GYMNASTICS SIGNS LOCAL PRODUCT BETHANY BARRICK TO NLI

5/8/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team has signed Bethany Barrick to a National Letter of Intent. Barrick will enroll at the University in the fall as a freshman.

The search for Barrick did not take Sacramento State head coach Kim Hughes far. Compared to past recruits which have come from as far away as Egypt, Barrick trains locally at Technique Gymnastics in Rancho Cordova — the same facility in which the Hornets practice. A native of El Dorado Hills, Calif., Barrick is currently a senior at Oak Ridge High School.

“Bethany is an exciting gymnast and we are thrilled she chose to stay close to home and join our program,” Hughes said. “ She has proven her ability on floor and should be able to compete for a spot in the lineup as a freshman.”

Barrick has competed in gymnastics for the past 12 years, spending her last eight at Technique. Under coaches Lisa Poarch, Tara Gilmore, Rick Newman and Mark Holtzclaw she has become one of the all-around gymnasts in Northern California. In 2005, she was the state level 9 champion in the all-around and also won individual titles on both floor and beam. That year, she also won the western regional title on floor. The following season, she qualified for the national championships. In 2007, she added a level 10 regional title on floor and also place third on the floor and in the all-around at the state meet.

Barrick is the first recruit to sign an NLI with the team for the 2009 season. Sacramento State is coming off its third straight NCAA Regional appearance and finished the season ranked 34th nationally.

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