Setting Records and Succeeding: Meet Senior Gymnast Sydney Beers
With twenty years of gymnastics experience, senior gymnast Sydney Beers has made an unforgettable impression on the gymnastics program at Cornell — rewriting record books and leading her team to success. As the senior looks to the Hill for the last time, The Sun sat down with Beers and discussed her historic career. Early Gymnastics […]
With twenty years of gymnastics experience, senior gymnast Sydney Beers has made an unforgettable impression on the gymnastics program at Cornell — rewriting record books and leading her team to success.
As the senior looks to the Hill for the last time, The Sun sat down with Beers and discussed her historic career.
Early Gymnastics and Committing to Cornell
At two years old, Beers started her gymnastics career through Mommy and Me gymnastics classes. Over time, she said she was eventually placed on a team where she started as a Level 4 gymnast, and she worked her way up to Level 10 in the eighth grade. Beers also said she always knew that she wanted to do gymnastics in college — specifically at a Division I program.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what school I wanted to go to, so I reached out to every Division I gymnastics program in the country,” Beers said. “That’s how I ended up committing to Cornell. I spoke to [head coach Melanie Hall] for a couple weeks, and she eventually offered me a spot on the Cornell gymnastics team.”
Beers committed to Cornell in September 2021. She said that the combination of strong Cornell athletics, academics and Hall’s coaching contributed the most to her decision. Beers also said she wanted to attend physician’s assistant school, which led her to ultimately commit to Cornell.
“I knew I’d get a great education to help me with my chances of going to a great PA school,” Beers said.
Senior Sydney Beers on the floor exercise during the women’s gymnastics Ivy Classic in Newman Arena on Feb. 23, 2025 (Leilani Burke/Sun Senior Photographer).
Rewriting the Record Books at Cornell
Beers enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as a Biological Sciences major with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior. She started competing in gymnastics meets for the Red starting her freshman year and was dubbed an all-around gymnast — meaning she competed in the four events at a meet.
One of the differences she noted between club and collegiate gymnastics was the lifting schedule she had in college.
“I had only lifted a couple times prior to getting to college, but once I got here and we started going to team lifts, I automatically fell in love with it,” Beers said. “I’ve always been strong, but I didn’t realize how strong I was till I got into the weight room here.”
Beers said she works closely with the assistant director of strength and conditioning, Erika Rogan. She also spent a summer in Ithaca before her senior year, training her bench and squat personal records.
Beers currently holds the Cornell women’s weightlifting record of a 355-pound squat and 240-pound bench.
On the gymnastics side, Beers said it was her goal to beat the all-around record since her freshman year. She achieved this goal in her junior year at home against Centenary College on March 10, 2024, with a score of 39.275.
Led by Beers, the team also set a new program record team score of 195.025 across the four events.
“I always knew I was capable of doing it as long as I hit all four events to the best of my ability, and I was finally able to do that in the same meet that we broke the school program team record,” Beers said. “It was a really exciting day for Cornell gymnastics.”
Notably, Beers is listed in the top five spots for the Cornell All-Around Records. In 2022, Beers achieved a score of 39.125. Then, in three separate competitions in 2024, Beers filled out the first, second and fourth places for the record book with scores of 39.275, 39.225 and 39.150 respectively.
On February 14, 2024, during the Long Island University quad meet, Beers earned a 9.900 floor score that put her in a four-way tie for first place on the Cornell Vault Records, and she also grabbed another four-way tie for second place on the Cornell Floor Records with a score of 9.900.
What next?
Beers has also served as a team captain for two consecutive years. She says she works by “leading by example” and setting a positive tone for the team to follow.
“I try to lead by example and make sure that everyone’s practicing to the best of their abilities and show the team that anything is possible as long as you’re doing the right recovery and the right amount of training on your body,” Beers said.
