Nov. 19, 2008
IOWA CITY –
The University of Iowa men’s gymnastics Head Coach Tom Dunn announced that three gymnasts have recently signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Iowa next fall. Anton Gryshayev, Matthew McGrath and Broderick Shemansky will join the Hawkeyes for the 2010 season.
“As a group, this could be the strongest early signing class we have ever signed,” said Dunn.
Hailing from Littleton, CO, Gryshayev joins former 5280 Gymnastics Club member and current Hawkeye Michael Jiang. The 5280 gymnastics Club also trained 2008 Olympian Alexander “Sasha” Artemev. Gryshayev has been a USA Regional team member five times and won the rings championships in the 2008 Region 9 meet. He was all-around runner-up in Region 9 in 2007 and 2008. He won the Colorado State Championships on floor exercise, pommel horse, rings and parallel bars in 2008. Gryshayev also excels academically, and has been on the honor roll at Chatfield High School every semester and has annually received USA Junior all-American academics recognition.
Next to commit to the Hawkeye lineup was McGrath, of Wheaton, IL. He finished 12th in the all-around at the 2008 U.S. Championships, also walking away with a silver medal on floor exercise and the bronze medal on vault in the 16-18 age group. McGrath placed first in floor exercise at the 2007Illinois State Championships. In 2006, he was the National Junior Olympic floor exercise champion, and in 2005 he was the Illinois state floor exercise and vault champion. McGrath was recognized as an Academic all-American at the National Junior Olympic Championships in 2008 and was on the Wheaton North High School honor roll from 2005-08.
The third new member is Shemansky of Los Gatos, CA. Shemansky competed with McGrath in the 2008 U.S. Championships and placed 15th in the all-around competition. He was also the California state champion on floor exercise and pommel horse in 2008. In 2007, he won the state championship on floor exercise and rings. Shemansky began his career in Pennsylvania, and won the 2005 Region 7 pommel horse championship. He placed first on floor exercise at the Pennsylvania state championships in 2004. Shemansky was selected to the Los Gatos High School Leadership Program and elected to the Los Gatos Student Council his sophomore, junior and senior years.