WILLIAMSBURG — Eli Osuna, a gymnast from Toano, is set to graduate high school in June of 2025, but he already knows where his next four years will be spent: competing for the University of Michigan men’s gymnastics team.
Osuna, who has been competing since he was a youngster, entered into the college recruitment process in June of his sophomore year of high school, emailing coaches and sending videos of some of his skills, hoping to land an NCAA Division I offer.
“It was never a doubt that I wanted to go to college and I knew I would do gymnastics in college. When I was training during my junior year, I knew I wanted to go Division I. I felt like my gymnastics was at a point where I could go to any school I wanted to,” Osuna explained.
Osuna reached out to coaches from Ohio State, Penn State, the University of Michigan, Stanford, the University of Illinois, and the University of Nebraska. Osuna began going on official visits to select schools this fall, wanting to see what environment and team he fit the best with.
When he made his official visit to the University of Michigan, he knew the school was meant for him.
“For college, a big part of what would make my decision was a team. I wanted a close team, with good team culture. This is the first time that I’ll actually be on a real team. I’ve always been the only elite kid in the gym my whole gymnastics career, so this will be the first time that I’ll actually be with gymnasts that have my same goals and the same level of gymnastics,” Osuna explained.
While spending time with the team, Osuna attended a University of Michigan football game, worked out with the team, and bonded with his future teammates.
Osuna committed to the University of Michigan on a full athletic scholarship on Oct. 8.
“When I committed, all the stress just completely went off my shoulders. I was euphoric and after all the stress was gone, I called my sisters to tell them the good news. One of my sisters told me, ‘you are finally living your dream,’ and I just didn’t think of that in the moment, but it’s so true,” Osuna said.
Osuna is looking forward to competing alongside some of the top collegiate gymnasts in the United States.
“Michigan had two Olympic gymnasts come out during the Paris 2024 Games. They have had the most national team members and they are consistently ranked number two in the NCAA. They have really good gymnastics,” Osuna said.
When he arrives on campus in 2025, Osuna will study computer science. He will begin competing for the University of Michigan during the 2025-26 season.
For more information on University of Michigan men’s gymnastics, visit the University of Michigan athletics website.