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Tar Heels Celebrate Signing Day with Aldridge and Summey
November 9, 2017 | Women's Gymnastics
The Carolina Gymnastics team welcomed future Tar Heels Emery Summey and Drew Aldridge on Wednesday when both girls officially signed to compete for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
A senior at Southwest Guilford High School from Jamestown, North Carolina, Summey makes an impact in both the classroom and the gym. She trains at High Point Gymnastics Academy in High Point, North Carolina, under coaches Rob Travers, Buddy Thorburn, Tetyanna Skrypnyk and Tamila Evdokimova. UNC Gymnastics Head Coach Derek Galvin speaks highly of the three-time Junior Olympic National Qualifier.
"Emery is consistent on all four events with a particular strength on uneven bars and floor exercise," said Galvin. "She will be a great addition to the uneven bars lineup. Emery's endearing personality fits right in with our team, and she is eager to begin her collegiate career as a Tar Heel."
Aldridge joins Summey to round out UNC's Class of 2022. A native of Los Angeles, California, Aldridge will graduate from Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica, California, in June 2018.
"Drew is an outstanding performer on all four events. She will have an immediate competitive impact when she arrives in Chapel Hill, and we are absolutely delighted that she chose to become a Tar Heel," said Galvin. "Drew's focus and determination academically, and as an athlete, will serve her well in achieving the goals she will pursue as a collegiate student-athlete."
Also a three-time junior Olympic National Qualifier, Aldridge trains with coach Galina Marinova at the All Olympia Gymnastics Center and has racked up a few honors over the course of her gymnastics career. In 2016, Aldridge earned tenth place on floor exercise at the Junior Olympic National Championships as well as title of state and regional vault champion in 2017.
Though Summey and Aldridge will have to wait one more season before beginning their careers as collegiate gymnasts, the Tar Heels could not be more excited to add two stellar student-athletes to the Carolina family.
"Coaches Marie Denick, Taylor Spears and I are very pleased that Drew and Emery are so eager to become Tar Heels," stated Galvin. "We wish them the very best during their senior year of high school and look forward to their arrival in Chapel Hill for the fall semester of 2018."