Three gymnasts join the preseason No. 3 Gator gymnastics team for the 2012 season. The trio will enroll at the University of Florida for the spring 2012 semester and are eligible to compete when the season opens Friday at North Carolina State. The three newcomers join fellow freshmen Kytra Hunter and Kiersten Wang. 

 

Rachel Spicer signed a national letter of intent with Florida in November, but elected to graduate early from Marcus High School to enroll at UF for the spring semester. Spicer took the 2010 Junior Olympic Level 10 Junior C all-around title and was part of that year’s J.O. National Team. Spicer took third in 2011 Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup all-around competition and won Metroplex Challenge all-around, uneven bars and floor exercise titles.

 

A pair of Floridians - Brittany Arlington (Orlando) and Jaime Shisler (Naples) – also join the Gators for the 2012 season. Both competed at the 2011 United States Amateur Gymnastics (USAG) Florida Level 10 Championships, with Shisler tying for sixth in Level 10 group 5 all-around and Arlington taking sixth in Level 10 group 6 all-around.
Source: Gatorzone

National Champion Spicer will add depth to an insanely talented team that includes former and current elite national team members Alaina Johnson and Mackenzie Caquatto. Spicer comes from Metroplex Gymnastics where she was coached by Marnie Futch and Gina Logan.

Here's a look at Spicer's gold medal floor routine at the 2011 Texas State Championships:

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Spicer is not the only gymnast to graduate early for a jump start into NCAA competition. The following schools have just made announcements of newcomers:
- Level 10 Lexus Demurs, 2010 JO National Floor Champion, to Auburn. link
- Level 10 Kelsey Landreth to Missouri. link
- Level 10 Jessie Jordan, 2011 Region 3 AA Champion, to LSU. link