BERKELEY – With international experience and a pedigree of success on the club national championship scene, California women's gymnastics receives a strong boost of talent from four new additions to its roster. Kyana George, Alma Kuc, Victoria Salem and Nina Schank signed National Letters of Intent to join the Golden Bear gymnastics program next year, head coach Justin Howell announced Wednesday.
 
"This class brings an international level of unique gymnastics and seasoned experience that will help us continue to compete at the highest level," Howell said. ""Most importantly, all four of these student-athletes have achieved high levels of success in the classroom.  I have no doubt that they will thrive in our challenging UC Berkeley environment."
 
A 2016 Junior Olympic National Team member and all-around and floor runner-up at 2016 JO Nationals, George is expected to make an instant impact on all four events. At JO Nationals, she also finished in the top 10 on bars (7th) and vault (9th).
 
"Kyana is an accomplished competitor with years of national championship success as a club athlete," Howell said. "She will make an immediate impact in the all-around."
 
The McKinney, Texas product has already made a name for herself in the gymnastics world, as she successfully performed a triple wolf turn on beam to earn the unique distinction of having a skill named after her.
 
"We can't wait to see 'The George' light up Haas Pavilion!" Howell said.
 
In addition to her stellar performance at the national level, Geroge posted silver medal-finishes on vault, beam, floor and the all-around at this year's Level 10 Regionals. She is a two-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier and 2016 Level 10 State champion in the all-around, bars, beam and floor. George is a three-year captain of her Metroplex Gymnastics squad.
 
A member of the Polish National Team who competed at the 2015 World Gymnastics Championships, Kuc trains at the All Olympia Gymnastics Center in southern California. Kuc, who was born in Canada and also lived in Argentina and Brazil, boasts international experience since 2013, also participating in the 2014 World Championships and 2014 and 2016 European Championships. She is the 2016 Polish uneven bars champion and logged a bronze finish on floor at the Polish National Championships.
 
"Having competed for the Polish National Team in the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, Alma brings a high level of international experience to our program.  We are excited to watch her elegant style and world-class uneven bars on the NCAA stage," Howell said.
 
In 2013, Kuc qualified to the Nastia Liukin Cup with a 37.975 all-around score at the 2013 Gliders Invitational and claimed the bar title at Level 10 State and Regional competition. She was the runner-up on bars at the state championships in 2012 and qualified to JO Nationals.
The Bears add two Northern California products in Schank and Salem.
 
The San-Bruno based Salem posted two top-three finishes at the 2016 JO Nationals, winning the balance beam title and taking silver on bars. She was seventh all-around at the prestigious event after winning the beam title and turning in top-four finishes on every event at Level 10 Regionals. She was also the 2015 Regional beam champion and 2014 Regional bar champion.
 
"Vic has a wonderful level of artistry that will stand out in the NCAA," Howell said. " She brings with her a high level of all-around success on the national stage, and an uneven bars routine that can win a championship."
 
Salem overcame Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, a congenital vascular disorder that affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues and bones, which caused a measurable discrepancy in the varying lengths of her right and left legs. She underwent two corrective surgeries to allow her bones to grow evenly, all the while competing in gymnastics.
 
Schank trains at the nearby Head Over Heels Athletic Arts facility and qualified to the 2016 Level 10 national championships after claiming the bars, beam and all-around titles in NorCal State competition.
 
"Nina is from the down the street in Oakland, and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome local talent into our Cal family," Howell said. "Nina is a strong all-around gymnast, with exceptional talents on the uneven bars and vault. Her clean lines and power will add some exciting depth to these events."
 
Schank has been a captain of her club squad since August 2014, the same year she claimed the Level 10 State championship on vault. She owns a personal-best 37.825 in the all-around, 9.75 on vault and 9.70 on bars.
 
In 2013, Schank attended the esteemed Karolyi Camp, directed by USA Gymnastics icons Bela and Martha Karolyi, and has worked as a camp counselor at the Texas-based training facility.
 
"Our program is about hard work, passion, artistry and getting one day better.  Each of the student-athletes in this freshman class represent those characteristics to the fullest extent in the gym and in the classroom.  We could not be more excited to bring them into our Cal Gymnastics family."