COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Mizzou gymnastics team signed three student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, Head Coach Shannon Welker announced on Thursday (Nov. 12). Rachel Ley (Trophy Club, Texas), Aspen Tucker (Leigh Acres, Fla.) and Alyssa Johnson (Rogers, Minn.) will all enroll at the University of Missouri and join the Tigers for the 2017 campaign.

"We are very excited about these future Tigers," Welker said. "They bring a lot of powerful and dynamic gymnastics along with a true passion to compete. We cannot wait to see the positive impact they have on Mizzou Gymnastics and our culture of excellence!"

RACHEL LEY
Hometown: Trophy Club, Texas
Parents: David and Judy
Club: Top Flight Gymnastics
Club Coaches: LeAnne and Preston Sweny

• Won the beam title at the 2014 Zenith Classic Invitational
• Placed 10th in the all-around at the 2013 JO National Invitational Tournament
• Won the 2011 and 2012 Region 9 Championships
• Finished fourth in the all-around at the 2011 Western Championships
• Boasts best Level 10 scores of 37.725 in the all-around, 9.450 on vault, 9.650 on bars, 9.375 on beam and 9.500 on floor
• Attends Byron Nelson High School

Coach Welker on Rachel:
"Rachel is an exciting athlete with dynamic gymnastics. She loves to compete and will make a significant impact on our team in the years to come."

Why Rachel chose Mizzou:
"Mizzou offers an amazing radiology program in its health science school. I am very interested in going into the medical field after my gymnastics career is finished and Mizzou offers a great undergrad and Medical School. Not only would I be exceling in my gymnastics at Missouri but I would be excelling in my academics as well. The Total Person Program at Mizzou is outstanding and I'm excited to attend next year!"

ASPEN TUCKER
Hometown: Lehigh Acres, Fla.
Parents: Michael and Azuree'D
Club: Coast Elite Gymnastics
Club Coaches: Dave Zwielhofer and Cathi Curtis

• Tied for seventh on vault at the 2015 Region 8 Championships
• Placed second on both bars and beam and third in the all-around at the 2015 Florida State Championship
• Claimed the 2014 Florida State beam title
• Finished third on vault at the 2013 JO National Invitational Tournament
• Boasts Level 10 career high scores of 38.025 in the all-around, 9.725 on vault, 9.575 on bars, 9.525 on beam and 9.575 on floor
• Attends Fort Myers High School
• Father played professional baseball for seven different teams, including the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves

Coach Welker on Aspen:
"Aspen balances powerful and graceful gymnastics so well. She makes difficult skills look so easy, she will certainly be a crowd favorite."

Why Aspen chose Mizzou:
"I fell in love with the coaches, team and atmosphere. The campus is beautiful and I could not imagine myself anywhere else."

ALYSSA JOHNSON
Hometown: Rogers, Minn.
Parents: Bryan and Laurie
Club: Twin City Twisters
Club Coaches: Sami Wozney, Mike Hunger, Sarah Jantzi and Rich Stenger

• Two-time Level 10 JO National qualifier
• Placed 10th on vault and 18th in the all-around at 2015 JO Nationals
• Claimed the all-around and bars titles and placed second on beam, third on floor and fourth on vault at the 2015 Region 4 Championships
• Finishes 10^th in the all-around at the 2013 JO National Invitational Tournament
• Won the 2011 and 2012 Level 9 Region 4 bar titles
• Boasts career best Level 10 scores of 38.000 in the all-around, 9.750 on vault, 9.525 on bars, 9.575 on beam and 9.625 on floor
• Attends Rogers High School

Coach Welker on Alyssa:
"Alyssa has developed into such a solid competitor. She has both power and precision that will certainly make her successful in the SEC."

Why Alyssa chose Mizzou:
"The minute I walked on campus I knew it was the place that felt most like home. I love everything about Mizzou and I believe it's one of the best decisions I've ever made."