Utah Red Rocks Sign Two Gymnasts in 2017-18 Class

The Utah Red Rocks signed two talented gymnasts to their 2017-18 signing class: U.S. Junior Olympic national champion and team member Alexia Burch and Canadian Nation team member Sydney Soloski. Both gymnasts are accomplished on all four events and will likely compete in meets for the Red Rocks as freshmen in the 2018 season.

Below is the complete press release from the University of Utah on the signings of Burch and Soloski:

SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah gymnastics team announced the signing of Canadian National team member Sydney Soloski (Calgary, Alberta) and U.S. Junior Olympic national champion and team member Alexia Burch (Sparks, Nev.) to National Letters of Intent today. The two will join the Utes next fall.

“Sydney and Alexia are accomplished athletes who will come in and have an immediate impact on our lineups,” said co-head coach Tom Farden.

Soloski (pronounced so-lah-ski) has been a member of Canadian National team since 2014 and is in her second year on the Senior National team. She won the gold medal on floor at the 2015 Gymnix International meet (placing third in the all-around) and won the balance beam competition at the 2015 Provincial Championships. Soloski took second place on floor at the 2015 Elite Canada meet and at the 2016 World Challenge Cup in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Her sixth-place all-around finish at the 2014 Canadian Nationals earned Soloski a place on the Canadian National team. In her national team debut, she won the all-around and vault and placed second on bars and floor at the 2014 Coupe Avenir (Future Cup) in Malmedy, Belgium. Also in 2014, she placed second on beam and third on floor to secure the win for Team Canada at the Top Gym meet in Charleroi, Belgium.

Soloski was the 2013 Canadian Junior National beam champion and won seven gold medals combined—including the all-around and bars both years—at the 2013 and 2014 Provincial Championships. She won the balance beam at the 2013 Tournoi International Combs La Ville in France.

Soloski missed the opportunity to compete at the 2015 World Championships, the Canadian National Championships and Pan American Games due to a broken foot.

Soloski is coached by Janna Ball and David Kenwright at Calgary Gymnastics Centre. She attends National Sport School, where she is an honor student. Her parents are Sherry and Dale Soloski.

“We’re excited to watch Sydney’s success in international competition translate into dynamic college performances. She is an explosive floor worker and a former national champion on the balance beam,” said Farden.

Burch, a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic National team, was the 2015 Junior Olympic all-around and floor champion and she finished fourth on beam (Jr. D). At the 2016 J.O. Nationals, she placed second on floor, sixth on beam (tie) and seventh in the all-around (Sr. B).

Burch won the vault and beam, placed second in the all-around and was third on floor at the 2016 Region 1 Championships. She was second on vault (tie) and floor and seventh in the all-around at the 2015 Region 1 Championships.

Burch was the 2016 Nevada state beam champion and also placed second on floor and fourth in the all-around at the 2016 Nevada State Championships. Her invitational wins include three gold medals (all-around, vault and floor) at the 2016 Spirit of the Flame Championships.

Also in 2016, she won the all-around and placed in the top four on all four events at the San Diego Classic. She won the all-around and beam, while placing second on the other three apparatus at the 2016 Boise State Gymnastics Open. In 2015, she qualified for the Nastia Liukin Cup.

Burch is coached by Suzi Otuafi and Amanda Otuafi at Flips USA Gymnastics. She is a senior at Spanish Springs High School. Her parents are Renee and Perry Burch.

“Alexia is talented on all four events and is really excited about the prospect of competing in front of our legendary crowds. And the fans will love her too,” said Farden.

Videos:

Sydney Soloski and Alexia Burch talk about signing with Utah:

Sydney Soloski - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1G6PgoI19w

Alexia Burch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LUXl0UzJvU

The first opportunity for fans to see the 2017 Utah Red Rocks will be on Fri. Dec. 9 at 7:00 p.m. for the Red Rocks Preview at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. They will open the 2017 season at home against Michigan on Sat. Jan. 7 at 5:00 p.m.