Dec. 12, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State gymnastics head coach Ray Corn has announced that Rachel Flessner and Rebecca Holliday have signed to compete for the Aggies for the 2009 season.

"Both of these young ladies are extremely talented gymnasts," Corn said, who is entering his 31st season at the helm of Aggie gymnastics. "They are very balanced in their all-around capabilities and they will be very exciting to watch. We feel that these two gymnasts are going to help take us to a new level. We hope to announce additional signings this spring."

Flessner is a native of Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS). She is currently in her seventh year of competing at Level 10 and has qualified for the United States Challenge as a pre-elite junior. Her club team is Champion Gymnastics in Katy, Texas. In 2005, Flessner won the Gymnastics Association of Texas National Honor Award, an honor that current USU gymnast Chelsea Marquardt also won. Flessner placed 14th in all-around and tied for fifth on vault at the 2007 Region III Level 10 Regionals. Flessner is coached by Kellie Mizoguchi. She is the daughter of David and Veda Flessner.

"Rachel is somebody that is a great find," said first-year assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Hancock. "Because of an injury, people weren't really after her. She is an awesome, clean gymnast which our program really needs. She really wanted to come to Utah State and we are very excited she is."

"I'm so excited," Flessner said. "Utah seems like such a great place and Utah State is a great fit for me both academically and for gymnastics. Coach Corn and the team were wonderful to me. I want to major in engineering and Utah State has a terrific program so I'm very excited to get a great education and be part of a great gymnastics team."

Holliday hails from Tustin, Calif. (Foothill HS). She also competes in track and field, using both sports to compliment each other and improve her talent in both. Holliday's club team is South Coast Gymnastics in Irvine, Calif., and she earned the South Coast Gymnast of the Year honor in 2005. She was 11th in all-around at the 2007 Level 10 Southern California state meet.

"I'm really, really excited. By getting a college scholarship, my hard work and dedication has paid off and I'm honored to represent my club and my team," Holliday said. "When I visited Utah State, I really liked the campus a lot and liked everyone I met. I'm very excited for the opportunity to compete in college gymnastics and I'm very grateful they chose me."

Holliday's coaches are former Chinese Olympian Xiaoping Li and Jia Wen. She is the daughter of Christopher and Laura Holliday.

"We really lucked out in not only finding Rebecca, but signing her as well," Hancock said. "It's kind of like winning the lottery. She had a tough state meet and didn't get to go to regionals and nationals to get looked at by other college coaches. I was reviewing some tapes on some gymnast and came across this incredible gymnast. We are very lucky and excited she chose Utah State."

Utah State finished third at the WAC Championships and sixth at last year's NCAA Regionals, marking the 26th time in the 30 years of USU Gymnastics that the Aggies qualified for postseason competition. The Aggies have seven returning letterwinners as well as eight newcomers on their roster.

After a "Meet The Aggies" exhibition meet on Jan. 8, Utah State opens the year on Jan. 11 at Boise State in a dual. USU returns to Logan for its home-opener on Jan. 18 against Sacramento State, followed by its second meet in as many weeks against Boise State in the Spectrum on Jan. 22.

All USU home meets begin at 6:30 p.m.

Gymnastics tickets are available through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by calling 1-888-U-STATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

-USU-