CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Josh Nilson announced on Friday the addition of two student-athletes to the 2026 Fighting Illini women's gymnastics roster. Iowa State transfer Rachel Goldstein and true freshman Sydney Enriquez both signed Big Ten Athletics Aid Agreements with Illinois and will join the team this fall.
RACHEL GOLDSTEIN | BLUFFTON, S.C. | SUMMIT GYMNASTICS | IOWA STATE
After spending her freshman season with the Cyclones, Goldstein will continue her collegiate career at Illinois. A native of Bluffton, South Carolina, Goldstein trained at Summit Gymnastics and won state championships on multiple apparatuses during her time at the club level.
Qualifying for Nationals in 2023 and 2024, she won the All-Star East floor title at the 2024 Women's Development Program National Championships.
The South Carolina native appeared in two meets for Iowa State in 2025, competing on bars and beam for the Cyclones. She chose Illinois because "it felt like the best place for me to be. The coaches are amazing, and the team atmosphere is great."
SYDNEY ENRIQUEZ | MIAMI, FLA. | VICTORY ELITE GYMNASTICS
Hailing from Miami, Florida, Enriquez arrives at Illinois with an already impressive club resume, which includes competing at Eastern Nationals twice, winning the floor title at the 2023 Women's Level 9 Eastern Championships, and securing all-around championships at the state and regional levels.
Training at Victory Elite Gymnastics, Enriquez says it is "a dream come true to be coached by this gymnastics staff and attend this prestigious university with so much variety. I can't wait to grow as a student and gymnast at Illinois!"
