All-Around
Cadet Squadron 37 … parents are Ron and Michelle Ohren … is the younger of two brothers, Jordan and Austin, and one sister, Abby … graduated from Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton … academic honors were Student Council, Philanthropy and Youth … hobbies are spending time with family and friends, going to her lake cabin, shopping and traveling … nickname is MO.
Elizabeth Shearns
Hometown: Millis, MA
Events: Uneven Bars, Balance Beam
Cadet Squadron 14 … parents are Richard and Denise Shearns … has three sisters, Casey, Maddy and Riley … graduated from Millis High School … plans to major in biology with a minor in Spanish … was on the team at Elite Gymnastics Academy in Ashland, Massachusetts, coaches were Ivan, Tara, Heather, Matt, and Jade … US Level 10 Top-100 on beam … Level 10 Regionals qualifier … US Level 9 Top-100 on vault … placed all-around at Level 9 Easterns (second on floor and third on vault) … Level 9 Regionals all-around and vault champion … hobbies are hanging out with friends and family, hiking and baking … nickname is Lizzy.
Madison Zinn
Hometown: Bogart, GA
Events: Balance Beam, Floor Exercise
Cadet Squadron 04 … parents are Cathie Zinn and Keith Smith … has two brothers, Brandon and Raybon, and three sisters, Leah, Abigail and Hannah … graduated from Westminster Christian Academy … plans to major in aerospace engineering … club team has won the state championship for eight years running … National Honor Society … nickname is Zinnie or Zinn.
CHECKING THE CALENDAR
The Falcons, with head coach Jennifer Green at the helm in her first season, will open the season January 16 at Southern Utah.
Air Force will host two home meets on the season, starting with Texas Woman's University coming to the Academy, February 28, and San Jose State in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) action, March 5.
The Falcons' regular season will feature eight road meets from January 16 to March 13 before traveling to Davis, California, to compete in the 2021 MPSF Championship, hosted by UC Davis.
Regular season opponents will include Southern Utah, the University of Denver, Centenary, Lindenwood, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri, Ball State, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Texas Woman's University, Arizona, and MPSF opponents UC Davis, Sacramento State and San Jose State.
Following the league championship, Air Force's top performers will shoot for invites to the NCAA Regionals, slated April 2-4, at a location to be determined.
Air Force will conclude the 2021 campaign at USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals, hosted at Southeast Missouri University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, April 10-11.
2020 SEASON RECAP
Women's gymnastics concluded the 2020 season with a 2-12 overall record and a 1-2 mark in MPSF action, finishing fourth in the league. The Falcons set a season-high team score of 193.825 with six individuals earning 16 first-place finishes on the season. The season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the MPSF tournament, NCAA regionals, USA Gymnastics Collegiate Nationals tournament and the NCAA national tournament.
Players Mentioned
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