DeKALB, Ill. – With the 2019 Northern Illinois University gymnastics season set to open in early January, NIU head coach Sam Morreale announced the addition of a trio of gymnasts for 2020.  All three signed with NIU in late November as the Huskies will welcome Brookelyn Sears of Dayton, Ohio, Natalie of Lake Odessa, Michigan and Ciara Ryan of Crystal Lake, Illinois, to the roster for 2019-20.
 
"NIU Gymnastics got better with the addition of these three athletes," Morreale said. "All three will push the program to new heights and continue to build on the foundation created by previous teams. They are all top-notch students and gymnasts and as a coach, I couldn't be more excited about the future of NIU gymnastics."
 
Natalie Hamp
Lake Odessa, Michigan (Ionia High School)
Twistars Gymnastics

• A 2018 Junior Olympics national qualifier;
• Michigan state champion on the uneven parallel bars in 2018 with a score of 9.700 and was sixth in the all-around and seven on floor;
• Placed second on bars and fourth in the all-around at the state meet in 2017;
• At the 2018 Level 10 regional meet, took third on bars, sixth on beam and was eight in the all-around;
• Won the Eastern Nationals on bars as a Level 9 gymnast in 2016 and was second in the all-around after winning the all-around at regionals.

Morreale says: "Natalie Hamp is an outstanding national caliber uneven bar swinger in addition to competing for lineup spots on all events."
 
 
Ciara Ryan
Crystal Lake, Illinois (Crystal Lake South High School)
Crystal Lake Gymnastics

• Took third in the all-around at the 2018 IHSA Girls Gymnastics State Meet with a score of 37.9 while competing for Prairie Ridge;
• Placed seventh on vault, eighth on beam and was ninth in all-around at the Level 10 Illinois State Championships;
• Personal bests at Level 10 meets include a 9.475 on vault and a 36.400 in the all-around;
• At the 2016 Level 10 State Championships, finished third in the all-around, on vault and beam and was fifth on bars;
• Went on to take sixth on vault with a 9.5.

Morreale says: "Ciara Ryan has an amazing skill set and will improve the difficulty on each event for us."
 
 
Brookelyn Sears
Dayton, Ohio (Centerville High School)
Tops Gymnastics

• Placed in the top 12 on bars (9^th), vault (11^th) and floor exercise (12^th) at the 2017 Junior Olympic Nationals;
• Four-time Level 10 Regional qualifier (2015-2018);
• Ohio State Champion on bars in 2017 and was runner-up in 2015 and 2018;
• Took second in the all-around at the Level 10 Ohio State Meet in 2018 and was third on vault and floor exercise and fourth on balance beam;
• Third at the Ohio State Meet on bars, beam and floor in 2016.

Morreale says: "Brookelyn Sears brings power and grace on all four events. She has the chance to make her mark as an all-arounder."
 
The Huskies open the 2019 campaign on Friday, January 4 in a quadrangular meet versus Alabama, Southeast Missouri and Temple in Tuscaloosa.  NIU's first home meet is Friday, January 18 at 6 p.m. versus Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan.  Home meets are held in the NIU Convocation Center and admission is free. 
 
-- NIU --