Gym'Backs ink two for next year

FAYETTEVILLE — Breanne Guy and Alexandra LaChance signed National Letters of Intent to join the University of Arkansas gymnastics team for the 2005-06 season. "We’re very excited about both of these young women," said co-head coach Mark Cook. "They are both strong gymnasts and will immediately impact our program." Guy joins the Gym’Backs from Bradenton, Fla., where she competed for the Tampa Bay Turners, the Boca Twisters and Gwinette Gymnastics. Guy recorded some of her career-best numbers with the Turners including a 9.5 on vault, a 9.475 on bars and 9.5s on both beam and floor. She also tallied a 37.675 on the all-around. "Breanne is a very exciting gymnast," said Cook. "She has tremendous difficulty in her performances and she will have an immediate impact on the vault and bars for us. She has the skill level and personal characteristics to give her an opportunity to compete in the all-around as well." "Breanne is a quick and explosive athlete," added co-head coach Rene Cook. "Her level of difficulty has improved drastically over the last year and we look for her to shine especially on vault and bars." The oldest of two children to Kevin and Jacki Guy, Breanne Lee Guy has a younger sister, Brooke, and plans to major in kinesiology/physical therapy at Arkansas. LaChance hails from New Windsor, N.Y., and has competed for her mother at Gym Kids Gymnastics, a club program in her area. With Gym Kids, LaChance earned level 10 status and posted a career-best 9.525 on vault at the Level 10 New York State and Region 6 Championships. She added a 9.45 on bards at the state championship and tallied a 9.55 on beam and a 9.7 on floor at the I Love New York Cup. LaChance had several top five finishes in her career, recently capturing top honors on vault at the Level 10 New York State Championship. She also was a first-place finisher on bars, beam and all-around in 2002 meet. Her regional experience includes four first-place finishes on vault, bards, floor and all-around at the Level 10 Regoinal Championships in 2004 and she has five all-around titles under her belt this year. "Alex is a very focused gymnasts with a tremendous work ethic and superb technical execution in the gym," said Mark Cook. "She’s a very elegant gymnast and has proven herself on the national level. She will have a tremendous impact on both the vault and floor but has the capability of vying for an all-around spot as a freshman." "Alex will be a great asset to our program," added Rene Cook. "She’s a beautiful gymnast. Being taller, she has great lines and is strong as well as graceful. Alex’s skill level and experience will improve our program. She will be an asset on all four events. Both Alex and Breanne are a great fit for our program and we look forward to them contributing immediately." The oldest of three daughters to Peter and Andrea Arkosi-LaChance, Alexandra Aurora LaChance has two younger sisters, Adrienn and Ariel, and is undecided on a major at Arkansas. For more information about Arkansas gymnastics log on to www.ladybacks.com.