The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State gymnastics program announced the addition of three student-athletes for the 2016 season on Wednesday. Head coach Jay Ronayne will welcome a trio of accomplished prospects in Meaghan Sievers of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sydney Converse of Stone Mountain, Georgia and Madeline Johnson of North Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Sievers competes at the club level for All American Gymnastics in Sioux Falls. She is a Level 10 gymnast who has claimed state championships on vault, beam, floor and the all-around during her career for Deuel High School. She finished second on vault and 15th in the all-around at the Junior Olympics National Invitational Tournament in 2013.
“Meaghan is an extremely athletic gymnast,” Ronayne said. “She is just beginning to tap into her potential as a gymnast. Her talent and drive to be the best will be exactly what our program needs. I know our fans will enjoy her dynamic style of gymnastics that is reminiscent of Cyclone great Janet Anson.”
Converse, who was born in Vietnam, comes to the Cyclones from the Georgia Gymnastics Academy. A Level 10 gymnast since 2010, Converse finished in the top-five on beam (fifth), floor (fourth) and all-around (fifth) at the 2013 Junior Olympic National invitational Tournament. She also claimed a regional title on beam in 2013 and stat titles on beam and floor.
“Sydney is another gymnast that is surprisingly powerful,” Ronayne noted. “This past summer, at our camp she impressed all of us with her strength, quickness and high level of difficulty. I have watched Syd steadily improve over the years and feel that she will be a great collegiate gymnast.”
Johnson will join Iowa State from Flips Gymnastics in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Johnson finished 31st in the all-around at the past two Junior Olympic Nationals. She also recorded a seventh place finish on bars and was eighth on the floor at the JO Nationals. A Level 10 gymnast, Johnson has picked up victories at many notable events around the region, including a floor title at the IGI Chicago Style in 2011. At the 2014 Minnesota State Championships, Johnson took the bars title while finishing as runner-up on vault, floor and in the all-around competition.
“Along with doing some great gymnastics, MJ brings something else that is hard to find,” Ronayne stated. “She is a competitor. Her club coach told me a few years ago to keep an eye on this young lady because she has the heart of a champion, she is a true competitor. I look forward to seeing that competitiveness propel her to some great heights as a Cyclone.”
