MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University gymnastics coach Jason Butts announced today that Esperanza Abarca, Mackenzie Black, Kendra Combs and Rachel Hornung have signed National Letters of Intent to compete at WVU next fall.
 
"We are very excited about this signing class," Mountaineer head coach Jason Butts said. "These gymnasts are ready to go and will impact this program and our lineups right away."
 
"We're bringing in a class that can compete late-in-lineup routines," Mountaineer associate head coach Travis Doak said. "There aren't any doubts with this group. We've seen these gymnasts progress through their club careers, and we know they're ready to be in Morgantown. They all want to be Mountaineer gymnasts." 
 
"I'm impressed by this class, and I'm excited to welcome them to Morgantown as we continue to grow the program at WVU," Mountaineer assistant coach Shea Anderson added.
   
A native of The Colony, Texas, Abarca is a three year, level 10 gymnast at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano, Texas. A two-time Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier, she finished 19th in the all-around at the 2017 championship. Also in 2017, Abarca placed second on uneven bars and balance beam and fourth on vault, floor and the all-around at the 2017 Region 3 Level 10 Championships. Additionally, she placed second on bars and beam and third in the all-around at the 2017 Level 10 Texas State Championships. 
 
In addition to qualifying for the 2016 JO National Championships, Abarca claimed the all-around, bars and beam titles at the Region 3 Level 10 Championships and placed second on bars at the level 10 state championships. In 2015, she placed second on beam at the Level 10 Region 3 Championships.
 
Most recently, Abarca earned the opportunity to try out for the Mexican National Team.
 
Abarca shows career highs of 9.75 on bars and 38.2 in the all-around. The daughter of Raul and Marie Barca, she currently attends The Colony High.
 
"Esperanza is very consistent," Doak said. "She always hits her routines with a beautiful style. Esperanza is focused on her future, too, and is excited to enroll in the WVU Dental program."
 
"Esperanza could be a foundation for this team to build on, and she will provide encouragement for her teammates," Butts said.
 
Watch Esperanza Compete | Watch Esperanza Compete
   
A native of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, Black is a four year, level 10 gymnast at United Sports Academy. She is the two-time reigning Region 7 vault champion, as she claimed the event victory at the 2017 Region 7 Level 10 Championships. Also in 2017, she finished third on vault at the Level 10 Pennsylvania State Championships.
 
In addition to her vault win at the 2016 Region 7 Level 10 Championships, Black also won the beam title. Prior to the regional championships in 2016, she won the vault title, finished third in the all-around and fourth on floor at the level 10 state championships. In 2015, Black finished first on vault at the NIT Championships.
 
Black shows career highs of 9.8 on vault, 9.6 on floor and 38.05 in the all-around. The daughter of Thomas Nolan and Shanette Black, she currently attends Dunmore Junior/Senior High.
 
"This staff sees raw talent when we watch Mackenzie compete," Doak said. "She has an array of skills on floor, and I have no doubt she could come in and anchor our vault lineup. Her best events are vault and floor, but she also has great jumps and leaps, and she has a rare combination of power and flexibility."
 
"Mackenzie has all-around potential," Butts said. "She's a very humble gymnast, and we're excited to get to work with her."
 
Watch Mackenzie Compete Vault | Watch Mackenzie Compete Bars | Watch Mackenzie Compete Beam | Watch Mackenzie Compete Floor
   
A Windsor, Connecticut, native, Combs is a four year, level 10 gymnast at Gymnastics Express Too. A three-time Junior Olympic National qualifier, she placed fourth on bars and beam at the 2017 championships. Also in 2017, she finished second on floor and third on vault at the Region 6 Level 10 Championships. Combs is the reigning level 10 beam and floor state champion. She also finished second on bars and in the all-around at the 2017 Connecticut Level 10 State Championships.
 
In addition to qualifying for the 2016 JO National Championships, Combs won the all-around, floor, beam and bars titles at the Region 6 Level 10 Championships, as well as placed third on vault. She also claimed the floor and bars titles and placed second in the all-around and third on vault at the 2016 Connecticut Level 10 State Championships. Combs won vault at the 2015 JO National Championships.
 
Combs shows career highs of 9.75 on floor, 9.725 on beam, 9.6 on bars and 38.15 in the all-around. The daughter of Kenneth Combs and Phyllis England, she currently attends Windsor High.
 
"Kendra is dynamic. She has an array of skills on each event," Doak said. "She will come in and make a contribution to this program immediately. Kendra is a great competitor. Currently coached by former Mountaineer Jaida Lawrence, she came to Morgantown, fell in love with the campus and is a great fit for our program."
 
"Kendra is a powerful gymnast with a great personality," Butts said. "She meshes with this team already."
 
Watch Kendra Compete Vault | Watch Kendra Compete Bars  | Watch Kendra Compete Floor
   
A Pittsburgh native, Hornung is a three year, level 10 gymnast at Pittsburgh Northstars. A 2017 Junior Olympic National qualifier, she finished 10th on vault at the championships. Prior to the national championships, she finished fourth on bars and eighth on vault and in the all-around at the 2017 Region 7 Level 10 Championships and third in the all-around and fourth on vault, bars, beam and floor at the Pennsylvania Level 10 State Championships.
 
In 2016, Hornung finished fourth on beam and fifth on vault at the Region 7 Level 10 Championships and third on beam at the level 10 state championships. Additionally, she scored a 10.0 on vault at the 2016 Niagara Cup Finals and finished first overall with a 9.8 mark. Hornung also finished first on bars, floor and in the all-around.
 
Hornung owns career highs of 9.8 on vault and 38.425 in the all-around. The daughter of Jeff Hornung and Cynthia McCulley, she currently attends Hampton High.
 
"Rachel has style and power, and she continues to get better each year she spends in the sport," Doak said. "She doesn't have a weak event. She competes big gymnastics."
 
"Rachel's personality lights up a room," Butts said. "She is very driven, and I believe she will do great gymnastics throughout her collegiate career."
 
"Rachel competes like a college gymnast already," Anderson added. "She is thrilled to be a Mountaineer, and we can't wait to help her make an immediate impact."
 
Watch Rachel Compete | Watch Rachel Compete