Iowa State University Athletics
Katie Minasola Inducted Into Region 5 Hall Of Fame
09.19.2016 | Athletics, Gymnastics
AMES, Iowa- On Saturday, Iowa State gymnastics associate head coach Katie Minasola was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Region 5 Hall of Fame. Minasola, along with two other inductees, was honored at the 2016 Region 5 Banquet Saturday night in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The award was created to celebrate gymnasts in the Region 5 area for their career and lifetime accomplishments.
"I'm really excited and so honored to be chosen," Minasola said. "To be included with so many other prestigious gymnasts is incredible. I feel so lucky to be a part of the Region 5 family; they've all been so supportive and amazing. It's an honor to be recognized by such a great organization."
In order to be nominated for the award, a gymnast mug compete for a minimum of five years in Region 5, make a minimum of two national teams, and have completed their USA Gymnastics competitive career.
In her time competing at the elite level, Minasola qualified as an alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics team. She placed eighth all-around in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials to earn this honor. Minasola also represented the USA at the 1995 Pan American Games, where her fourth-place finish on beam helped the team bring home the gold. The year prior, she competed at the 1994 Coca-Cola National Championships, finishing eighth in the all-around. Her success started as early as 1993, when she took first place in both beam and the all-around at the Junior Olympic National Championships.
Iowa State gymnastics has been lucky enough to have Minasola since 2011, after she completed seven seasons as an assistant coach for Michigan State. In her time with the Cyclones, she has help shape some of the best beam and floor performers in school history.
Most recently, ISU gymnast Caitlin Brown earned regular and post-season All-America honors on balance beam, tying with recent graduate Sammie Pearsall for the school record on beam with a 9.950. Minasola also helped coach Michelle Shealy to the best NCAA Championship finish in school history on the event with a 9.900 to qualify for event finals and a 9.8375 to place fifth overall.
"A Hall of Fame induction is a big deal," head coach Jay Ronayne expressed. "As her boss, I'm incredibly proud to have her as a part of our team. As her friend I'm overjoyed that she's getting recognized for something she really deserves."