While Beers does not plan on pursuing gymnastics post-graduation, she said she will continue weightlifting because it is something she deeply enjoyed. She hopes to coach gymnastics and watch her younger sister, Taylor Beers, who has committed to the University of New Hampshire to continue gymnastics at the Division I level.
“Gymnastics has become a part of who I am,” Beers said. “I grew up in the gym … “It has taught me some valuable life lessons like committing yourself to something, discipline and time management.”
Beers ’25 looks to her future (Leilani Burke / Sun Senior Photographer).
Zeinab Faraj
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
Elite Texas college hires Olympian to lead NIL charge
Rice just took its first step toward sharing revenue with athletes. The approval of the House v. NCAA settlement last Friday put an end to the NCAA’s amateurism model, requiring that members of the Power 4 conferences share up to $20.5 million of their revenue with college athletes, while also establishing a clearinghouse for outside […]
Rice just took its first step toward sharing revenue with athletes. The approval of the House v. NCAA settlement last Friday put an end to the NCAA’s amateurism model, requiring that members of the Power 4 conferences share up to $20.5 million of their revenue with college athletes, while also establishing a clearinghouse for outside NIL deals.
But schools outside of the Power 4 have until June 30 to decide if they will opt into the terms of the settlement—that includes Rice. Since all members of the American Athletic Conference opted into the settlement, the conference announced a minimum spending requirement of at least $10 million over a three-year period on its athletes, including scholarships, Alston rewards and revenue.
To help with that, Rice has hired Tasha Moser as its Associate Athletic Director of Name, Image and Likeness and General Manager. Moser (formerly Schwikert), has served as the principal attorney at Munck, Wilson Mandala LLP in Houston, helping spearhead the firm’s “WeAreNIL,” practice, offering consulting services for collectives, athletes and brands and in the NIL space. It also posts fun educational videos to help guide athletes through contract language and enable them to lean into their strengths to maximize earning potential.
Moser also knows what it’s like to be an elite athlete. A former collegiate gymnast at UCLA, Moser was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team that earned a team bronze medal in the Sydney Olympics. She earned six NCAA championship medals during her time with the Bruins, winning gold in both the 2005 and 2008 all-around competition, as well as the uneven bars in 2008. She’s been inducted into both the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
“It was essential that we find a leader with both experience and passion to guide our NIL efforts—someone who genuinely understands and champions the student-athlete experience,” Rice Athletic Director Tommy McClelland said in a release. “Tasha’s journey—from excelling as a world-class gymnast to becoming a highly successful attorney with deep experience in the NIL space—perfectly positions her for this moment. She will play a leading role in building a new and essential unit within our athletics department.”
Moser has not only helped athletes receive the education and tools they need to succeed, but also testified before Congress on behalf of survivors of Larry Nassar’s abuse and serves on the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors.
In her new position with Rice, Moser will not only serve as the primary resource for the department in determining how it shares revenue with athletes, but also act as a liaison to third-party entities hoping to strike NIL deals with student athletes. She’ll also assist coaches with roster management.
Moser’s position is something schools across the nation have begun adding since 2021, when college athletes first received permission to earn money off their name, image and likeness. But it’s about to get more complicated for athletic departments once the House v. NCAA Settlement goes into effect on July 1. As a private institution, Rice’s athletic budget is not public record. However, Collegiate Consulting published a study in partnership with the institution this year finding that over the past three years, game day and event economic impact of Rice athletic events, camps and non-athletic events held in athletic venues amounted to $115.72 million, while the impact of athletic staff and student athletes was $97.6 million and direct revenue impact of $63.68 million.
“Rice has long been a national leader in academic excellence, and now it is leading the way in NIL innovation,” Moser said in a release. “I am thrilled to help support and elevate our remarkable student-athletes, both on the field and in the classroom, and to build on the incredible momentum that Tommy and [Eric George, Assistant VP & Deputy Athletic Director of Rice Athletics] have already established. There’s never been a more exciting time to be an Owl!”
