Gymnastics Announces Top-15 2026 Signing Class
11/12/2025 11:08:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State gymnastics head coach Mike Rowe has announced the signing of four student-athletes to the Spartans' 2026 class.
Riley Fain, Christina Fallon, Amalia Ghigoarta and Jordyn Johnson, who make up the 15th-ranked recruiting class by CollegeGymNews, are set to join the Spartans for the 2026-27 season.
"We're thrilled to welcome this talented class of gymnasts to our Spartan Family," said Rowe. "They bring not only athletic excellence, but also strong character, academic dedication and the many intangible qualities that make our team so special. They're a perfect fit for our program and community."
Riley Fain | Houston, Texas | Pearland | Pearland Elite Training Center
Riley is officially a Spartan! ✍️#NSD | #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/an328PHCFT
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) November 12, 2025
Rowe on Fain: "Riley brings power and dynamics to her leg events, along with a performance personality that Spartan fans will love. Her technique and rhythm on both bars and beam will keep her in the mix for lineup spots consistently."
Prior to MSU: Coached by Tasha Beale, Nick Cedillo, Adam Miller and Elizabeth Renound at Pearland Elite Training Center in Pearland, Texas ... Four-year level 10 gymnast ... Rated as a four-star recruit by CollegeGymNews ... Two-time Women's Development Program National Championships qualifier (2023 and 2025) ... Attended USA Gymnastics National Team Camp in 2022 ... Placed fifth on vault at the 2025 DP National Championships ... 2025 Region 3 floor and all-around champion ... Also earned runner-up honors on vault and beam at the 2025 Region 3 Championships ... Finished second on vault at the 2025 Texas State Championships ... Placed fifth on vault and sixth on bars at the 2023 DP National Championships ... Runner-up on vault and bars at the 2023 Region 3 Championships ... 2023 Texas state champion on vault and bars ... Won the vault, beam and all-around titles at the 2022 Level 9 Western Championships and finished second on floor ... Swept the event titles and won the all-around at the 2022 Region 3 Level 9 Championships ... 2022 Level 9 Texas state champion on vault ... Attends Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas, where she holds a 4.0 GPA.
Personal: Daughter of James and Karen Fain ... Has one sibling, Jaylen ... Enjoys watching TV, going out to eat, shopping and attending bible study ... Intends on majoring in business management at MSU and plans to become an NFL agent.
Christina Fallon | Monroe, N.J. | Saint John Vianney | MG Elite/Gymnastics University
Welcome to EL, Christina! 💚#NSD | #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/Po8gsCCPLa
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) November 12, 2025
Rowe on Fallon: "Christina is a technician all around with bars and beam standing out, demonstrating a natural swing and rhythm exhibiting beautiful lines and artistry. Her lines and artistry carry over to floor as well and she loves to perform, something our Spartan fans can't get enough of!"
Prior to MSU: Trains at MG Elite (Gymnastics University) in Morganville, New Jersey, under Kierstin Sokolowski ... Five-year level 10 gymnast ... Holds level 10 high scores of 9.575 on vault, 9.450 on bars, 9.550 on beam and 9.550 on floor ... Won both the vault and floor titles at the 2024 Coastal Classic and 2024 Made Made in the USA Invitational ... Finished first on bars at the 2023 KPAC Cup ... Honor roll student and National Honor Society Member at Saint John Vianney High School in Holmdel, New Jersey ... Earned the Christian Service Award at Saint John Vianney.
Personal: Daughter of John and Deidre Fallon ... Has two older siblings, Kevin and Kylie ... Father, John, played baseball at Princeton ... Hobbies include traveling, hiking and being outdoors ... Plans to major in kinesiology at MSU to become a physical therapist.
Amalia Ghigoarță | Poieni, Romania | Liceul cu Program Sportiv "Cetate" Deva/Romanian National Team
From the Paris Olympics to the 517! Welcome home, Amalia 🤍🇷🇴#NSD | #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/wcW3fXSXt0
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) November 12, 2025
Rowe on Ghigoarță: "Amalia's elite training and experience will definitely be demonstrated on all four events. Her success at the 2024 Paris Olympics provided a stage which nurtured her grit, competitiveness, mental toughness, confidence and grace. And the fans love her!"
Prior to MSU: A member of the Romanian National Team since 2017 ... Rated as a four-star recruit by CollegeGymNews ... Trains at Deva in Romania under coaches Corina Morosan and Sebastian Nemes ... Represented Romania at the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside current Spartan Lilia Cosman ... Helped Romania finish seventh as a team at the 2024 Olympics and placed 22nd in the all-around final ... A key contributor in Romania's 10th-place finish as a team at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, earning Romania a team berth to the Olympics for the first time since 2012 ... Competed for Romania at the 2023 and 2024 European Championships ... Qualified for the all-around and beam finals at the 2023 European Championships, finishing sixth in the beam final ... 2024 Romanian individual champion in the all-around and on beam.
Personal: Daughter of Ramona Dorinela Barbu ... Enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies and baking ... Undecided on major at MSU.
Jordyn Johnson | Allen, Texas | Allen | Metroplex Gymnastics
Signed! Jordyn Johnson is officially a Spartan 💚#NSD | #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/wapPXFKeaM
— Michigan State Gymnastics (@MSU_Gymnastics) November 12, 2025
Rowe on Johnson: "Jordyn's a strong all-arounder who continues to grow and prove herself on every event. She also brings unique skills to a few events that are accentuated by her power, explosiveness and energy. Jordyn will also be another fun one to watch as she is a real entertainer!"
Prior to MSU: Trains at Metroplex Gymnastics in Allen, Texas, under coaches Nikki McElroy, Brain Gemberling, Candace Blackerby and Anna Pawlak ... Named a four-star recruit by CollegeGymNews ... Five-year level 10 gymnast ... Three-time Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier (2023-25) ... Four-time Women's Development Program National Championships qualifier (2022-25) ... Finished third on floor and seventh in the all-around at the 2025 DP National Championships ... 2025 Region 3 and Texas state all-around champion ... Placed fifth in the all-around at the 2024 Nastia Liukin Cup ... All-around runner-up at the 2024 DP National Championships ... Won the all-around, bars and beam titles at the 2024 Region 3 Championships while finishing second on vault and beam ... Third in the all-around at the 2023 DP National Championships ... Placed fourth in the all-around at the 2024 Nastia Cup ... Won the all-around and placed second on floor and fourth on bars at the 2023 Region 3 Championships ... Won bars and earned runner-up honors in the all-around while finishing fourth on vault and floor at the 2023 Texas State Championships ... 2022 Texas all-around state champion ... Finished fifth in the all-around at the 2022 DP National Championships ... Placed first on floor and second on bars and in the all-around at the 2021 Level 9 Western Championships ... Attends Allen High School in Allen, Texas.
Personal: Daughter of Hansford and Tiffany Johnson ... Has three siblings, Jayda, Josyah and Jaymin ... Hobbies include making short films and crafting ... Plans to major in digital storytelling at MSU and lists writing, producing and directing psychological thrillers as her dream job.
Players Mentioned
