Dec. 4, 2012
DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University women’s gymnastics coach Sam Morreale announced that USA Level 10 gymnasts Courtney Dowdell (Frankfort, Ill./T.F. South HS), Megan Greenfield (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South HS) and Brittany Wenzel (Hillard, Ohio/Davidson) have signed with the Huskies and will join NIU for the 2013-14 campaign. All three compete in USA Gymnastics Region 5, which is one of the toughest regions in the country and bring experience at the highest levels of club gymnastics.
Morreale, who begins his second year as NIU head coach in 2012-13, said this class could be one of the most talented ever to arrive in DeKalb.
“As an overall class, I believe this group will rival the talent level of any class we’ve ever had,” Morreale said. “All three can make an immediate impact on our team in 2014 and I anticipate they will come in and compete for spot in the line-up in all four events as freshmen. All three come from very competitive Region 5 programs that do a great job of preparing athletes for the next level in one of the toughest regions in the country. They are three blue-collar kids who aren’t afraid to work, and that’s the kind of student-athletes we look for.”
T.F. South product Dowdell is a USA Level 10 gymnast who trains at the United States Gymnastics Academy. She is a three-time Region 5 qualifier and has also qualified for the Junior Olympic National Invitational meet. In two years of competition at Level 10, Dowdell has recorded seven meets with top10 finishes in all four events and in the all-around. She has over 50 top 10 finishes overall.
“Courtney is a very graceful and powerful gymnast who carries herself very well,” Morreale said. “She’s an excellent vaulter and has qualified for the Junior Olympic NIT meet.”
Crystal Lake’s Greenfield has competed at the Junior Olympic National Invitational meet for the Trinity GEMS as a USA Level 10 gymnast in each of the last two years. Greenfield placed eighth in the all-around at the 2011 JO NIT. She won the balance beam at the 2012 JO meet and took eighth in the all-around. She attends Crystal Lake South High School.
“Megan is a dynamic gymnast who also shows great leadership qualities in the gym,” Morreale said. “Vault and beam are her best events right now and she’s another JO National Invitational qualifier.”
Brittany Wenzel of Hillard, Ohio has trained at Universal Gymnast Inc. as a Level 10 USA gymnast for two years. She recorded a career-best performance at the Ohio State Championships where she won the vault and finished second in the all-around. Wenzel placed third in the all-around at the Region 5 Championships and advanced to the Junior Olympic National competition where she took home an 11th-place finish on vault.
”Brittany is a powerful gymnast,” Morreale said. “Her vault and floor are amazing. She has competed at the Junior Olympic National meet, which is one of the top competitions for a prep gymnast so she brings great competitive experience.”
“I’m ecstatic about the future of Huskie Gymnastics with the addition of these three student-athletes, and know they will continue to propel our program into the future.”
In 2013, Northern Illinois returns 14 gymnasts from the squad that recorded a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships a year ago and sent two athletes to the NCAA Regional meet. The Huskies open the 2013 season on Sunday, January 13 versus Illinois State at the NIU Convocation Center.
