Most people underestimate the time it takes for Liberty gymnasts to be able to prepare for their routines and be ready for each meet.
Every day the gymnastics team meets for practice in the gym where they run, stretch, and develop their routines for the upcoming meets. Starting with set up at 3 in the gym on meet days, they often do not leave until all of the equipment is put away after the meet at about 10pm.
While these long hours seem like a lot for a school sport, the girls enjoy their time spent together, always giving words of advice.
“Every day I learn something new, whether it is about gymnastics, school, or life,” freshman Brooke Ury said. “The older gymnasts are always there to help me out in any way possible.”
Along with providing insight to each other, the team works to cheer on each competitor and encourage them to be positive and compete to the best.
“The whole team is just so encouraging, and cheering everybody on to keep up the positivity helps ease the nerves of competing,” senior Jenny Dang said.
This year’s team has brought a competitive nature and experience to the meets, despite the loss of several seniors from last season.
“We have a more cohesive team, and we are more competitive at meets because we have gained more experienced girls, adding to our skill and points at meets,” senior Sophie Wartena said.
Through the rigor of long hours committed to gymnastics this year’s team has stayed positive and focused on winning and being supportive to new and old gymnasts.
This environment has helped these girls support four of their teammates into the district competition which was on February 11. The four Liberty competitors were senior Brianna Fischer, competing in vault, junior Jenny Dang, competing in beam, freshman Brooke Ury, competing as an all-around gymnast, and sophomore Ting Pan, competing as an all-around gymnast. Pan represented the Liberty gymnastics team at state yesterday competing in vault.