Top Talents to The Farm

STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford head coach Thom Glielmi announced the signing of five of the top gymnastics prospects, inking one of the best recruiting classes in the nation during this week's signing period.

Stanford's recruiting class features Taylor Burkhart (Morrison, Colo./Two Roads Charter HS), Nick Kuebler (Seattle, Wash./Metropolitan Gymnastics), Ian Lasic-Ellis (Dover, Mass./Massachusetts Elite Gymnastics Academy, Luke McFarland (East Hartland, Conn./Daggett Gymnastics) and Khoi Young (Bowie, Md./Sportsplex Gymnastics).

"We are extremely fortunate to have another remarkable class. I cannot think of any other class we've had that had so many tier-one recruits. Five are either current or former USA Junior National Team Members," Glielmi said. "And while their gymnastics prowess is impressive - all have events that are at a senior level - what stands out to me is their strength of character. By all accounts they will seamlessly transition to the senior ranks and to our team culture. It's a very exciting time for the program. The current team is outstanding, and I think that was a big draw for these guys. They are eager to contribute and want to train at the highest level. When I look at this class, there are certain events that are ridiculously good, pommel horse being one of them. This class will challenge for spots in the pommel lineup as soon as they walk into the gym. It's very motivating, and all the credit goes to their coaches. The caliber of junior gymnasts being produced in the USA is astonishing."

National Competition Results

• 2020 Winter Cup Challenge
• 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kansas City, Mo. - 1st-AA, VT, PB; 3rd-HB; 4th-PH; 5th-FX; 8th-SR (15-16)
• 2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 2nd-FX(T); 5th-SR(T) (JE L10 Age 16)
• 2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 4th-Team
• 2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 1st-HB(T); 4th-PB(T); 6th-AA; 7th-PH; 8th-FX (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-HB; 4th-AA, PB(T); 8th-PH (15-16)
• 2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 1st-FX, VT; 2nd-PB; 3rd-AA, SR(T); 8th-PH, HB (JE L10 Age 15)
• 2018 Elite Team Cup, Hoffman Estates, Ill. - 6th-Team
• 2018 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - (Jr. Div.)
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 1st-FX, 1st-VT, 1st-HB
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 4th-AA (JE L9 Age 14)
• 2015 J. O. Championships Daytona Beach, Florida - 1st-FX, 1st- VT

International Competition Results

• 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, Buenos Aires, Argentina - 1st-Team; 4th-HB; 5th-AA; 7th-PB

According to Glielmi
"Taylor is original. All of his gymnastics push difficulty, but his originality is what people will notice. On every event he has something unique. He is exciting to watch, and one can't help cheering for his success. His horizontal bar routine has skills only a handful of people in the world are able to compete."

National Competition Results

• 2020 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 8th-PH(T), HB(T)
• 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kansas City, Mo. - 1st-FX, HB; 2nd-AA, PH; 6th-PB(T) (15-16)
• 2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 2nd-FX(T), SR; 5th-AA, HB(T); 7th-PH (JE L10 Age 16)
• 2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 7th-Team
• 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Boston, Mass. - 2nd-PB(T), HB; 5th-AA, SR; 7th-PH (15-16)
• 2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 2nd-SR; 4th-FX, PH, HB; 7th-AA (JE L10 Age 15)
• 2018 Elite Team Cup, Hoffman Estates, Ill. - 7th-Team(T)
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, FL - 2nd-AA; 2nd-PM; 2nd-HB; 3rd-SR; 6th-FX; (JE L9 Age 14)
• 2016 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich. - 3rd-SR; 6th-VT; 8th-FX(T) (L9 JE 13)
• 2015 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Daytona, FL - 5th-AA; 4th-FX; 8th-SR (JE L8 Age 12

According to Glielmi
"Nick is one of the most artistic gymnasts we've seen in a long time. He has impeccable form and presentation. He is technically sound and a confident competitor. With elevated pommels, smooth horizontal bar and fluid parallel bars, he raises the expectation of precise execution."

