CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women's gymnastics head coach Nadalie Walsh announced the signing of two recruits for the 2023-24 season, Olivia Coppola and Madison Vitolo. 

Olivia Coppola | All-Around | Union, K.Y

Coppola trained at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, the same as current Illini Amelia Knight, and was coached by Rachael Gardner. 

Coppola earned the Level 9 2022 Eastern National Bars Champion and is the two-time National Floor Champion as well as the 2022 Region 5 All Star member and DP National team member. She also won first place at the Regional Floor Champion as well as the all-around champions at State. 

In 2021, Coppola became a national qualifier and a Top 20 state vault and floor champion.  

She chose Illinois because, "the team atmosphere, coaching staff, and campus. It felt like home to me!"

"I am very pleased to be welcoming Olivia Coppola to the Fighting Illini family," Walsh said.  "She comes from an extremely successful club program where she has truly bloomed into a confident, high-level competitor over the past few years. I see Olivia being an excellent student, detail-oriented gymnast and a future leader for the team and bringing her vault, bars and floor strengths to Illinois gymnastics." 

Madison Vitolo | All-Around | Basking Ridge, N.J

Vitolo trained at North Stars Gymnastics Academy under Ashley Umberger. 

Vitolo qualified for level 10 DP Nationals 3 times in 2022, 2021, 2019. At the Region 7 competitions, she placed third in all-around both in 2022 and 2021. 

In the 2022 New Jersey State Championships, Vitolo placed first in all-around, vault, bars, beam and floor and in the 2021 New Jersey State Championships, she placed first in bars and beam. 

She chose Illinois because, "I immediately loved the coaching staff and how much they care for their athletes. The team overall has such a great vibe and I could easily see myself training and competing with them. Illinois has both the academic and athletic opportunities that are important to me and I am beyond excited to join the team."

"Madison is an excellent addition to the program and I am very excited about her signing," Walsh said. "Her competitive experience at the national level sets her apart particularly on vault, beam and floor. I am especially excited for Madison to shine on beam. She has a deep well of difficult skills. She also displays a great track record of consistency making that one of her greatest strengths."