LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head gymnastics coach Amy Smith has announced the addition of seven future Aggies. The list includes MiKelle Ballard, Olivia Blakely, Brianna Brooks, Lara Burhans, Maia Fishwick, Eve Jackson and Rebecca Wells.
 
MiKelle Ballard | Helena, Mont. | Gym406
 
Ballard has trained at Gym406, formerly known as Mount Helena Gymnastics, for 10 years under the direction of Denny Allen and Sharon Mozer.
 
Ballard was the state beam and floor champion in 2019, and in March of 2018, she finished first on vault and second in the all-around at the state meet in Billings, Mont., helping Gym406's Level 8-10 foursome to the team title. At the 2018 Great West Gymfest in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Ballard, a five-time region qualifier, became the first Gym406 member in 17 years to win an event final in the meet.
 
When Ballard verbally committed to Utah State in 2018, she became "the first Helena gymnast to commit to college gymnastics in 28 years, and we are so excited for her," Allen wrote on Facebook.
 
The daughter of Randy and Sandra Ballard is a member of the National Honor Society, and is set to graduate from Capital High School.
 
"MiKelle comes from a long line of Aggie family history," Smith said. "Both of her grandparents were professors at Utah State and her mother attended school here. She is an exceptional student. She and her family absolutely bleed blue, and we are excited to have her join our program."
 
Olivia Blakely | Cumming, Ga. | Ultimate Gymnastics
 
Blakely trains at Ultimate Gymnastics in Duluth, Ga., under the direction of Sharon Kelly. She was the 2019 state vault champion and 2019 regional bars champion, and also placed second on floor, vault and in the all-around at regionals. Blakely was the Eastern National bars champion and vault runner-up in 2019.
 
Nominated for the 2018 Georgia Positive Athlete Award, Blakely helped lead Ultimate Gymnastics to back-to-back-to-back state championships from 2017-19, and a pair of county championships in 2018 and 2019.
 
The daughter of Stephen and Penny Blakely, who garnered Gymnast of the Year and Best Attitude Award accolades, is a member of the National Honor Society and National Science Honor Society at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Ga. She earned a Dean's Scholarship to Utah State.
 
"Olivia is an exceptional student and an exceptional floor worker," Smith said. "She will have an immediate impact on our floor lineup coming in with a very difficult E-level opening pass."
 
Brianna Brooks | Las Vegas, Nev. | Desert Gymcats Gymnastics
 
Brooks has trained at Desert Gymcats Gymnastics since 2008 under the direction of Jordan Schwiker. She qualified for the 2019 Junior Olympic National Championships, placed third on bars at the 2019 Region 1 Championships and finished third in the all-around (38.275), second on bars (9.650), fourth on beam (9.450), fifth on floor (9.425) and tied for second on vault (9.750) at the 2019 Nevada State Championships.
 
The daughter of Justin and Leticia Brooks is set to graduate from the West Career & Technical Academy prior to joining the Aggies.
 
"We are so excited to have BB join the team next year," Smith said. "Brianna is a natural performer on all four events. She has such a lightness and enthusiasm to her spirit, and very little rattles her, which makes her a great competitor. She is a standout bars worker who will most certainly be one of the best in the conference."
 
Lara Burhans | Coppell, Texas | Texas Dreams Gymnastics
 
Burhans, who was born in Munich, Germany, trains at Texas Dreams Gymnatics under the direction of Kiki Parenteau. A level 10 state and regional qualifier this year, Burhans placed fifth in state in the all-around.
 
In 2018, as a level-9 gymnast, Burhans was the state vault champion, regional beam champion and Western Nationals vault champion. She also placed fourth in the all-around at Western Nationals. In 2016, she helped Texas Dreams garner Club of the Year accolades.
 
The daughter of Stan and Karen Burhans is set to graduate from iUniversity Prep prior to joining the Aggies.
 
"Lara is a great student and her vaults really stood out to us during the recruiting process," Smith said. "We are excited for her to join our program."
 
Maia Fishwick | Auckland, New Zealand | Tri Star Gymnastics
Fishwick, who will join the Aggies in December and be eligible to compete right away, trains at Tri Star Gymnastics in Auckland under the direction of Jacey Humpherys. She received a 2018 Sports Colours Award from St. Cuthbert's College.
 
The current beam, vault and bars national champion in New Zealand, Fishwick was her nation's top performer at the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Doha, Qatar. At the Auckland Championships, she was first on vault, bars and beam, and was fourth on bars at the Pacific Rim Championships.
 
Fishwick, who is a two-time world championship competitor, rotated with Team USA's Simone Biles at the 2018 world championships.
 
"We are so thrilled to add international elite and New Zealand national team member Maia Fishwick to the 2020 roster," Smith said. "Maia is on a unique journey upon joining the Aggies for the 2020 season, as she will be training with us with the aspirations of earning an Olympic bid for her country for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. We are so honored and excited to help her along this amazing adventure. Her high goals and competitive spirit are going to be a welcomed inspiration and motivation to the team."
 
Fishwick is the daughter of Bruce Fishwick and Ngaire Ashmore.
 
Eve Jackson | Los Angeles, Calif. | Broadway Gymnastics School
 
Jackson, who trains at Broadway Gymnastics School in Los Angeles, Calif., placed first on vault at the 2019 California Grand Invitational, the New Orleans Jazz Invitational and the Fiesta Bowl. She began to compete as a level-10 gymnast in 2018, where she placed 10th on vault at the SoCal State Championships and seventh on bars at the Region 1 Championships.
 
In 2017, as a level-9 gymnast, Jackson captured gold on vault at the state championships, and won gold in the all-around and on vault, and silver on bars at the regional championships. She later captured silver on vault at the Western Championships.
 
"I personally am even more excited to add Eve Jackson to the Aggie team," Smith said. "I have known Eve since she was 9 years old and coached her for a year during my time at UCLA. Eve is such a great athlete and a phenomenal human being. She is just going to become an extraordinary college gymnast. It's such a serendipitous situation to be able to circle back around and have the opportunity to work with Eve again and see her through her college career."
 
The daughter of Byron and Beryle Jackson attends Brentwood School in Los Angeles. Her father played in the NFL, CFL and World League, while her uncle, DeSean Jackson, is a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.
 
Rebecca Wells | Smyrna, Tenn. | Let It Shine Gymnastics
 
Wells trained under Matt Baker at Let It Shine Gymnastics in Franklin, Tenn. The level-10 gymnast placed ninth on beam and in the all-around at the 2019 Junior Olympic National Championships. She also finished third on beam and in the all-around, and fifth on vault, at regionals.
 
At the 2019 state meet, Wells placed third on both beam and floor, and second in the all-around.
 
Like Fishwick, Wells will join the Aggies in December and be eligible to compete right away.
 
"Rebecca is so excited to come in and help this team this year," Smith said. "From the moment she stepped on campus she knew she wanted to be an Aggie. She will make an immediate impact in our competitive lineups. Rebecca is such a dynamic and powerful gymnast that just loves to compete."
 
The daughter of Sean and Danette Wells is set to graduate from Stewarts Creek High School (Smyrna) prior to joining the Aggies.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie gymnastics program at twitter.com/USUGymnastics, on Facebook at Utah State Gymnastics, and on Instagram at USUGymnastics. Fans can also follow the USU athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at UtahStateAthletics.
 
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