SEATTLE – Five outstanding recent high school graduates signed letters of intent to attend Seattle Pacific University and compete for the women's gymnastics team, Coach Laurel Tindall announced.
 
The recruits represent three different states and one province in Canada.
 
The Falcons recruiting class features a pair of gymnasts from California in Breanna Beltran from Modesto's Enochs High School and Renee Zografos from Chaparral High School in Temecula. Beltran competed with the Champion Gymnastics club and Zografos with SCEGA.
 
SPU had recent success signing gymnasts from Colorado and this year is no exception. Lauren Glover from Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins joins the team. She is from the GK Gymnastics club.
 
Kristi Hayashida will travel the farthest to attend SPU. The Mililani, Hawaii native prepped at the Christian Education Institute and competed with the Hawaiian Island Twisters.
 
The Falcons fifth signee is Canadian standout Paige Blaney from Edmonton, Alberta. She attended Lord Beaverbrook High School and clubbed with Altadore Gymnastics.
 
"This is a great recruiting class both academically and gymnastically," Tindall exclaimed. "We are hoping they will take SPU Gymnastics to a new level over the next couple of years."
 
The five newest Falcons will join the team when school starts in the fall. Their first collegiate competition is Jan. 10, 2014 with a home dual meet at Brougham Pavilion against Alaska Anchorage.
 
SPU capped a stellar season with a fifth-place finish in the team standings at the 2013 USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships. The Falcons qualified for the national meet in 31 of the last 32 years.
 
They established a new school-record team score with a mark of 193.90 on April 12 at the national team semifinals in Shreveport, La.
 
 
2013 Seattle Pacific Women's Gymnastics Recruiting Class
Breanna Beltran, Modesto, Calif. (Enochs HS)
Paige Blaney, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (Lord Beaverbrook HS)
Lauren Glover, Fort Collins, Colo. (Fossil Ridge HS)
Kristi Hayashida, Mililani, Hawaii (Christian Education Institute)
Renee Zografos, Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral HS)


Breanna Beltran
Modesto, Calif.
Enochs HS/Champion Gymnastics
The 2012 level 10 all-around Champion at the prestigious Battle in Seattle competition. Was injured earlier this year and unable to compete the majority of the season, but is expected to be at full strength for the fall.

Coach Tindall on Beltran
 "Breanna has the skill and artistry to potentially score some big numbers in college."


Paige Blaney
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Lord Beaverbrook HS/Altadore Gymnastics
Competed in Canada's National program for the last seven years … Member of the Canada Elite High Performance team, a program at which only 24 gymnasts qualify each year … Consistently placed in the top 10 on vault over the last six years at the Canadian National Championships.

Coach Tindall on Blaney
 "Paige is very powerful and will bring a lot of depth to our program."


Lauren Glover
Fort Collins, Colo.
Fossil Ridge HS/GK Gymnastics
A level 10 gymnast … Competed at the National Invitational Tournament … Finished third in the all-around at the Colorado State Championships in 2012 … The 2011 beam champion for the state of Colorado.

Coach Tindall on Glover
 "Lauren is a very strong all-around level 10 gymnast who could make an immediate impact at SPU."


Kristi Hayashida
Mililani, Hawaii
Christian Education Institute/Hawaiian Island Twisters
Won every event including the all around at the 2013 Hawaii State Championships … Finished sixth in her region and qualified for the 2013 Level 10 National Championships … Was also selected for an international competition in Costa Rica.

Coach Tindall on Hayashida
 "Kristi is an accomplished gymnast that trained under Joe Rapp, who has produced multiple elite level gymnasts."


Renee Zografos
Temecula, Calif.
Chaparral HS/SCEGA
A Level 10 gymnast … Hails from the  from the same town as former SPU standout Laura Willis, a 2010 All-American … . Placed second on the uneven bars at the 2012 Junior Olympic Western National Championships.

Coach Tindall on Zografos
"Renee is a very strong performer who should be a great addition to our bars lineup."