Two-time Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Lexy Ramler of Minnesota highlights 20-person Gymnasts to Watch list

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Michigan is the preseason choice to win the 2021 Big Ten Conference women’s gymnastics championship, according to a poll of the 10 Big Ten coaches released Wednesday.

The Wolverines, who have won 26 conference titles including the past six Big Ten Championships and the past four regular-season crowns, were followed by Minnesota, which has been the Big Ten regular-season runner-up the past two years. Nebraska was chosen third, with Iowa and Illinois rounding out the top five in the team balloting.

All 10 Big Ten programs were ranked or receiving votes in the preseason Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Top 35 poll, led by No. 5 Michigan. Minnesota was next at No. 11, followed by No. 20 Nebraska, No. 22 Illinois and No. 25 Iowa. Penn State was ranked 27th, Maryland was 28th and Ohio State was 29th, with Michigan State at No. 34 and Rutgers receiving votes.

Also on Wednesday, the conference unveiled the 2021 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List, as selected by the conference coaches. Half (10) of the 20 student-athletes on the Gymnasts to Watch List are returning All-Big Ten selections, including two-time reigning Big Ten Gymnast of the Year Lexy Ramler of Minnesota and the last three Big Ten Freshman of the Year honorees in Ramler (2018) and the Michigan duo of Natalie Wojcik (2019) and Sierra Brooks (2020).

In addition, seven of this year’s Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors (six of them are two-time selections), highlighted by four Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, including two-time honoree Belle Huang of Rutgers.

The 2021 Big Ten women’s gymnastics season starts this weekend with eight conference schools competing in non-conference meets. On Friday, No. 25 Iowa travels to No. 11 Minnesota for a 4:30 p.m. (ET) meet that will be televised live nationally on BTN, while No. 22 Illinois visits No. 20 Nebraska at 5 p.m. (ET) and that matchup will be streamed on Big Ten Network+. Fifth-ranked Michigan plays host to No. 29 Ohio State at 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday, also on Big Ten Network+, while No. 27 Penn State welcomes No. 28 Maryland at 5 p.m. (ET) Sunday for another BTN broadcast.

Here’s a look at the complete 2021 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Preseason Poll and Gymnasts to Watch List:

2021 BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON POLL

1. Michigan

2. Minnesota

3. Nebraska

4. Iowa

5. Illinois

6. Penn State

7. Maryland

8. Ohio State

9. Michigan State

10. Rutgers

2021 BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTS TO WATCH

Nicole Biondi, Sr., Illinois

Mia Takekawa, So., Illinois

JerQuavia Henderson, So., Iowa

Adeline Kenlin, Fr., Iowa

Audrey Barber, Sr., Maryland

Emma Silberman, So., Maryland

Sierra Brooks, So., Michigan

Natalie Wojcik, Jr., Michigan

Baleigh Garcia, Fr., Michigan State

Nyah Smith, So., Michigan State

Ona Loper, Sr., Minnesota

Lexy Ramler, Sr., Minnesota

Kinsey Davis, Fr., Nebraska

Kynsee Roby, Sr., Nebraska

Elexis Edwards, So., Ohio State

Emma Pritchard, Fr., Ohio State

Alissa Bonsall, Sr., Penn State

Cassidy Rushlow, So., Penn State

Belle Huang, Sr., Rutgers

Hannah Joyner, So., Rutgers

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COURTESY THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE