CEDAR CITY, Utah – Nov. 20 – Southern Utah women’s gymnastics head coach Scott Bauman announced the addition of Gabriela Grey (Long Beach, Calif./Marina HS) and Lauren Jeffrey (Kingwood, Texas/Kingwood HS) after receiving national letters of intent for the 2008-09 season.

“From top to bottom this is the strongest recruiting class we have had in a while,” Bauman said. “These two could come in and compete on six events right away.”

Grey is a level-10 gymnast with Wildfire Gymnastics in Southern California and is coached by Bill Callander. In 2007, she placed 10th in the all-around and 5th on floor at the level 10 region I regional competition. The year before, at the same meet, she finished 16th in the all-around and tied for 5th on floor.

“Gaby is an incredible athlete and a great competitor,” Bauman said. “There are some tiny things that we’ll need to work on with her to become stronger, but she has all the elements in place to be a solid gymnast.”

Jeffrey is a level-10 gymnast competing for coach Dave Ballard at Rowland-Ballard Gymnastics. In 2007, she finished 10th in the all-around and 3rd on the floor at the level 10 region III regional competition. In 2006, she finished 21st in the all-around at the level 9 Western Nationals.

“Lauren is an incredibly powerful athlete,” Bauman said. “She is strong on vault, bars and floor and will come in and compete well for us on bars and floor.”

Southern Utah will begin the 2008 season when the Thunderbirds host Seattle-Pacific on Jan. 25 in the Centrum Arena.