Makenna Drake is heading to Ohio State after visiting Illinois, Michigan State, and the Buckeyes, and she will bring an incredible bars routine to Columbus. With a combination of difficulty, precision, and impressive skills, Makenna has the tools to become a standout in the Buckeyes’ future lineup.

Her Gienger is an immediate highlight, adding amplitude and difficulty to an already exciting routine. She follows it with a clean bail to handstand, maintaining the rhythm and control that make her bars so enjoyable to watch. Then she finishes with a full pirouette to full-out dismount, giving the routine a high-impact ending that can leave a lasting impression. Makenna has the kind of bars routine that keeps you watching from beginning to end, and Ohio State is adding a gymnast with the potential to make a real impact every time she takes to the bars.

Makenna Drake brings a unique and creative approach to beam, showcasing a skill set that sets her apart from the rest of the Class of 2028. Her routine features a unique pop cartwheel to front toss connection, impressive 180-degree leaps, a front toss, and a switch leap to gainer pike dismount, combining originality with confident execution. Drake attacks her routine with a strong presence on the event, making each skill feel intentional and controlled. This offseason, she has continued expanding her beam repertoire by training skills such as a front toss to back handspring swing-down series and a layout step-out, adding even more versatility to her already distinctive routine. A valuable contributor on both bars and beam, Drake’s combination of creativity, consistency, and continued progression makes her an exciting recruit to watch.