Gym America national champion Myel Ristenbatt is heading east to continue her gymnastics career.
Ristenbatt signed a letter of intent this week to join the gymnastics team at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. The signing ceremony at Gym America, a gymnastics facility in Ann Arbor, was attended by dozens of her teammates and fellow gymnasts.
Ristenbatt, a graduate of Ann Arbor Community High School, is a vault and floor exercise specialist who has competed as a Level 10 the last two seasons. As a Level 9 in 2014, she was the national champion on vault.
Claudia Kretschmer, the coach and owner of Gym America, said Ristenbatt will thrive as a college gymnast for the SCSU Owls.
“I have had the pleasure of coaching Myel for the past 10 years, seeing her grow from a beginning-level athlete to a level 10 gymnast,” Kretschmer said. “I am thrilled that she is moving on to college gymnastics. Myel is an explosive vaulter and will continue to grow and improve in college. There are no limits for her.”
Ristenbatt is the latest in a string of Gym America gymnasts who have gone on to compete in college in recent years. In 2014, Gym America sent Kendall Carlson to Western Michigan University and Morgan Bradford to Hamline University.
In 2015, Gym America sent four gymnasts to college teams: Darby Slater (Hamline University), Vanessa Moody (University of Pennsylvania), Hannah Lewis (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) and Amelia Moorehouse (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire).
Ristenbatt’s national championship vault can be seen here.
