Gymnastics Announces Class of 2019

WEST POINT, N.Y. – With three weeks of new cadet basic training completed, the Army West Point men's gymnastics squad has released its six-member class of 2019, as announced by head coach Doug Van Everen.

The six newest additions to the defending Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) champions hail from five states, representing California, Florida, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.

Dallas native Cole Casanova highlights the group, joining Van Everen after spending his amateur career at WOGA under coach Sergei Pakanich. Casanova finished second in the all-around competition at the Region III Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., in April, taking the individual titles on still rings and vault. A P&G Championships qualifier, he was a top-20 finisher at Junior Nationals and was a four-time Academic All-American.

Colton Bradley, a native of Burlington, Mass., enters the Academy after a career at Gymnastics & More under coach Mitkko Lountchev. At the 2015 Junior Nationals, he finished sixth on parallel bars, sixth on high bar and eighth on still rings to cap off an 11th-place all-around finish. A graduate of Belmont High School, Bradley was a member of the Honor Roll.

"I wanted to have the opportunity to commission as an Army officer," added Bradley, "at a place where I can also receive a top notch education and be a part of the Army West Point gymnastics team."

Apollo Gymnastics teammates James Gamarra and Elijah-Ty Phelps will continue their bond as they enter the class of 2019 together. Gamarra placed sixth on pommel horse at the 2015 Junior Nationals and was the top finisher on the Virginia State Team. Phelps took third on high bar at Junior Nationals and was a state champion as a member of championship state team. In addition, Phelps was an Academic-All American and Honor Roll member.

Traveling the farthest distance to join the Army West Point squad, Elliott Herman hails from Los Gatos, Calif., and was a former member of the California Sports Center under coach Scott Burns. A state champion and member of the regional select and regional teams, Herman finished in the top-20 at the 2015 Junior Nationals. In addition, he was ranked fifth in the nation on high bar and earned Academic All-American honors.

Brandon Shively rounds out the newest additions to the Army West Point gymnastics team, hailing from Tampa, Fla. Formerly competing at LaFleur's Tampa under coach Billy West, he was a finalist on pommel horse at Junior Nationals after earning a state title on pommel horse and parallel bars. A graduate of Tampa Catholic High School, he earned Academic All-America honors each of his four years and was a member of the Principal's Honor Roll.

The Black Knights will begin their quest to defend their ECAC title in January.

Visit www.GoArmyWestPoint.com for up-to-date information and follow the Black Knights on Twitter @ArmyWP_Gym.

Army West Point Athletics

Gymnastics Announces Class of 2019

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