New York isn’t exactly a gymnastics hotbed. Most people think of the SEC or the Pac-12 when they picture elite college flips and sticks. But back in 2020, something shifted. Long Island University gymnastics appeared almost out of nowhere, launching a Division I program in the middle of a global pandemic. It was a bold move. Honestly, it was a little bit crazy.
The Sharks didn’t just join the fray; they carved out a space in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) and started making people pay attention. You’ve got to realize how rare this is. Starting a program from scratch requires more than just a floor mat and some chalk. It takes a massive financial commitment and a coaching staff willing to bet on an unproven brand. Head coach Randy Lane, who came in with a heavy pedigree from UCLA, was the one tasked with building this thing from the ground up. He brought that "California cool" energy to Brooklyn and Post, and it stuck.
What People Get Wrong About Long Island University Gymnastics
A lot of casual fans assume that because LIU is a relatively new program, they're just happy to be here. That’s a mistake. They aren't a "participation trophy" kind of team. From the very first meet against New Hampshire, the Sharks were hunting for scores in the 190s.
People also get confused about the campus situation. LIU is unique. You have the Brooklyn campus and the Post campus in Brookville. The gymnastics team is a primary fixture of the LIU Sharks athletic identity, which unified the two campuses under one mascot. It’s a bit of a logistical dance, but the athletes make it work. They train at North Shore Gymnastics, a facility that has become a sort of sanctuary for the squad. It’s not your typical on-campus arena setup you’d see at a school like Florida or LSU, but that underdog grit is basically baked into their DNA.
The Recruitment Strategy That Actually Worked
How do you get high-level recruits to choose a startup program over an established powerhouse? You sell the vision. Lane and his staff didn’t try to out-glamour the big schools. Instead, they offered something rare: the chance to be "the first." Every record set by an LIU gymnast in those first few years—whether it was Mara Titarsolej on bars or Alana Ricketts on floor—was a school record.
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Think about that for a second.
Every time you step on the mat, you aren't chasing a ghost from 1985. You are the history. That's a powerful pitch. Mara Titarsolej is a perfect example of the talent level this program can attract. When she became the first Shark to earn a Perfect 10 on the uneven bars, it wasn't just a win for the school; it was a signal to the rest of the NCAA. It proved that you don't need a hundred years of tradition to achieve perfection.
Why the 2024 and 2025 Seasons Flipped the Script
Consistency is the hardest thing to achieve in college sports. Anyone can have a "Cinderella" season once. Staying relevant is a different beast entirely. Long Island University gymnastics has spent the last few years tightening up their beam rotations—which, let’s be honest, is where most meets are won or lost.
The depth has improved significantly. In the early days, if one star athlete had an off night, the team score plummeted. Now, you’re seeing a roster where the fifth and sixth spots are contributing 9.8s. That is the hallmark of a mature program. They’ve also benefited from the transfer portal, picking up athletes who wanted a change of pace or a chance to live in the New York metro area while competing at the highest level.
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The Impact of the EAGL Environment
The EAGL is a tough neighborhood. You’re going up against George Washington, NC State, and Towson. It’s a conference where the margins are razor-thin. LIU’s presence has forced the other Northeast schools to level up. It’s good for the sport. For a long time, gymnastics was heavily concentrated in the South and Midwest. Having a legitimate DI contender on Long Island gives local club gymnasts something to aim for without having to move 1,000 miles away.
The Reality of Training in New York
It’s not all glitz and glamour. Being a gymnast at LIU means dealing with the realities of the Northeast. Snow delays, long bus rides to meets in Pennsylvania or Maryland, and balancing the intense academics of a private university. Most of these women are balancing pre-med tracks or business degrees while training 20 hours a week. It’s exhausting. Sorta makes you tired just thinking about it, right?
But the community support has been surprising. You’ll see local fans—people who have no direct connection to the school—showing up to meets because they want to see elite gymnastics. There’s a hunger for it here.
Breaking Down the Scoring
To understand why LIU is climbing the rankings, you have to look at their vaulting. Vault used to be their "weak" event. It’s the quickest event, but it’s also the one where judges are the most stingy with landing deductions. The Sharks have shifted their focus to higher start values. If you aren’t throwing a Yurchenko full or higher, you’re leaving points on the table. Lately, the landings have been cleaner, the chests have been up, and the scores are reflecting that technical shift.
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What’s Next for the Sharks?
The ceiling for Long Island University gymnastics is still being built. They aren't at the point where they are challenging for a National Championship just yet—let’s be realistic. There is still a gap between the top 10 programs and everyone else. However, the goal of making Regionals consistently is no longer a pipe dream. It’s the expectation.
If you’re a fan or a recruit looking at this program, you have to appreciate the hustle. They’ve navigated the NIL era, the coaching changes, and the pressure of being a "new" team with a lot of grace. They’ve proven that New York can, in fact, be a gymnastics town.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Athletes
If you're following the trajectory of this program, there are a few things you should actually do to stay in the loop or get involved:
- Watch the NQS Rankings: Don't just look at wins and losses. In NCAA gymnastics, the National Qualification Score (NQS) is everything. Track LIU's away scores specifically, as those are heavily weighted for post-season eligibility.
- Attend a Meet at the Pratt Center: If you're in the NYC area, go. The atmosphere is different from a football game; it’s intimate, high-energy, and you can actually see the physics of a double-layout up close.
- Monitor the Bars Rotation: This has historically been LIU's "bread and butter" event. If they are hitting their handstands and sticking their double-layout dismounts, they are usually on track for a 196+ team score.
- Check the Academic Awards: LIU gymnasts consistently rank high on the WCGA Scholastic All-America lists. It’s a reminder that these are true student-athletes, which is worth supporting in an era of "sports-first" mentalities.
- Follow the Recruiting Trail: Watch for local New York and New Jersey club gymnasts committing to LIU. The more they keep local talent at home, the faster the program will break into the Top 25.
The story of LIU gymnastics isn't finished. It's barely past the prologue. Whether they can bridge the gap to the elite Tier 1 programs remains to be seen, but they've already done the hardest part: they've made themselves impossible to ignore.