GymDawgs Announce 2018 Signees
November 08, 2017 | Gymnastics
SEATTLE - Washington Gymnastics announced three signees on Signing Day 2018, unveiling the incoming freshman that will begin competition in the 2019 season. Talia Brovedani (Oakland, California), Madeline McLellan (Calgary, Alberta), and Meaghan Ruttan (Calgary, Alberta) all will be joining the GymDawgs after signing letters of intent today.
"We are so thrilled to have these amazing young women join our GymDawg family," said Head Coach Elise Ray. "They all are extremely impressive students who prioritize academics, which fits into our team culture very well. All of these young women embody our core values as a program and will make an immediate impact in competition. We are so excited!"
Talia Brovedani
Oakland, California
Head Over Heels Gymnastics
This year, Brovedani served as a team captain for Head Over Heels Gymnastics, winning the California state championship on beam and floor and qualifying for Nationals for the second time after winning the Regional 10 beam championship.
Brovedani shone at the 2016 NorCal State Championships, winning the floor while taking second in the bars and beam, helping her to a third-place finish in the all-around. She would also finish fifth in the vault at the 2016 Regional Championships, then finished in the top 20 on the beam at 2016 JO Nationals. That year, Brovedani also nearly swept the Roseville Invitational, winning the vault, beam, floor, and all-around competitions while finishing sixth on the bars.
"Talia's gymnastics has a combination of power and grace," said Ray. "Her skills have the level of execution needed for great college gymnastics: clean and precise."
Brovedani on UW: "I chose UW because of its great education programs, beautiful campus and facilities, and awesome gymnastics team. I am so excited to compete for UW and become part of the community."
Madeline McLellan
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Gymnastics Centre
After a sixth-place floor finish at the 2017 Canadian National Championships, McLellan comes to UW looking to continue her successful gymnastics career. McLellan helped her team to a Western Canada championship in 2016, winning the vault and bar while taking second on the beam and in all-around. She also finished 2016 as the national champion on the vault and bars, taking second in Canada in all-around. This year, McLellan had a top-ten finish in the all-around at 2017 Elite Canada in addition to her impressive showing on the floor at the national championships.
"Madeline's gymnastics will bring a unique beauty to our team: her lines, execution and artistry will stand out immediately," said Ray.
McLellan on why she chose UW: "From the moment I verbally committed, the coaches have made me feel so welcome and instantly a part of the team. The campus is so beautiful and I love the rain, so the weather is a positive. Meeting Dubs is a big bonus too!"
Meaghan Ruttan
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Gymnastics Centre
Joining McLellan and current Husky Madison Copiak from the Canadian national team is Meaghan Ruttan, another Calgary native. Ruttan has multiple top-three finishes at the Canadian Championships under her belt, including a 2013 national championship on the beam. She has also finished third on all-around and floor at nationals.
At the 2016 Pan American Championships in Bolivia, Ruttan shone for Team Canada, taking home a silver medal for her beam performance. In 2015, Ruttan excelled at the Elite Canada competition, finishing in the top five in the all-around, vault, beam, and floor events, including third-place finishes on floor and all-around.
"Meaghan brings power, strength and energy; she has an impressive collection of skills and loves to compete," said Ray, who also emphasized the competition that Ruttan and McLellan have seen. "They both have experience competing at the elite level, so they come with a level of mental fortitude that will help elevate our team."
Ruttan on why she chose UW: "UW is an amazing school and the opportunity to be involved with the gymnastics team, doing the sport I love, is incredible. I am beyond excited to be a part of an up-and-coming team like UW. Go Dawgs!"
The 2018 season kicks off Friday, January 12 for the GymDawgs as they travel to Sacramento, California to take on the Sacramento State Hornets. The first home meet will be Saturday, January 20 against the California Golden Bears.
Make sure to follow the GymDawgs on Twitter with the username @UWGymnastics and on Instagram at uwgymnastics.
"We are so thrilled to have these amazing young women join our GymDawg family," said Head Coach Elise Ray. "They all are extremely impressive students who prioritize academics, which fits into our team culture very well. All of these young women embody our core values as a program and will make an immediate impact in competition. We are so excited!"
Talia Brovedani
Oakland, California
Head Over Heels Gymnastics
This year, Brovedani served as a team captain for Head Over Heels Gymnastics, winning the California state championship on beam and floor and qualifying for Nationals for the second time after winning the Regional 10 beam championship.
Brovedani shone at the 2016 NorCal State Championships, winning the floor while taking second in the bars and beam, helping her to a third-place finish in the all-around. She would also finish fifth in the vault at the 2016 Regional Championships, then finished in the top 20 on the beam at 2016 JO Nationals. That year, Brovedani also nearly swept the Roseville Invitational, winning the vault, beam, floor, and all-around competitions while finishing sixth on the bars.
"Talia's gymnastics has a combination of power and grace," said Ray. "Her skills have the level of execution needed for great college gymnastics: clean and precise."
Brovedani on UW: "I chose UW because of its great education programs, beautiful campus and facilities, and awesome gymnastics team. I am so excited to compete for UW and become part of the community."
Madeline McLellan
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Gymnastics Centre
After a sixth-place floor finish at the 2017 Canadian National Championships, McLellan comes to UW looking to continue her successful gymnastics career. McLellan helped her team to a Western Canada championship in 2016, winning the vault and bar while taking second on the beam and in all-around. She also finished 2016 as the national champion on the vault and bars, taking second in Canada in all-around. This year, McLellan had a top-ten finish in the all-around at 2017 Elite Canada in addition to her impressive showing on the floor at the national championships.
"Madeline's gymnastics will bring a unique beauty to our team: her lines, execution and artistry will stand out immediately," said Ray.
McLellan on why she chose UW: "From the moment I verbally committed, the coaches have made me feel so welcome and instantly a part of the team. The campus is so beautiful and I love the rain, so the weather is a positive. Meeting Dubs is a big bonus too!"
Meaghan Ruttan
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary Gymnastics Centre
Joining McLellan and current Husky Madison Copiak from the Canadian national team is Meaghan Ruttan, another Calgary native. Ruttan has multiple top-three finishes at the Canadian Championships under her belt, including a 2013 national championship on the beam. She has also finished third on all-around and floor at nationals.
At the 2016 Pan American Championships in Bolivia, Ruttan shone for Team Canada, taking home a silver medal for her beam performance. In 2015, Ruttan excelled at the Elite Canada competition, finishing in the top five in the all-around, vault, beam, and floor events, including third-place finishes on floor and all-around.
"Meaghan brings power, strength and energy; she has an impressive collection of skills and loves to compete," said Ray, who also emphasized the competition that Ruttan and McLellan have seen. "They both have experience competing at the elite level, so they come with a level of mental fortitude that will help elevate our team."
Ruttan on why she chose UW: "UW is an amazing school and the opportunity to be involved with the gymnastics team, doing the sport I love, is incredible. I am beyond excited to be a part of an up-and-coming team like UW. Go Dawgs!"
The 2018 season kicks off Friday, January 12 for the GymDawgs as they travel to Sacramento, California to take on the Sacramento State Hornets. The first home meet will be Saturday, January 20 against the California Golden Bears.
Make sure to follow the GymDawgs on Twitter with the username @UWGymnastics and on Instagram at uwgymnastics.
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