Minnesota Assistant Geralen Stack-Eaton Named Cal Women’s Gymnastics Coach
Cal announced on Thursday that Minnesota assistant coach Geralen Stack-Eaton has been named the new head coach of the Golden Bears’ women’s gymnastics team, and she will have a lot to live up to. Stack-Eaton replaces Justin Howell and Elisaberth Crandall-Howell, who built the Bears into a national powerhouse but left Cal last month to […]
Cal announced on Thursday that Minnesota assistant coach Geralen Stack-Eaton has been named the new head coach of the Golden Bears’ women’s gymnastics team, and she will have a lot to live up to.
Stack-Eaton replaces Justin Howell and Elisaberth Crandall-Howell, who built the Bears into a national powerhouse but left Cal last month to become the co-head coaches at Clemson.
The Golden Bears reached the NCAA tournament every year since Howell became head coach in 2012 (NCAA tournament was canceled in 2020). The Bears were the NCAA runner-up in 2024, and they were the ACC champions this past season when Howell and Crandall-Howell were named conference co-head coaches of the year. They were WCGA national co-head coaches of the year in 2023.
Stack-Eaton has no head coaching experience, but she was an outstandings gymnast. Alabama was NCAA team champion in 2011 and 2012 when Stack-Eaton competed for the Crimson Tide, and she was named NCAA Gymnast of the Year in 2012. She won the NCAA floor exercise championship in 2011 and took the balance beam title in 2012.
Stack-Eaton was a Minnesota assistant coach the past 11 seasons. The Gophers finished third in the Big Ten this past season and won the conference title in 2021. The last time Minnesota qualified for the NCAA tournament was 2022, when the Gophers finished sixth, their highest NCAA finish in school history.
Stack-Eaton was Minnesota’s primary floor exercise coach and choreographer, and the Gophers placed second in the country on floor exercise in 2022.
“I’m extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead Cal women’s gymnastics, and I’d like to sincerely thank Cal Athletics, Jim Knowlton, and (executive senior associate athletics director) Josh Hummel for their trust and support,” Stack-Eaton said in a statement provided by Cal. “This program embodies excellence — blending a world-class education with an elite athletic experience — and I’m proud to be part of its continued tradition of success. My coaching philosophy is rooted in mentorship, empowerment, and high-level performance. I look forward to guiding each student-athlete to reach their full potential, pursue ambitious goals, and grow as confident leaders on and off the competition floor. Together, we’ll build on Cal’s incredible legacy and shape a future defined by passion, unity, and championship-level achievement.”
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Colorado College hockey releases full schedule | CC Hockey
On Thursday, Colorado College hockey released its full 2025-2026 schedule. The Tigers will open the season at home against UConn on Oct. 3-4. Back in April, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference released its league schedule which saw the Tigers opening conference play against Omaha on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Before then, the Tigers will […]
On Thursday, Colorado College hockey released its full 2025-2026 schedule. The Tigers will open the season at home against UConn on Oct. 3-4.
Back in April, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference released its league schedule which saw the Tigers opening conference play against Omaha on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Before then, the Tigers will host defending Atlantic Hockey America champion Bentley on Oct. 10 before traveling across town to Cadet Ice Arena to play Air Force for the Pikes Peak Trophy which has been in CC’s possession since 2018.
In the first road trip outside Colorado, CC will travel to Northern Michigan on Oct. 17-18. The Tigers hosted the Wildcats to open the season last year.
CC will also complete two other series from the 2024-2025 season as the Tigers will host Providence — where CC coach Kris Mayotte was on the staff from 2014-2019— over Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 28 and 29.
The Tigers will also travel to Augustana University on Jan. 2-3 to close their official nonconference slate. CC will host Simon Fraser University in an exhibition on Jan. 17.
