Nov. 11, 2005
East Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan State women's gymnastics team announced the signing of four student athletes to national letters of intent on Friday, Nov. 11. Set to arrive in East Lansing next fall are Megan Bergland, Nicole Curler, Emily Lopatofsky and Kelly Moffitt. The group is expected to make an immediate impact at Michigan State, having all been strong competitors at the national club level.
"I am very excited about the gymnasts we signed on Wednesday," head coach Kathie Klages said. "This is perhaps the most impressive class I've signed in many years. The class combines power and grace, discipline and character, and a high level of competitive experience. We are very pleased."
Megan Bergland is a level 10 national qualifier from Richland, Mich., who trains with US Airborne in Grand Rapids. Bergland, who will graduate in the spring from Gull Lake High School, finished fifth on the Balance Beam at the 2003 level 10 Junior Olympics. She is a talented all-around gymnast who especially excels on the Un-even bars.
"Megan is an extremely talented gymnast," assistant coach Samuel B. Buchalter said. "We are very excited about her joining the program next year."
Nicole Curler is a resident of Bay City, Mich., and trains locally at Geddert's Twistars. She is a level 10 national qualifier who was the 2005 Junior Olympic national champion on the Balance Beam. In 2004 she posted a fourth-place finish on the vault and Bars at the same event. Curler was named a Region V all-star in 2005 and competed for the USA Region V team in El Salvador.
"Nicole went from a little bit of an unknown last year to a top recruit," Buchalter said. "We couldn't be happier to have a local athlete of her caliber choosing to come to MSU."
Emily Lopatofsky joins the team from Waymart, Pa., and Keystone Gymnastics. Lopatofsky was a level 10 national qualifier who has barely begun to scratch the surface of her potential.
"Emily is a diamond in the rough, she has tremendous power and superb skills," Buchalter said. "We expect great things from her."
Kelly Moffitt currently trains at Wright's American in Indianapolis and is a native of Flora, Ind. A two-time level 10 gymnast, Moffit placed 8th Vault and 11th in the All-Around at the 2005 Junior Olympics. Moffit was a teammate of Curler's on the Region V all-star team that competed in El Salvador. Moffitt turned in a 9th place all-around finish at the 2004 Junior Olympics.
"Kelly is the lynch-pin to this year's class," Buchalter said. "She is a strong all-arounder that competes well and does not have a weak event. She typifies what we are looking for, in terms of work ethic and attitude, at Michigan State."
