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SCSU Gymnastics 2025 Season Preview

Gymnastics

SCSU Gymnastics 2025 Season Preview

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Last season, Southern Connecticut gymnastics placed fourth in the Gymnastics East Conference (GEC) Championships and sent 16 individuals to the USAG Collegiate National Championships. Despite being picked eighth in the 2025 GEC preseason poll, the Owls are guided by a successful core of student-athletes, including captains Libby Allen, Ciana Rios and Ava Kelly, to be successful in the GEC and qualify as a team for nationals under interim head coach Jerry Nelson.

In addition to Nelson, former Owls' standout Isabella Antonangeli '20 returns for her fifth season. First-year assistant Wes Norris joins the Owls' staff as well as former LSU standout Kiya Johnson.  

"Our coaching staff is awesome," Nelson said. "I wouldn't have taken the interim position if Bella wasn't still here. Her leadership is present every day. Wes is a dynamic coach with many years of experience and adding Kiya Johnson from 2024 National Champion LSU has been incredible. Together, we are an experienced coaching staff gearing up for a successful season."

Nelson was named the interim head coach in June of 2024. No stranger to Southern gymnastics, Nelson was at the helm of the Owls' program for 15 years before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2019 season. He also served in an interim capacity in 2020.  

During his 16-year stint with the Owls, Nelson received four ECAC Gymnastics Coach of the Year honors and was the National Coach of the Year in 2007. Nelson also won three ECAC Championships and has coached 19 All-Americans and 18 ECAC Event Champions.

The Owls' Staff
Isabella Antonangeli
  • In her fifth season as an assistant coach
  • Competed for Jerry Nelson
  • USA Gymnastics National qualifier as a freshman in 2017, posting a personal-best 9.65 on the vault at the national championship
  • Three-time WGCA Scholastic All-American, USGA All-America Scholar Athlete and ECAC All-Academic Team selection.
Jerry Nelson on Isabella Antonangeli:
"I would not have accepted the interim head coach position if it wasn't for Bella returning to help. Her experience and leadership skills show every day."

Wes Norris
  • Owner and Head Coach of CATS Gymnastics in Cheshire, Conn.
  • Former Gymnastics Director and Fitness Instructor at Northern Middlesex YMCA in Middletown, Conn.
  • Over 25 years of gymnastics coaching experience
  • USA Gymnastics Connecticut board member
Jerry Nelson on Wes Norris:
"I added Wes onto our staff because of his 30 years of coaching experience, spotting ability and team building skills. His personality and  practical knowledge has proven to be a tremendous asset for all areas of our program."

Kiya Johnson
  • Competed for 2024 NCAA Division I National Champion LSU
  • 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year
  • 2021 SEC Specialist of the Year
  • 2021 SEC Floor Champion
  • 2024 SEC Floor Champion
  • Five career Perfect 10's
  • 14-time WGCA All-American
  • Three-time All-SEC
Jerry Nelson on Kiya Johnson:
"Kiya Johnson joined our coaching team late, but her experience as a captain of the National Champion LSU team has made her a valuable part of our program."

The Owls return 12 of their 16 2024 USAG Nationals qualifiers in Libby Allen, Erica Beyer, Lexi Bracher, Gabriela Dinisoe, Brianna Dorr, Emiley Kahl, Ava Kelly, Angel Lee, Alexa Melanson, Kylie Sitty, Angelina Stanfa, and Hanna Zebdi. Four of these gymnasts were named USAG All-Americans – Allen, Kelly, Beyer, and Sitty.  

Allen and Kelly received First Team honors for the floor after posting a team-best score of 9.850 and tying for seventh place. Allen and Kelly made it to the finals of these events where Allen tied for seventh with a score of 9.800 and Kelly came in 10th with a score of 9.750.  

Beyer and Sitty both earned Second Team honors. Beyer received the honor for the floor exercise after recording a score of 9.825 and tied for 13th. Sitty earned her honors in both the vault and the floor exercise. She scored a team-best 9.750 on the vault to tie for ninth place and a career high 9.825 to tie Beyer for 13th.  

In the GEC Championships, Allen tied for a third-place finish in the floor exercise with a score of 9.875. She was also named All-GEC Second Team on the floor. Along with Allen, Bracher received All-GEC Second Team honors on the vault. The Owls also return 16 gymnasts that received GEC Sholar-Athlete honors – Allen, Beyer, Dorr, Kahl, Kelly, Lee, Sitty, Stanfa, Zebdi, Grace Christensen, Mia Damiano, Anabella Mills, Shreya Munshi, Madison Richman, Abby Royer, and Megan Workman.  

The Owls will kick off their season at home on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 1 p.m. with a quad-meet against Bridgeport, Brown, and Springfield.  
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Libby Allen

Libby Allen

4' 11"
Junior
Vault, Beam, Floor
Erica Beyer

Erica Beyer

5' 2"
Junior
Floor, Beam
Lexi Bracher

Lexi Bracher

5' 3"
Junior
Vault, Floor
Mia Damiano

Mia Damiano

5' 4"
Sophomore
Beam, Bars, Floor
Brianna Dorr

Brianna Dorr

5' 2"
Junior
Vault, Floor
Emiley Kahl

Emiley Kahl

Senior
Beam
Ava Kelly

Ava Kelly

5' 3"
Sophomore
Floor, Vault
Angel Lee

Angel Lee

5' 2"
Junior
Beam
Alexa Melanson

Alexa Melanson

5' 1"
Junior
Beam, Floor
Shreya Munshi

Shreya Munshi

5' 4"
Junior
Bars

Players Mentioned

Libby Allen

Libby Allen

4' 11"
Junior
Vault, Beam, Floor
Erica Beyer

Erica Beyer

5' 2"
Junior
Floor, Beam
Lexi Bracher

Lexi Bracher

5' 3"
Junior
Vault, Floor
Mia Damiano

Mia Damiano

5' 4"
Sophomore
Beam, Bars, Floor
Brianna Dorr

Brianna Dorr

5' 2"
Junior
Vault, Floor
Emiley Kahl

Emiley Kahl

Senior
Beam
Ava Kelly

Ava Kelly

5' 3"
Sophomore
Floor, Vault
Angel Lee

Angel Lee

5' 2"
Junior
Beam
Alexa Melanson

Alexa Melanson

5' 1"
Junior
Beam, Floor
Shreya Munshi

Shreya Munshi

5' 4"
Junior
Bars