Tribe Scribe: Here are 10 storylines from a memorable 2024-25 athletic season
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By Dave Johnson
W&M Athletics
Another season has come and gone for William & Mary athletics, and there were plenty of highlights. Teams and individuals made history, and Tribe athletes continued to shine both in their chosen sport and in the classroom. Here are 10 highlights that will stick […]
Another season has come and gone for William & Mary athletics, and there were plenty of highlights. Teams and individuals made history, and Tribe athletes continued to shine both in their chosen sport and in the classroom.
Here are 10 highlights that will stick with us for a while.
Women’s basketball makes history.
Let’s face it: After losing six of its final seven games of the regular season, the Tribe wasn’t generating much buzz entering the Coastal Athletic Association tournament as the No. 9 seed. That only made its four-day championship run all the more remarkable.
In becoming the highest-seeded team to win the CAA title, W&M defeated four teams it had gone 0-5 against during the regular season. Tournament MVP Bella Nascimento capped it with a 33-point, 11-rebound masterpiece in W&M’s 66-63 win over Campbell in the final.
Not done yet, the Tribe became the first team with a sub-.500 record to win an NCAA tournament game with a 69-63 victory over High Point in the first round. The ride ended with a loss to No. 1 Texas, which advanced to the Final Four.
Charles Grant off to Vegas
Grant didn’t begin playing football until his junior year of high school, which led to very little recruiting attention. But he ended up starting 41 games for the Tribe, including his last 36, and became a consensus All-American left tackle as a senior.
Undoubtedly, he could have transferred to an FBS program for a higher profile. But he stayed, and his reward came when the Las Vegas Raiders chose him in the third round (99th overall) of the NFL Draft — by which point he had earned his degree in psychology.
“It felt great to accomplish that goal,” Grant said. “Now, it’s time to set new goals and get back to work.”
Ben Parker’s magical season.
From March 9 through May 7, Parker put together a 34-game hitting streak that broke the school’s modern-day record and tied the conference mark. He finished the season as the CAA’s leading hitter (and ninth nationally) at .407 with 94 hits, third in program history. He had 50 RBI at the lead-off spot.
And here’s a stat for the ages: Of the season’s 56 games, all of which he started, Parker had multiple hits in 31. That included 12 games with at least three base knocks. He went hitless only five times.
So it came as no surprise when Parker was named the CAA’s Co-Player of the Year and first team ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division I Atlantic All-Region.
Tribe athletes continue to shine in the classroom.
In data released by the NCAA last fall, William & Mary athletics had the highest Federal Graduation Rate among public Division I institutions for the 19th time in 20 years. Tribe student athletes graduated at an 88% clip, 20 points higher than the national average.
In another release in May, W&M ranked second among national public schools in Academic Progress Rate scores and NCAA Public Recognition Awards. The college’s APR for 2023-24 was 996 among its 21 programs, 12 points above the national average. Tribe athletics won 14 awards, more than any other CAA or Virginia university.
This past spring, the department posted an overall GPA of 3.45. It was the seventh consecutive semester at 3.25 or better.
And all 21 programs had a GPA above 3.1 spring semester for the first time.
A banner year for men’s gymnastics
For the first time in program history, five gymnasts — Evan Wilkins, Sam Lee, Connor Barrow, Luke Tully and Niko Greenly — qualified for the finals in the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wilkins tied for 19th on floor and 27th on parallel bars. Lee came in 20th on P-bars and tied for 22nd on vault. Barrow and Tully placed 20th on vault and high bar, respectively. Greenly tied for 25th on parallel bars.
As a team, the Tribe qualified for the Championships for the first time since 2021 as the No. 12 seed.
Hollis Mathis joins the 3X 1,000 club.
Mathis came to William & Mary as a celebrated dual-threat quarterback, and he immediately lived up to the hype. But a series of events, including a labral tear in his throwing shoulder and the emergence of Darius Wilson, would change his role.
Mathis never complained or entered the transfer portal. Instead, as the Tribe’s valuable Swiss Army Knife, he became the second player in college football history to have at least 1,000 career yards in passing (1,716), rushing (1,091) and receiving (1,005).
