Nov. 16, 2006

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State Gymnastics head coach Ray Corn announced the signing of two gymnasts from Illinois who will compete for the Aggies in 2008. Lyndsie Boone and Erica Huelsmann will join USU next fall.

Boone trains at Scamps Gymnastics in Wisconsin, but is from Winthrop Harbor, Ill. She will be competing at level 10 for her fourth year this season. She placed 53rd at the 2006 national championships, and 48th in 2004. She is currently a senior at Zion-Benton High School in Zion, Ill., and has plans to be a pre-med major.

"I'm so excited to be in a team atmosphere," said Boone. "I'm the only level 10 at my club, and it will be nice to be around teammates at the same level as me."

Huelsmann is a fifth-year level 10 gymnast at the Illinois Gymnastics Institute. She placed 41st at the 2005 national championships, after a second place finish on the bars, beam and the all-around at regionals. At the state championships she placed first on the beam and floor, and third in the all-around. She is currently a senior at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill., and has plans to be a pre-med major.

"I'm really excited to move up," said Huelsmann. "Level 10 is more based on the individual, and college gymnastics is based on the team."