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Utah Gymnastics Adds Olivia Kennedy To 2023 Recruiting Class
2/16/2023 9:50 AM | Gymnastics
Utes welcome two-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier from Maryville, Tenn.
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Gymnastics added to its already star-studded 2023 recruiting class on Thursday, welcoming two-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier Olivia Kennedy to the program. Kennedy joins fellow incoming freshmen Elizabeth Gantner, Ella Zirbes, and Camie Winger as Utah's newcomers to the 2024 roster.
"We are looking forward to Olivia joining our program this upcoming fall," said head coach Tom Farden. "She brings a love for gymnastics that is infectious and has an incredible work ethic that will be valued in our gym. She is training a 10.0 vault as well, which could boost our lineup on that event."
Kennedy competed at the 2022 Level 10 Nationals (formerly known as the JO National Championships) and placed 13th on both beam and floor to highlight her competition. In 2017 in the junior division, she placed sixth on vault at the national championships. The Maryville, Tenn., native was also a 2017 Hopes Classic qualifier while pursuing the elite stage.
Kennedy is a seven-time Region 8 Championships medalist, most recently earning two medals at the 2022 Region 8 Championship meet. She was the silver medalist in the all-around, as well as on bars, while she also finished fourth on floor and fifth on vault. In 2021, she finished fifth on vault as well.
At the state level, Kennedy has totaled 10 medals, which includes a medal finish on beam in all but one state competition. Kennedy placed third on beam at the 2022 Georgia State Championships and was the runner-up on beam in 2021. In 2018, Kennedy was the state champion on vault and bars, and finished third place in the all-around.
The daughter of Jason and Chera-Lyn Kennedy trains at Georgia Elite Gymnastics. She was on the honor roll every semester of her high school career at Bridgeway, and had an accelerated graduation with a 4.14 grade point average. Her father Jason was a student-athlete at Morehead State University where he played baseball. She has a younger brother, Bleau.
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"We are looking forward to Olivia joining our program this upcoming fall," said head coach Tom Farden. "She brings a love for gymnastics that is infectious and has an incredible work ethic that will be valued in our gym. She is training a 10.0 vault as well, which could boost our lineup on that event."
Kennedy competed at the 2022 Level 10 Nationals (formerly known as the JO National Championships) and placed 13th on both beam and floor to highlight her competition. In 2017 in the junior division, she placed sixth on vault at the national championships. The Maryville, Tenn., native was also a 2017 Hopes Classic qualifier while pursuing the elite stage.
Kennedy is a seven-time Region 8 Championships medalist, most recently earning two medals at the 2022 Region 8 Championship meet. She was the silver medalist in the all-around, as well as on bars, while she also finished fourth on floor and fifth on vault. In 2021, she finished fifth on vault as well.
At the state level, Kennedy has totaled 10 medals, which includes a medal finish on beam in all but one state competition. Kennedy placed third on beam at the 2022 Georgia State Championships and was the runner-up on beam in 2021. In 2018, Kennedy was the state champion on vault and bars, and finished third place in the all-around.
The daughter of Jason and Chera-Lyn Kennedy trains at Georgia Elite Gymnastics. She was on the honor roll every semester of her high school career at Bridgeway, and had an accelerated graduation with a 4.14 grade point average. Her father Jason was a student-athlete at Morehead State University where he played baseball. She has a younger brother, Bleau.
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