Two Gymnasts Sign to Join Beaver Nation

(Corvallis, Oregon) - The Oregon State gymnastics program received National Letters of Intent from a pair of highly recruited gymnasts head coach Tanya Chaplin announced Wednesday.

The 2011 recruiting class consists of Chelsea Tang (Eugene, Ore./National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics) and Cerise Witherby (Huntington Beach, Calif./Wildfire Gymnastics).

“We are excited to announce the additions of Chelsea and Cerise to the Oregon State gymnastics program,” Chaplin said “They are talented gymnasts, excellent students and wonderful young women. They have had tremendous success academically and competing at the Junior Olympic level. We are confident they have the ability and drive to continue the gymnastics team’s pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.”

Tang, the daughter of Jolie and Ted Tang, is the reigning Junior Olympic national champion on the uneven bars. She finished first in the all-around at the Metroplex Challenge and at the 2010 Region 2 Championships earned a second place finish on the vault and finished first on the balance beam. Tang, who plans to pursue a pre-medicine degree, trains at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics, the same gym former Beavers Chari Knight and Jami Lanz, and current OSU gymnast Becky Colvin trained at under coaches Linda Mulvihill and Todd Wayts.

“Chelsea has beautiful lines and is a very hard worker,” Chaplin said. “She is strong on all four events and her national title on uneven bars this season is just one indicator of her ability. We have a history of successful gymnasts from her club (NAAG) and we fully expect Chelsea to follow in those footsteps.”

Witherby, the daughter of Lisa and Mike Witherby, finished third in the all-around at the 2010 J.O. National Championships and made the J.O. National Team. Her outstanding national championship meet also included a third place finish on beam and fourth on vault. At the Region 1 Championships last year, she earned first place finishes on bars, beam, floor and in the all-around, and was second on the vault. Witherby, who plans to study veterinary medicine, trains at Wildfire Gymnastics, the same gym former OSU gymnast Whitney Watson came from, under coaches Tom Wakeling, Rhonda Schwandt and Rick Watson.

“We have been following Cerise for several years,” Chaplin said. “Cerise is a strong all-arounder, an outstanding competitor, and works incredibly hard. She is very dynamic on vault and floor, but just as strong and skilled on beam and uneven bars. I have no doubt that Cerise will continue to excel at Oregon State.”

Oregon State gets its season underway Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. with the annual Orange & Black Exhibition. Admission is free and the event will conclude with an autograph signing by the entire team.

Source: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY