Dec. 14, 2006

The University of North Carolina gymnastics program has signed two student-athletes to national letters of intent. Krista Jasper of Birchrunville, Pa., and Karli Jones of Gilbert, S.C., will join the team for the 2007-08 academic year.

"Krista and Karli are both very gifted athletes and we are delighted they have chosen to attend Carolina," says head coach Derek Galvin. "They are solid students and they both display a strong dynamic quality in their gymnastics skills. Their athleticism will blend well with our team's style of gymnastics."

Jasper attends Owen J. Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pa. She currently trains at AJS Pancott Gymnastics National Training Center under the direction of coach Sue Weldon. Jasper qualified as an International Elite Gymnast in 2002, and competed at the U.S. Classics and the USA Championships that year. She placed third on vault and fifth on floor exercise while finishing eighth in the all-around at U.S. Classics. She re-qualified as an International Elite again in 2004 and competed at the U.S. Classics, but was slowed by an elbow injury. In 2005, while recovering from the injury, Jasper participated in track and field and cross country with her high school. She became an accomplished middle distance runner and was a member of the high school girl's 1600-meter relay team that won a conference championship and placed third at the Penn Relays. She resumed full gymnastics training in early 2006 and is currently planning to compete as a Level 10 gymnast this year as she focuses on preparing for her collegiate gymnastics career.

An aspiring actress with plans to major in drama at Carolina, Jasper has had professional acting experience in two Halloween themed productions. This past October she performed in a production called "Nightmares Extreme Scream Park."

"She is a captivating performer, both as a gymnast and as an actress," says Galvin. Jones trains with coach Joanne Childs at Carolina Gymnastics Training Center in Columbia, S.C. Jones was a 2005 and 2006 qualifier to the USAG Junior Olympic National Championships. She was the 2004, 2005, and 2006 South Carolina Level 10 all-around champion. In 2005 she placed second on vault and floor, and fourth in the all-around at the USAG Region VIII Championships. She placed fourth in the all-around again at the Region VIII Championships in 2006. Jones hails from the same South Carolina Gymnastics Training Center that produced former Tar Heel Gymnastics standout Brooke Wilson.

Jones is considering a biology major at Carolina, and she also has an interest in physics. As a high school student she is already enrolled in college courses through the Franklin-Jones Preparatory High School.

"These two young ladies have exciting potential as college gymnasts," says Galvin. "They were both drawn to Carolina by the broad range of academic offerings and the outstanding resources we have available for our students. I feel they will both make wonderful contributions to our campus community as students and as athletes."