TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's gymnastics team and head coach Jay Santos announced the addition of two student-athletes to the incoming 2018 roster Thursday afternoon.
The Sun Devils will welcome Cairo Leonard-Baker (Oakland, Calif./Head Over Heels Gymnastics) and Molly McNamara (Pearland, Texas/Pearland Elite Gymnastics).
Leonard-Baker hails from Head Over Heels Gymnastics, the same gym as current Gym Devil Katelyn Lentz. She is a two-time Junior Olympic National qualifier and holds three of the top-100 bars scores in the nation in 2017, including a 9.825 which earned her the title of 2017 NorCal state bar champion. Leonard-Baker garnered three other bar titles during the regular season plus four top-five finishes in the all-around. At the 2015 NorCal State Championships she won both the vault and all-around, tied for first on floor, and added a second place finish on bars and beam.
Leonard-Baker attributed her decision to come to Arizona State to the exceptional amenities the campus and institution has to offer, "I chose ASU because the campus is very beautiful and I like the wide range of degrees and counselors the school has to offer. Also the team seemed very supportive."
McNamara will join the Gym Devils as a walk-on from Pearland Elite Training Center in Texas. She had a successful 2017 season with top-three finishes on vault in every meet during the regular season, including the vault title at both the 2017 Metroplex Challenge and the Houston National Invite. She also took the beam, floor and all-around title at the Houston National Invite. McNamara was a 2016 Junior Olympic National qualifier.
"My decision to come to Arizona State University was based on the academics, the campus feeling like home, the closeness of the team and the building of a championship program," said McNamara. "It was a very easy decision for me, and I can't wait to be a Sun Devil this fall. Forks Up!"
A program marked by youth and steady improvement this past season, Arizona State is slated to return 12 letter-winners in 2018.
The Sun Devils will welcome Cairo Leonard-Baker (Oakland, Calif./Head Over Heels Gymnastics) and Molly McNamara (Pearland, Texas/Pearland Elite Gymnastics).
Leonard-Baker hails from Head Over Heels Gymnastics, the same gym as current Gym Devil Katelyn Lentz. She is a two-time Junior Olympic National qualifier and holds three of the top-100 bars scores in the nation in 2017, including a 9.825 which earned her the title of 2017 NorCal state bar champion. Leonard-Baker garnered three other bar titles during the regular season plus four top-five finishes in the all-around. At the 2015 NorCal State Championships she won both the vault and all-around, tied for first on floor, and added a second place finish on bars and beam.
Leonard-Baker attributed her decision to come to Arizona State to the exceptional amenities the campus and institution has to offer, "I chose ASU because the campus is very beautiful and I like the wide range of degrees and counselors the school has to offer. Also the team seemed very supportive."
McNamara will join the Gym Devils as a walk-on from Pearland Elite Training Center in Texas. She had a successful 2017 season with top-three finishes on vault in every meet during the regular season, including the vault title at both the 2017 Metroplex Challenge and the Houston National Invite. She also took the beam, floor and all-around title at the Houston National Invite. McNamara was a 2016 Junior Olympic National qualifier.
"My decision to come to Arizona State University was based on the academics, the campus feeling like home, the closeness of the team and the building of a championship program," said McNamara. "It was a very easy decision for me, and I can't wait to be a Sun Devil this fall. Forks Up!"
A program marked by youth and steady improvement this past season, Arizona State is slated to return 12 letter-winners in 2018.