North Carolina State University Athletics
Four Sign NLIs to Join Wolfpack Gymnastics Program
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
RALEIGH, N.C.- NC State gymnastics will add four student-athletes to its program, as announced by head coach Mark Stevenson. Caitlyn Fillard, Mackenzie Itcush, Maggie Tamburro and Nicole Wild each signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to join the Wolfpack.
Itcush and Wild will join the program in January and be eligible to compete during the 2015 season, while Fillard and Tamburro will arrive in Raleigh in the fall of 2015.
"We are looking at Mackenzie and Nicole like a blessing in disguise because they're both extremely strong all-arounders, who we expect to contribute to our team immediately and make a strong impact," said associate head coach Colleen Johnson.
"Caitlyn and Maggie are going to add a lot of depth that we are looking for. Especially with only losing two seniors going into next year, we're going to see a huge jump in quality in our depth chart," Johnson added.
Caitlyn Fillard
Fillard will join her sister, Amanda, who is currently a sophomore on the squad. A native of Centereach, N.Y., Caitlyn is a two-time participant in the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2013 and 2014, finishing 25th and 28th in the all-around competition at the events, and finishing fourth overall on vault at the 2013 championship.
"Caitlyn is a strong all-arounder. She's a very dynamic gymnast; her best events are vault and bars, although she is steady on floor and beam as well. We hope that she will have an impact on floor exercise, but she will definitely bring depth to our bar lineup."
Mackenzie Itcush
Itcush joins the Wolfpack from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. As a Canadian team member, Itcush finished 18th in the all-around competition at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia. She also finished first on bars and third in the all around at the 2012 Paris Competition.
"Mackenzie has international experience, so she is extremely familiar with big competition and producing at the right time."
Maggie Tamburro
Tamburro joins the Wolfpack from Elizabethtown, Pa. She is a two-time qualifier at the Junior Olympic Nationals in 2013 and 2014 and also claimed the champion title on vault at the 2012 Level 10 Regional Championship.
"Maggie is probably one of the best vaulters that we will have had on our team in a long time. She's extremely powerful and she's a really strong tumbler. Maggie is strong in all four events but she shines on vault, and she uses that power on beam to do big skills and a big dismount," Johnson said.
Nicole Wild
Wild, a Waxhaw, N.C. native, was a 2011 Level Nine Eastern National Champion on bars and claimed the champion title on bars and in the all-around competition at the Level Nine Regional Championships. Wild was also a 2013 Junior Olympic National Qualifier.
"Nicole is an extremely clean and polished gymnast. When she does her routines she has very little deduction and she does it with great poise," Johnson said.
The Wolfpack will open the season on Jan. 9, 2015 when it hosts Denver inside Reynolds Coliseum. Competition is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
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