Gym'Backs sign three for 2008

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas co-head gymnastics coaches Mark and Rene Cook announced the signing of three prep athletes who will join the Gym’Backs for the 2008 season. Stacy Bartlett, Molly Lewis and Kathryn Maschino all signed National Letters of Intent this week and join the Gym’Backs next season. Bartlett is a 5-2 all-arounder from Tualatin, Ore., where she competed for the Metro Gymnastics Center and coaches Tracy Meador and James Thompson. Barlett collected a win and a pair of runner up finishes on vault at the state meet also winning the regional beam title in 2003. The 2004 season saw Bartlett finish third as an all-arounder a the state meet with a second place showing on the bars and floor at the regional meet. She was second on beam and 15th as an all-arounder at nationals that same year. The 2005 season brought a second-place vault and fourth-place all-around finish at regionals and a 12th place finish on beam at nationals. "Stacy will make an immediate impact on balance beam,’" said co-head coach Rene Cook. "She is truly outstanding on this event. We will also look for Stacy to push for line-up positions on floor and bars. Stacy is a very artistic gymnast and will certainly be a crowd pleaser." Bartlett is the youngest of two children to Jim and Heather Bartlett of Tualatin, Ore. She has an older sister, Stephanie, and hopes to major in apparel studies or hotel and restaurant management at Arkansas. Lewis checks in from Plano, Texas, where the 5-5 all-arounder competed for both the Plano Senior High Wildcats and the Texas Dreams Club team. Lewis helped the Wildcats to a Texas state title as a junior capturing second-place all-around honors as an individual. She is a level 10 competitor for her club team and is a three time state and regional participant. Lewis is one of seven children to Robert and Rhonda Lewis of Plano, Texas. She has four older sisters; Katie, Becky, Mary and Kelly and a younger brother Cody and sister Jamie. Sisters Kelly and Becky attend the Air Force Academy. "Molly will be a great addition to our program," said Rene Cook. "We expect her to compete for positions on every event. Her skill level and her athleticism will truly make her an outstanding collegiate gymnast." Maschino is a 5-3 all-arounder from Edmond, Okla., where she competed for the Dynamo Gymnastics Club. She paced her club team to the state title as a junior and finished 12th on the beam, floor and as an all-arounder at nationals that same year. Maschino won the regional floor title and finished third as an all-arounder. The youngest of two children to David and Tammy Maschino of Edmond, Okla., she has an older brother, John, who plays baseball at Oklahoma. "We are so pleased that Katie will be joining our program," said Rene Cook. "She is the type of gymnast who will be consistent week in and week out and we expect Katie to be a major contributor to the program." That concludes the signing period for Arkansas gymnastics. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics, please log on to LADYBACKS.COM.