ANCHORAGE – With her program's future secured, Alaska Anchorage gymnastics head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch unveiled her team's 2022-23 recruiting class Friday, announcing that seven student-athletes have committed to compete for the Seawolves.

"We are thrilled to welcome all of our incoming gymnasts and feel they will be a great fit with our returning roster," said Boggasch, whose program recently announced that it had raised the requisite funds to gain permanent reinstatement. "This is another major step in rebuilding Seawolf Gymnastics."

The newcomers are comprised of six true freshmen – Avalon Angell, Ariana DeSouza, Madelyn Gomez, Jada Niles, Breeann Spain and O'keri Venn – along with 2021 high school grad Paola Ruano Barahona.

Here is a brief look at each newcomer:

Avalon Angell – Maricopa, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS/Desert Lights Gymnastics)
A two-year level 10 performer, Angell qualified for the Arizona State Championships and JO Region 1 Championships meets in 2021 and 2022. She placed runner-up on bars at the 2021 state meet and third on bars at the 2022 Lady Luck Invitational in Las Vegas.
Coach Boggasch says: "Avalon's openness and adaptability are going to contribute to our team culture from day one. She's a well-rounded gymnast who will especially stand out on vault."

Paola Ruano Barahona – San Salvador, El Salvador (Vincent Massey [Manitoba] HS/Spartans Gymnastics)
Barahona – who attended high school and trained in Winnipeg, Manitoba – competed at the World Championships in 2019, as well the Pan American Games in both 2018 and 2019. She produced a career-high 46.575 all-around (on the international scale) at the 2019 Pan Am Games.
Coach Boggasch says: "We are ecstatic that Pao chose UAA as her future home. In 2019, she became the first female gymnast from El Salvador to represent her country at World Championships and also the first to qualify for the all-around final at the Pan Am Games."

Ariana DeSouza – Fairfield, Calif. (Vacaville HS/Dream Xtreme Gymnastics)
DeSouza is a three-time qualifier for the level 10 NorCal State Championships and two-time qualifier for the JO Region 1 Championships. She placed eight on floor at the 2021 Region 1 meet and was top 15 in the all-around in 2022. She was also fourth on bars at sixth all-around at the 2022 state meet.
Coach Boggasch says: "Ari and Madelyn Gomez (see below) are coming to us from the same gym in California. Both of them watched the Seawolves compete in their home state several years ago and UAA has been their dream school ever since. They are solid all-arounders who will be able to step up on every event."

Madelyn Gomez – Dixon, Calif. (Dixon HS)/Dream Xtreme Gymnastics)
A two-year level 10 competitor, Gomez was a two-time Region 1 Championships qualifier, placing ninth on bars in 2022, plus 10th on floor and 11th all-around in 2021. She was third all-around, fourth on bars and fifth on vault and beam at the 2022 NorCal State Championships."

Jada Niles – Mississauga, Ontario (Mississauga Secondary/Manjak's Gymnastics)
Niles brings extensive international experience to the Seawolf lineup, having competed through North America and also in Europe. Prior to the Covid-19 interruption, she placed 19^th all-around at the Canadian Junior Nationals in 2018.
Coach Boggasch says: "We're overjoyed to have another high-performing gymnast with international experience join our team. Jada's strengths lie in her immaculate execution, especially on bars and beam."

Breeann Spain – Keaau, Hawaii (Waiakea HS/Pantheon School of Gymnastics)
A level 10 competitor since 2017, Spain performed all-around a both the 2021 and 2022 Women's Developmental Nationals. She delivered a career-high 36.675 all-around and swept gold on all five events at the 2022 Hawaii Optional State Championships, and she was fourth all-around at the 2022 JO Region 2 meet. She will become just the third Seawolf gymnast from Hawaii and the first since 2005.
Coach Boggasch says: "We are thrilled to welcome our first gymnast from Hawaii in a long time. Her enthusiastic and caring attitude and her unique skills on bars and beam will make an immediate impact on our team."

O'keri Venn – Petawawa, Ontario (Valour HS/Heels Over Head Xperience Gymnastics)
Despite having her high school career largely interrupted by the pandemic, Venn was able to compete all-around at the 2021 Canadian Championships and Canadian Technical Trials. She also earned gold on bars at the 2019 Elite Canada meet.
Coach Boggasch says: "O'keri is a former Canadian Elite who's had to overcome the many negative impacts of the pandemic during her high school years. We're very excited to see her flourish in Alaska with her beautiful elite skills as well as international experience that she will bring to our team."