Women's Gymnastics: National Champion Joins OSU For 2008

Kesler has international experience having traveled with the Region II team to compete in Costa Rica and Chile. She won the all-around competition at the Costa Rica meet.

Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Three-time Junior Olympic National Team member Jen Kesler has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Oregon State University and compete for the Beavers’ gymnastics team announced head coach Tanya Chaplin, Wednesday

Kesler (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS), who trains at Gymnastics East in Bellevue, Washington under coaches John and Tammy Carney, will join the Beavers in the fall of 2007

“I am excited to announce the signing of Jen Kesler. Jen was heavily recruited by a number of the top programs in the country.” said Coach Chaplin “Our coaching staff loved everything about Jen when we met her. She has a wonderful personality and is a tenacious competitor.

She will bring a wealth of talent and experience to our program. She has proven herself time and time again as one of the best Junior Olympic gymnasts in the country. We are thrilled that she is now part of the Oregon State family.”

At the 2006 Junior Olympic Championship Kesler won the all-around and vault, and placed second on balance beam. In 2005, Kesler finished third in the all-around at the J.O. National Championship after taking fourth in 2004.

“I’m very excited to come to OSU,” said Kesler. “I love everything about it, the environment, the campus, the people, the facilities. I instantly fell in love with Oregon State the first time I visited.”

She is the Region II all-around champion and Washington State all-around champion three years running. In 2005, Kesler collected championship medals in all four events and the all-around at the Region II Championship meet and was selected by the Region II coaches as the optional gymnast of the year. Kesler also earned vault and bars state championships in 2005.

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