Butts Announces Four National Signing Day Additions
November 17, 2025 11:16 AM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University gymnastics coach Jason Butts has announced the addition of four student-athletes for the 2026-27 academic year.
Joining the Mountaineers are Aubriana Alderete (Mesa, Arizona), McKenzie Morris (Sugar Land, Texas), Isabella Beach (Collegeville, Pennsylvania), and Dru Thames (Collierville, Tennessee).
"I am so excited to officially welcome these four outstanding gymnasts to our Mountaineer gymnastics program," Butts said. "I am confident they will bring exceptional artistry and a strong work ethic to Cary Gym and the competition floor."
Aubriana Alderete / Mesa, Ariz.
A native of Mesa, Ariz., Alderete attends Red Mountain High School. She is a four-year Level 10 gymnast for coach Ashley Schwalb at Desert Devils Gymnastics. Alderete is a two-time Level 10 Regional qualifier, earning a seventh-place finish on bars and a top-20 finish on all events in 2023. Also in 2023, Alderete was crowned the state bars champion at the Arizona State Championships. She also placed fourth in the all-around and fifth on beam, as well as top-10 finishes on vault and floor, at the state meet. In 2024, she placed first on vault at regionals and once again accounted for a top-20 finish on every event. The daughter of Joseph and Brandie, Alderete plans to major in nursing at WVU.
"Despite some setbacks, Aubriana's determination and passion for gymnastics is unwavering and are the qualities that led her to become a Mountaineer," assistant coach Kaylyn Millick said. "She is a standout on uneven bars and has the potential to anchor our lineup throughout her career. Aubrie's hard work and dedication is exactly what this program needs to move forward, and we are happy to welcome her home to Morgantown."
Isabella Beach / Collegeville, Pa.
Residing in Collegeville, Pa., Beach attends Perkiomen High School. She is a five-year level 10 gymnast and is coached by Maia Mitova at Silvia's Gymnastics. Beach is a three-time Women's Development Program National Championships qualifier, with her most recent trip coming in 2025. At nationals this past year, she secured a pair of top-10 finishes, placing third on floor exercise and eighth on balance beam. She earned a spot at the national meet after placing first on floor and adding three other top-10 finishes at the 2025 Region 7 Regional Championships.
In 2024, she also competed in the all-star division at nationals and posted a top-five finish on floor. At regionals that year, she secured a placement in the top 20 on every event to earn a trip to nationals. She made her first appearance at nationals in 2023, competing in the all-stars division where she placed first on floor. Prior to nationals in 2023, she recorded top-20 finishes on every event at the regional championships.
The daughter of Richard and Michele, Beach will enroll in general studies at WVU.
"Isabella may be small, but her personality and gymnastics are mighty," Millick said. "Her consistency and scoring potential on beam and floor are among some of the best in the nation. She also has a 10.0 start value vault to add to our lineup. We are lucky to have her as a part of our Mountaineer family, and we cannot wait to see the impact she makes on our lineups."
McKenzie Morris / Sugar Land, Texas
Morris hails from Sugar Land, Texas, where she attends George Ranch High School. She is a three-year Level 10 gymnast for coach Tasha Beale at Pearland Elite Gymnastics. Morris made her first appearance at the Region 3 Level 10 Regional Championships in 2025, placing top 20 on every event, including a seventh-place finish on floor exercise. Prior to regionals, she competed at the Texas State Championships, where she finished sixth on beam, seventh on bars, floor and all-around and eighth on vault. Morris also competed at the Metroplex Challenge in 2025 and placed top 15 on all events, highlighted by a fourth-place finish on bars.
The daughter of Sean and Rebecca, Morris plans to major in biology at WVU.
"McKenzie is a great addition to this class," assistant coach Jessica Yamzon said. "Her bubbly personality and determination in the gym is what stood out to us right away. She is an incredibly dynamic athlete who is likely to make her mark on all four events throughout her career. Her passion for gymnastics and coachability is undeniable, and we are so glad she chose WVU."
Dru Thames / Collierville, Tenn.
A native of Collierville, Tenn., Thames attends American High School. She is a four-year Level 10 gymnast for coaches Jeff Wood and Christi Mitchell at Orlando Metro Gymnastics. A 2024 Women's DP Nationals qualifier, she placed fifth on vault and finished in the top 20 on bars at the national meet. Thames earned a spot at nationals after placing in the top 10 on vault, bars, floor and the all-around at the 2024 Region 8 Regional Championships. Prior to regionals, she also competed at the Florida USAG State Championships and placed in the top 10 on every event.
Thames made her first appearance at the regional championships in 2022, where she posted top-20 finishes on all events, highlighted by a 10th-place showing on beam. The daughter of Walter and Stephani, Thames plans to major in elementary education at WVU.
"As soon as Dru and her family stepped on campus, we knew it was the perfect fit," Yamzon said. "She is an extremely easygoing person, yet a bold athlete who has the ability to make an immediate impact as a freshman with her 10.0 vault and her dynamic bar routine. She is the epitome of Mountaineer pride, and we are so ready for her to be in Morgantown."