Mathis’ career didn’t go as envisioned, but he has no regrets. And because he stayed, he has two degrees from one of the nation’s premier colleges — a B.A. in kinesiology/exercise science and an M.B.A.
Mathis’ hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, invited him to their rookie minicamp last month.
Gabe Dorsey fires his way to the record book
Although he played only three seasons after transferring from Vanderbilt, Dorsey became arguably the most prolific 3-point shooter in Tribe basketball history. His 292 career makes are second in program history behind Marcus Thornton, but his per-game average of 3.24 is first.
Also in the record book, Dorsey is first and second in most 3-pointers in a season — 113 in 2023-24 and 103 in 2024-25. His career percentage of .427 is second to Connor Burchfield but first among those who have at least 180 makes.
Dorsey is looking ahead to a career in professional basketball, including a pre-draft workout with the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.
Ben Williamson has big debut in The Show
On April 15, Tax Day for those who celebrate, Williamson became the 11th player in Tribe baseball history to make his MLB debut. In his first plate appearance with the Seattle Mariners, facing the Reds in Cincinnati, he lined a single through the left side. It was 106 mph off the bat.
Since that night and through last weekend, Williamson had started 42 of the Mariners’ 49 games at third base. He was batting .259, third on the team among those with at least 150 plate appearances.
Williamson became the first Tribe alum to play in the MLB since Will Rhymes, who made his debut in 2010 and played his final game in ’12.
Three athletes qualify for NCAA prelims
Sophomore Elizabeth Strobach cleared 4.16 meters (13 feet, 7.75 inches) in the pole vault to qualify for the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries in late May. Her jump broke a school record that stood for 16 years by half a foot.
Joining her in Jacksonville, Fla., were Catherine Garrison and Arianna DeBoer. Garrison finished her junior season with a 17th-place finish in the steeplechase with a time of 10:07.98, less than a second off the school record she set in April.
DeBoer ran the 10,000 meters in 35:41.91 to finish 44th.
Daly joins Tribe alums Albert, Ellis in coaches Hall of Fame
In January, former W&M women’s soccer coach (and current volunteer assistant) John Daly was inducted into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame. And to put it in soccer lingo, it gave the Tribe a hat trick.
Daly’s honor came a year after the induction of Jill Ellis ’88, who played for Daly and coached the U.S. National Team to FIFA World Cup championships in 2015 and ’19. It came two years after former men’s coach Al Albert ’69 got the call.
Could the Dallas Stars hire from this prestigious hockey institute
Right now, Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill is in the middle of finding a new head coach after letting Pete DeBoer go last week. After reports of DeBoer losing the locker room after his comments following Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, it was time to move on from DeBoer. Nill is considering […]
Right now, Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill is in the middle of finding a new head coach after letting Pete DeBoer go last week. After reports of DeBoer losing the locker room after his comments following Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, it was time to move on from DeBoer. Nill is considering all aspects of his coaching search, looking at both internal and external hires. However, this name might turn some heads if Nill decides to go down this route.
For those who don’t follow college hockey that much, there are a certain number of schools that consistently make their version of March Madness every season. One of those schools is the University of Denver. I remember going with my dad to drop my brother off at band camp at the University one summer. You could tell hockey was in their DNA at that University. This potential hire could shake the NHL if Jim Nill decides to hire Denver University Hockey Head Coach David Carle.
David Carle is an excellent head coach who has taken Denver University. He took his team to the National Championship in 2022 and 2024 and won the NCAA Championship in 2024. They had their best start in program history this past season by winning their first 12 games. He has also coached at the national level for Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championship, earning a gold medal. This guy is like Neil Graham’s long-lost brother. All he’s doing right now is winning, and his coaching stock is rising.
The reason why David Carle is a long shot to become the next head coach for the Stars is the fact that he’s an outsider to the organization. With Nill announcing that the Assistant Coaching Staff will be staying for the upcoming season, it feels like Nill is considering hiring from within the organization, such as hiring Neil Graham, whom we’ve already discussed. But, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Nill hires someone like Carle. He would be the perfect outside candidate, in my opinion.