National Competition Results

• 2020 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 2nd-SR; 3rd-PH; 5th-AA, FX (Jr. Div.)
• 2020 Elite Team Cup, Las Vegas, Nev. - 2nd-Team
• 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kansas City, Mo. - 2nd-SR; 4th-FX; 7th-AA, PH, HB; 8th-PB (15-16)
• 2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 1st-PB; 2nd-AA, SR, HB; 4th-PH; 6th-FX(T); 7th-VT (JE L10 Age 15)
• 2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 6th-Team
• 2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 4th-PB(T); 8th-SR (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 1st-AA, SR, PB; 3rd-FX; 4th-PH; 6th-VT(T) (JE L9 Age 14)
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 2nd-AA (JE L9 Age 13)
• 2016 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich. - 2nd-SR; 3rd-AA; 4th-PB(T); 5th-HB; 7th-PH (L8 JE 12)
• 2014 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Long Beach, Calif. - 2nd-SR; 3rd-PH, PB (L8, 11) 

International Competition Results

• 2020 RD761 Gymnastics Invitational, Katy, Texas - 1st-SR; 2nd-Team; 8th-PH
• 2017 University of Calgary International Cup, Calgary, Canada - 1st-Team; 3rd-PH, SR, HB; 4th-AA; 5th-FX, PB; 6th-VT (Jr. Div.)
• 2017 RD761 International Junior Team Cup, Katy, Texas - 3rd-Team; 5th-SR(T), PB

According to Glielmi
"Ian has been a mainstay on the Junior National Team, and there is a reason for that - he is solid and can be depended on in every event. Ian is a phenomenal quality that puts lineups at ease. Although he is a solid reliable all-arounder, Ian's pommel horse and rings separate him from the pack. We could not be more pleased to have him show these strengths at Stanford."

National Competition Results

• 2020 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - (Jr. Div.)
• 2020 Elite Team Cup, Las Vegas, Nev. - 2nd-Team
• 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kansas City, Mo. - (15-16)
• 2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 4th-HB(T); 7th-PB(T) (JE L10 Age 15)
• 2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 6th-Team
• 2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 National Qualifier, Colorado Springs, Colo. - (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Oklahoma City, Okla. - 1st-VT; 2nd-PH(T); 4th-AA; 6th-PB; 8th-SR (JE L9 Age 14)
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 7th-AA (JE L9 Age 13)
• 2016 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich. - 6th-FX; 7th-PH(T); 9th-AA (L8 JE 11) 

According to Glielmi
"I expect Luke to have a breakout year. I could not believe the jump he made in difficulty in one year. It's quite impressive and he positions himself to be ready for the senior level - specifically on rings. Because rings is the most challenging event to get senior-level difficulty, it is apparent he has been working hard. I am excited Stanford will be part of the next chapter in Luke's gymnastics."

National Competition Results

• 2020 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - (Jr. Div.)
• 2020 Elite Team Cup, Las Vegas, Nev. - 8th-Team
• 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Kansas City, Mo. - 1st-PH; 2nd-FX; 3rd-PB; 5th-AA; 6th-VT; 8th-HB (15-16)
• 2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Reno, Nev. - 1st-PH; 2nd-AA, PB; 4th-FX(T), HB; 5th-SR(T) (JE L10 Age 16)
• 2019 Elite Team Cup, Greensboro, N.C. - 5th-Team
• 2019 Winter Cup Challenge, Las Vegas, Nev. - 1st-FX; 2nd-VT(T); 4th-PH(T); 7th-AA (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Boston, Mass. - 1st-PH; 6th-PB; 7th-AA, FX, VT(T) (15-16)
• 2018 National Qualifier, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 1st-AA (Jr. Div.)
• 2018 Elite Team Cup, Hoffman Estates, Ill. - 5th-Team
• 2017 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Kissimmee, Fla. - 5th-AA (JE L9 Age 14)
• 2016 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, Battle Creek, Mich. - 2nd-FX, PH; 7th-VT (L8 JE 12) 

International Competition Results

• 2020 RD761 Gymnastics Invitational, Katy, Texas - 2nd-Team, AA, FX, PH; 3rd-VT
• 2019 Junior Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, Gyor, Hungary - 7th-Team (alt.)

According to Glielmi
"Khoi is a tremendous all-around gymnast. Not only is his pommel horse on par with the top seniors, he is pushing to invent new elements. He makes gymnastics look easy, which is exactly what the sport is about. Khoi is able to do incredibly difficult gymnastics while making it look effortless. And although you will want to watch his pommels, he is also capable of doing one of the most difficult vaults being competed in the USA. In recent years, we saw Khoi push steadily to the top, and we see no limits for his trajectory."