Two Gymnasts to Join Program for 2016-17 Season
November 13, 2015 | Women's Gymnastics
CORVALLIS, Ore. – A pair of gymnasts have signed National Letters of Intent to the join the Oregon State Gymnastics program for the 2016-17 season, head coach Tanya Chaplin announced Friday.
The 2016 recruiting class consists of Isis Lowery (Melbourne, Australia / Jets Gymnastics) and Brianna McCant (Frisco, Texas / Metroplex Gymnastics).
“I'm extremely excited to welcome Isis and Brianna to the Oregon State gymnastics family,” Chaplin said. “These two athletes will bring a tremendous amount of athleticism and personality to the program. The class will make an immediate impact on all our lineups.
“They are a group that demonstrates tremendous power, grace, positive energy and an incredible passion for the sport.”
Isis Lowery, the daughter of Damon and Leesa Lowery, brings national team experience having trained with the Australian national team throughout her youth.
In 2014, Lowery won a gold medal on the vault and finished fourth in the all-around at the 2014 Australian Championships. In addition, she added a fourth place finish on the balance beam, fifth on the floor exercise and sixth on uneven bars in the 2014 championships.
Lowery also earned a seventh place finish on the floor at the 2012 Australian Championships on her way to a ninth-place finish in the all-around.
In 2011, she recorded sixth place finishes in the all-around and on vault to go with a seventh on floor, eighth on bars and ninth on beam at the Nadia Comaneci Invitational.
She trains at Jets Gymnastics under coaches Ross Bouskill, Tim Lees and Sally Young.
“Isis is an incredible athlete and has a knack for making everyone around her smile,” Chaplin said. “She demonstrates tremendous power on vault and tumbling. She's graceful on the beam and bars and really pulls the crowd in on floor. Isis is looking to build off the great Aussie tradition we've established at Oregon State previously with Olivia Vivian and Melanie Jones.”
Follow this link to watch Lowery on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIZB6Pa8VYc
Brianna McCant, the daughter of Debbi McCant, is a two-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier. McCant finished third on the vault, tied for seventh on uneven bars and was 10th in the all-around at the 2015 Region 3 Championships, but did not compete at JO nationals due to injury.
McCant finished second in the all-around at the WOGA Classic in 2015 adding a second place finish on the bars and fourth place finishes on vault and floor exercise. At the Metroplex Challenge in 2015, she added gold medal finishes on vault and bars to go with a third on balance beam and fifth on floor to finish second in the all-around.
In 2014, McCant tied for seventh on the floor at JO Nationals and was 18th in the all-around. The 2014 Region 3 Championships netted her a second place all-around finish to go with a first on floor and fourth place finishes on vault, bars and beam.
McCant trains at Metroplex Gymnastics under Marnie Futch and Gina Logan Quinlan.
“Brianna comes from a family of gymnasts,” Chaplin said. “Her mother and uncle both did club gymnastics in Albuquerque with Michael (Chaplin). Her mother went on to compete at Arizona State and her uncle went to Nebraska. Now Brianna will continue the family tradition of collegiate gymnastics here at Oregon State. She is a naturally powerful athlete. Vault and floor are her strengths but we won't be surprised if she's a regular on every event.”
Click here to watch McCant on YouTube: http://www.gymnastike.org/coverage/251334-2014-WOGA-Classic/video/734816-Metroplex-Brianna-McCant-955-1st-VT#.VkQeUK6rQ6h
Lowery and McCant joined 2015 signee Sabrina Gill, who deferred her enrollment last fall to continue her training for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for Team Canada.
The Beavers' season begins next Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. with the annual Orange & Black Exhibition at Gill Coliseum. Admission is free and will conclude with an autograph signing by the entire team.
2016-17 Oregon State Gymnastics NLI Signees* Isis Lowery (Melbourne, Australia / Jets Gymnastics)
* Brianna McCant (Frisco, Texas / Metroplex Gymnastics)
