Greg Hansen's top 10 gymnasts from Tucson
- Updated
Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug tops the list.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Editor's note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today's list: the top 10 gymnasts from Tucson.
You could say Lindsay Wing inherited some of the top sports genes in Tucson history.
The standout gymnast β now Lindsay Wing Logan β is the granddaughter of former Tucson High state champion baseball catcher Jim Wing, who later became a member of some of the top UA baseball teams in history.
Jim Wing moved to Tucson at 10, relocating with his family from Kenyon, Minn. He served for nine years as the head baseball coach at Palo Verde High School and then applied to be the head coach at Arizona in 1972.
Athletic director Dick Clausen once told me his instinct was to hire Wing as the coach to replace retiring Frank Sancet, but ultimately thought hiring a high school coach might not be accepted at a school with such high baseball standards.
When Clausen hired former MLB infielder Jerry Kindall, Wingβs name resurfaced.
"I interviewed about 20 people the first month," said Kindall. He hired Wing as his pitching coach. Together, Kindall and Wing led Arizona to 1976, 1980 and 1986 NCAA championships.
Wingβs sons, Mike and Marc, both played baseball for the Wildcats. Lindsay, who is Mikeβs daughter, emerged as one of Tucson and Americaβs leading female gymnasts, part of the USA womenβs national team from 1996-00. Lindsay accepted a scholarship to Stanford and from 2000-04 became one of the Pac-10βs top gymnasts, an All-American in the all-around competition and a three-time all-conference selection.
She is one of our choices among the Top 10 gymnasts in Tucson history. Hereβs the list:Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Her unforgettable vault to help Team USA win the 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medal is likely to be prominently replayed for another 50 years.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Son of distinguished Tucson gymnasts coach Yoichi Tomita, Yewki won virtually everything a male gymnast could win before injuries prevented him from making the 2004 and 2008 USA Olympic teams. He was second in the pommel horse at the β08 Olympic Trials.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
An multi-All-American and All-Pac-10 standout at Arizona, the Canyon del Oro High School grad won 12 event championships as a UA sophomore in 2001.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A state champion at Sabino High School, Williams was a key part of UCLAβs 2001, 2003 and 2004 NCAA championship teams and an All-American.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
A level 10 gymnasts at Tomitaβs Gymnastics World facility, is a serious contender for the 2020 Olympics. He has won multiple state, regional and national Junior Olympics championships and is entering his senior year in high school.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
At Oregon State, Morales became an All-American as the Beavers rose to national prominence. At Canyon del Oro, Morales was a national Junior Olympics team member.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
After her remarkable career at Stanford, Wing has worked for Twitter as part of the global content and creative team.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
After becoming one of Arizonaβs top junior gymnasts during her years at Sahuaro High School, Mann accepted a scholarship to Boise State where she became the 2013 Western Athletic Conference gymnast of the year.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Although she is only a junior at Sabino High School, Mariani accepted a scholarship to NCAA power Michigan two years ago and has established herself as one of the leading Junior Olympics performers in the country.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Her career at national power Utah was punctuated by injuries, but the Amphitheater High grad persevered and became a second-team All-American in the high bar two years in succession.Β
At Arizona State, Sooter was an eight-time national collegiate club champion after his days at Amphitheater High School.
Editor's note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today's list: the top 10 gymnasts from Tucson.
You could say Lindsay Wing inherited some of the top sports genes in Tucson history.
The standout gymnast β now Lindsay Wing Logan β is the granddaughter of former Tucson High state champion baseball catcher Jim Wing, who later became a member of some of the top UA baseball teams in history.
Jim Wing moved to Tucson at 10, relocating with his family from Kenyon, Minn. He served for nine years as the head baseball coach at Palo Verde High School and then applied to be the head coach at Arizona in 1972.
Athletic director Dick Clausen once told me his instinct was to hire Wing as the coach to replace retiring Frank Sancet, but ultimately thought hiring a high school coach might not be accepted at a school with such high baseball standards.
When Clausen hired former MLB infielder Jerry Kindall, Wingβs name resurfaced.
"I interviewed about 20 people the first month," said Kindall. He hired Wing as his pitching coach. Together, Kindall and Wing led Arizona to 1976, 1980 and 1986 NCAA championships.
Wingβs sons, Mike and Marc, both played baseball for the Wildcats. Lindsay, who is Mikeβs daughter, emerged as one of Tucson and Americaβs leading female gymnasts, part of the USA womenβs national team from 1996-00. Lindsay accepted a scholarship to Stanford and from 2000-04 became one of the Pac-10βs top gymnasts, an All-American in the all-around competition and a three-time all-conference selection.
She is one of our choices among the Top 10 gymnasts in Tucson history. Hereβs the list:Β
Her unforgettable vault to help Team USA win the 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold medal is likely to be prominently replayed for another 50 years.Β
Son of distinguished Tucson gymnasts coach Yoichi Tomita, Yewki won virtually everything a male gymnast could win before injuries prevented him from making the 2004 and 2008 USA Olympic teams. He was second in the pommel horse at the β08 Olympic Trials.Β
An multi-All-American and All-Pac-10 standout at Arizona, the Canyon del Oro High School grad won 12 event championships as a UA sophomore in 2001.Β
A state champion at Sabino High School, Williams was a key part of UCLAβs 2001, 2003 and 2004 NCAA championship teams and an All-American.Β
A level 10 gymnasts at Tomitaβs Gymnastics World facility, is a serious contender for the 2020 Olympics. He has won multiple state, regional and national Junior Olympics championships and is entering his senior year in high school.Β
At Oregon State, Morales became an All-American as the Beavers rose to national prominence. At Canyon del Oro, Morales was a national Junior Olympics team member.Β
After her remarkable career at Stanford, Wing has worked for Twitter as part of the global content and creative team.Β
After becoming one of Arizonaβs top junior gymnasts during her years at Sahuaro High School, Mann accepted a scholarship to Boise State where she became the 2013 Western Athletic Conference gymnast of the year.Β
Although she is only a junior at Sabino High School, Mariani accepted a scholarship to NCAA power Michigan two years ago and has established herself as one of the leading Junior Olympics performers in the country.Β
Her career at national power Utah was punctuated by injuries, but the Amphitheater High grad persevered and became a second-team All-American in the high bar two years in succession.Β
At Arizona State, Sooter was an eight-time national collegiate club champion after his days at Amphitheater High School.
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