GYMNASTICS SIGNS FOUR TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

11/30/2010

(L-R) Kalliah McCartney, Christina Necas, Claire Torgerson, Kayla Wonderly

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State gymnastics team signed four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, it was announced by head coach Kim Hughes. The quartet, which is comprised of Claire Torgerson, Christina Necas, Kalliah McCartney and Kayla Wonderly, will all enroll at the University as freshmen in the fall.

"I'm really excited about this recruiting class because they all should make an immediate impact," Hughes said. "All four have different strengths but have the potential to be all-arounders."

A local product, Torgerson trained at Byers Gymnastics in Roseville for the past 11 years. In 2009, she finished second on vault at the level 10 state championships. Torgerson was also the state level 9 vault champion in 2007. This past season, she helped Byers finish second as a team at the level 10 state championships.

"Claire is powerful on vault and bars," Hughes said. "She has big skills on floor with a double twist and we're hoping she will add a double full punch front in the future."

Necas hails from Las Vegas where she competed for Brown's Gymnastics for 12 years. In 2010, she finished first on vault at the Junior Olympics NIT meet and was also sixth on vault at the level 10 Region 1 championships. While competing at level 9, she was the 2009 Nevada state champion on vault and bars and also placed second on beam and in the all-around. Necas was also second on beam, floor and all-around and third on vault at the 2009 level 9 Region 1 Championships.

"Christina's strengths are on vault and floor," Hughes said. "She comes in with a 10.0 vault (Yerchenko layout full) which will help right away."

McCartney and Wonderly each trained at Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland, Ore., for the past two seasons. Prior to moving to Multnomah, the pair competed for Naydenov Gymnastics for 10 years.

McCartney was named the MAC Gymnast of the Year in 2010 after finishing first in the all-around at both the state and regional level 10 meet. Her efforts helped Multnomah win the Oregon state title in 2010.

"Kalliah will be an all-arounder from the beginning," Hughes said. "She is exciting on floor with great style and big skills."

Wonderly placed eighth on bars at the 2010 Junior Olympics. She also finished second in the all-around at the Region II level 10 meet in both 2009 and 2010. During her career, she qualified for Junior Olympics five times and finished among the top 25 three times.

"Kayla is strong on beam and bars (twisting double flyaway)," Hughes said. "She has competitive experience in the all-around at a high level.

Sacramento State opens the season on Jan. 7 in a four-team meet which also features Alaska Anchorage, Central Michigan and Wisconsin-La Crosse.