Nov. 15, 2006

FULLERTON, CA - The Cal State Fullerton women's gymnastics team has signed two student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to compete for the Titans first-year head coach Jill Hicks announced.

Alaina Baker from Oak Grove, Missouri, and Michellee Cooper, from West Jordan, Utah, will both join the Fullerton squad beginning in 2008.

"We are very excited to welcome Michellee and Alaina to our gymnastics team," Hicks said. "Both of these athletes have done well at the Junior Olympics and will bring a lot of competitive experience to our program. Michellee and Alaina's best events are bars and vault, but I look for them to compete in the all-around their freshman year."

Baker competed for the Great American Gymnastics Express Club under coaches Al Fong and Armine Barutyan and was a three-time Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor from 2004-06.

In 2006, Baker also finished second in the all-around at the state competition, fifth at regionals, and 24th in the all-around at nationals. She was also fourth in the floor exercise at nationals.

Cooper competed for the Olympus School of Gymnastics under coach Mary Wright. She was a Level 10 Junior Olympic National competitor in 2004 and was the state senior all-around champion in 2006 while also winning individual titles on bars, vault and floor.

Cal State Fullerton opens its 2007 regular season on Jan. 12 in Reno, Nev., as they take on Western Athletic Conference foe Boise State in a dual meet at 7 p.m.