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Joining the Mountaineers are Aubriana Alderete (Mesa, Arizona), McKenzie Morris (Sugar Land, Texas), Isabella Beach (Collegeville, Pennsylvania), and Dru Thames (Collierville, Tennessee).
"I am so excited to officially welcome these four outstanding gymnasts to our Mountaineer gymnastics program," Butts said. "I am confident they will bring exceptional artistry and a strong work ethic to Cary Gym and the competition floor."
Aubriana Alderete / Mesa, Ariz.
A native of Mesa, Ariz., Alderete attends Red Mountain High School. She is a four-year Level 10 gymnast for coach Ashley Schwalb at Desert Devils Gymnastics. Alderete is a two-time Level 10 Regional qualifier, earning a seventh-place finish on bars and a top-20 finish on all events in 2023. Also in 2023, Alderete was crowned the state bars champion at the Arizona State Championships. She also placed fourth in the all-around and fifth on beam, as well as top-10 finishes on vault and floor, at the state meet. In 2024, she placed first on vault at regionals and once again accounted for a top-20 finish on every event. The daughter of Joseph and Brandie, Alderete plans to major in nursing at WVU.
"Despite some setbacks, Aubriana's determination and passion for gymnastics is unwavering and are the qualities that led her to become a Mountaineer," assistant coach Kaylyn Millick said. "She is a standout on uneven bars and has the potential to anchor our lineup throughout her career. Aubrie's hard work and dedication is exactly what this program needs to move forward, and we are happy to welcome her home to Morgantown."
Isabella Beach / Collegeville, Pa.
Residing in Collegeville, Pa., Beach attends Perkiomen High School. She is a five-year level 10 gymnast and is coached by Maia Mitova at Silvia's Gymnastics. Beach is a three-time Women's Development Program National Championships qualifier, with her most recent trip coming in 2025. At nationals this past year, she secured a pair of top-10 finishes, placing third on floor exercise and eighth on balance beam. She earned a spot at the national meet after placing first on floor and adding three other top-10 finishes at the 2025 Region 7 Regional Championships.
In 2024, she also competed in the all-star division at nationals and posted a top-five finish on floor. At regionals that year, she secured a placement in the top 20 on every event to earn a trip to nationals. She made her first appearance at nationals in 2023, competing in the all-stars division where she placed first on floor. Prior to nationals in 2023, she recorded top-20 finishes on every event at the regional championships.
The daughter of Richard and Michele, Beach will enroll in general studies at WVU.
"Isabella may be small, but her personality and gymnastics are mighty," Millick said. "Her consistency and scoring potential on beam and floor are among some of the best in the nation. She also has a 10.0 start value vault to add to our lineup. We are lucky to have her as a part of our Mountaineer family, and we cannot wait to see the impact she makes on our lineups."
McKenzie Morris / Sugar Land, Texas
Morris hails from Sugar Land, Texas, where she attends George Ranch High School. She is a three-year Level 10 gymnast for coach Tasha Beale at Pearland Elite Gymnastics. Morris made her first appearance at the Region 3 Level 10 Regional Championships in 2025, placing top 20 on every event, including a seventh-place finish on floor exercise. Prior to regionals, she competed at the Texas State Championships, where she finished sixth on beam, seventh on bars, floor and all-around and eighth on vault. Morris also competed at the Metroplex Challenge in 2025 and placed top 15 on all events, highlighted by a fourth-place finish on bars.
The daughter of Sean and Rebecca, Morris plans to major in biology at WVU.
"McKenzie is a great addition to this class," assistant coach Jessica Yamzon said. "Her bubbly personality and determination in the gym is what stood out to us right away. She is an incredibly dynamic athlete who is likely to make her mark on all four events throughout her career. Her passion for gymnastics and coachability is undeniable, and we are so glad she chose WVU."
Dru Thames / Collierville, Tenn.
A native of Collierville, Tenn., Thames attends American High School. She is a four-year Level 10 gymnast for coaches Jeff Wood and Christi Mitchell at Orlando Metro Gymnastics. A 2024 Women's DP Nationals qualifier, she placed fifth on vault and finished in the top 20 on bars at the national meet. Thames earned a spot at nationals after placing in the top 10 on vault, bars, floor and the all-around at the 2024 Region 8 Regional Championships. Prior to regionals, she also competed at the Florida USAG State Championships and placed in the top 10 on every event.
Thames made her first appearance at the regional championships in 2022, where she posted top-20 finishes on all events, highlighted by a 10th-place showing on beam. The daughter of Walter and Stephani, Thames plans to major in elementary education at WVU.
"As soon as Dru and her family stepped on campus, we knew it was the perfect fit," Yamzon said. "She is an extremely easygoing person, yet a bold athlete who has the ability to make an immediate impact as a freshman with her 10.0 vault and her dynamic bar routine. She is the epitome of Mountaineer pride, and we are so ready for her to be in Morgantown."
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUGymnastics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Assistant Coach Kaylyn Millick | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Assistant Coach Jessica Yamzon | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Associate Head Coach Travis Doak | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
Head Coach Jason Butts | Intro
Tuesday, September 09
