April 21, 2008
The Arizona State women's gymnastics team has finalized the 2008-09 recruiting class with the addition of two more incoming student-athletes, including one local gymnast, announced head coach John Spini. Kahoku Palafox and Callie Price have both signed letters of intent to study and compete at Arizona State. This wraps up next year's recruiting class which also includes Stephanie Hangartner who signed with the team in the fall.
Palafox will come to Tempe as a Level 10 gymnast from Kokokahi Gymnastics in Honolulu. She will look to help improve the depth on bars, an event on which the Sun Devils were limited in at the end of the season as well as help out on beam and floor. Palafox won beam at States in 2003 and took first on bars at States and Regionals in 2004.
"Kahoku has great classical lines," says Spini. "She is very strong on balance beam. Her strengths are on beam, bars and floor and she will help us a great deal in those areas."
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Price is a Level 10 gymnast out of Team Dynamics in Mesa, Ariz. With her strong leg power and talent on bars, Price will be looked upon to help provide more depth in the areas the Sun Devils were limited in this season.
"We looked at Callie and saw a local athlete that was continually getting better," says Spini. "Looking at her capability of what she can do and where she's at, we feel she will one of those great athletes for us next year that will stay healthy, be very powerful and help us become deeper in her events."
In addition to their athletic talents, Palafox and Price will bring a strong academic work ethic to the team.
"Both Kahoku and Price are exceptional students," say Spini. "They will help bolster the team's grade point average and whole effort as student-athletes."
In addition to the 2008-09 incoming freshman, the Sun Devils will return all seven athletes who competed at the South Central Regional to next year's squad.