April 22, 2003

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- University of Illinois head women's gymnastics coach Bob Starkell announced the signing of Cara Pomeroy to a national letter of intent for the 2003-2004 season.

Pomeroy is a native of Ottawa, Ontario where she attends Nepean High School. She has had a stellar gymnastics career while competing for the Ottawa Gymnastics Club. Pomeroy has been the Canadian National uneven bars champion three times, once at the National Novice level, once at Junior High Performance level, and most recently in the National Open Category in 2002. In 2001, she finished second in the all-around at the national meet in the national open category.

Pomeroy will compete in the Ontario provincial championships this weekend before competing at the Canadian National Meet one more time next month.

Pomeroy will join New Lenox, Ill. native Danye Botterman as a rookie on next year's gymnastics squad. Botterman signed with the Illini in December.

CARA POMEROY
Ottawa, Ontario
High School: Nepean High School
Club: Ottawa Gymnastics Club

Notes: Was the 2002 Canadian National uneven bars champion in the National Open category...Won national bars titles previously in the National Novice category and the in the Junior High Performance category...Best all-around finish at Nationals was a second place showing in the National Open category in 2001...Competed in the Canadian National Championships every year since 1996...Competed at the Canada Winter Games this year and was captain of the Ontario Team which won the gold medal during team competition...Had the honor of carrying the Ontario flag during the opening ceremonies of the Canada Winter Games.

Coach Starkell on Pomeroy: "We are extremely excited to have Cara coming to the program next season. She will fit well into our gymnastics family and should be able to contribute right away. Cara's gymnastics skills are excellent in style and technique. She is on the tall side for a gymnast, but that only adds to the beauty of her performances. Her strongest event is the uneven bars, which will definitely help the depth problem that we had on bars this past season."