In conclusion, don’t count out the Stars looking at him as a coaching candidate. He’s got the resume of being a winning head coach in the NHL. However, I feel like with the current state the Stars are in right now, it wouldn’t be a good time to hire a coach like him. Personally, let’s just let Nill cook and pick the best possible coach to lead the Stars to a Stanley Cup Title. Who knows, maybe the assistant coaching staff could help teach Carle the ropes and win the Stanley Cup next season.
Canada’s gymnastics team unveiled for 2025 FISU Summer World University Games
June 12, 2025 RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – U SPORTS, the Canadian representative of FISU, the International University Sports Federation, and Gymnastics Canada have announced the roster for Team Canada gymnastics athletes at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany. The team is led by 2024 Paris Olympians Félix Dolci […]
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – U SPORTS, the Canadian representative of FISU, the International University Sports Federation, and Gymnastics Canada have announced the roster for Team Canada gymnastics athletes at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany.
The team is led by 2024 Paris Olympians Félix Dolci of Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Que., and William Émard of Laval, Que. Dolci won the men’s all-around gold at the 2023 Pan Am Games, the first Canadian to do so since 1963. On the women’s side, Evanda Zlobec of Baie-d’Urfé, Que., won the all-around competition at this year’s Luxembourg Open, while Maddison Hajjar of Dollard-des-Ormeau, Que., won two event medals at the same meet. Rhythmic gymnastics is led by Suzanna Shahbazian of Montreal, who won a team gold and an individual silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
The women’s artistic gymnastics team comprises four member
Athlete name Hometown University/College
Maddison Hajjar Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. John Abbott College
Kahlyn Lawson Beaconsfield, Que. John Abbott College
Evandra Zlobec Baie-d’Urfé, Que. Collégial International Sainte-Anne
The men’s artistic gymnastics team includes the following five members:
Athlete name Hometown University/College
Matteo Bardana Oakville, Ont. California
Yanni Chronopoulos Milton, Ont. Nebraska
Félix Dolci Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Que. LaSalle College (Mtl.)
William Emard Laval, Que. UQAM
Jayson Rampersad Montreal, Que. Concordia
The two athletes competing in women’s rhythmic gymnastics are as follows:
Athlete name S Sp. Hometown University/College
Erica Lee F Rhythmic Vancouver, B.C. UC San Diego
Suzanna Shahbazian F Rhythmic Montreal, Que. CÉGEP de Saint-Laurent
Team Canada is making its return to the FISU Summer World University Games, after missing the 2023 event. The 2025 edition will be staged in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region of Germany, with rhythmic gymnastics set for July 17-19 and artistic gymnastics from July 22-26, both in Essen.
Team Canada has won 15 medals in artistic gymnastics, with the first coming at Universiade ’83 in Edmonton, where Anita Botnen, Anne-Marie De Serres, Elfi Schlegel, and Sara Aggiss combined to win gold at the team event. Canada’s last medals in the discipline came at Taipei in 2017, when four-time Olympian Ellie Black and 2012 Olympian Brittany Rogers combined to win four individual medals, including gold for Black in the beam and for Rogers in the vault, and won silver in the team event with Briannah Tsang and Jessica Dowling.
Canada’s only medal in rhythmic gymnastics was a bronze by Susie Cushman at the 1991 Summer Universiade in Sheffield, England.
The artistic gymnastics squad will be led by coaches Julie Charron of St-Basile-le-Grand, Que., Monica Nolet of Blainville, Que. and Johanne Soucy of St-Joseph-du-Lac, Que., with Alexandra Zaluski of Saskatoon attached as medical personnel.
The rhythmic gymnastics coach is Natalia Popova of Montreal.
All team lists are subject to change prior to the Games start date and all nominations are subject to approval by the U SPORTS international office.
(via tyresehaliburton/TT)
