Regardless of the team’s small size, gymnastics placed third in the district in 2024, with some girls even qualifying for regionals.
At every practice, the first thing the gymnastics team does is running, stretching, and warming up.
Then, they practice their routines, making improvements along the way.
“Being on the team helps me improve my skills because I know that I have everyone there to help me out,” senior Hidayyah Ishaq said.
All of the girls on the team are bonded well.
“We make jokes and play games,” freshman Mina Sulaiman said.
Sulaiman highlights talking on the bus while doing each other’s hair, stating that it was “the best moment so far.”
Meets typically follow the same pattern, beginning with the gymnasts warming up. Then, they make appearances to the judges. Known as the March In, each team is introduced to the judges.
Gymnastics offers a variety of events, such as vault, bars, beam, and floor.
During their meet at Tuscarora on January 14, Lindquist placed fourth on bars. Sulaiman and Ishaq also earned career high scores on beam.
The girls are constantly cheering on their teammates. According to them, one of the best things to see is their teammates’ improvement. Though not everything goes perfectly during every routine, the team’s support is constant.
“We encourage our teammates when one of us falls and give advice to each other to help us accomplish our goals,” Sulaiman said.
Senior Ellie O’Brien recalls having to come up with a new series for beam and ending for her floor routine, asking Lindquist for advice.
“It’s good to get other peoples’ input,” O’Brien said.
The coaches also help encourage the girls, especially then one of them falls and messes up. Sulaiman calls them “calm and supportive.”
O’Brien states that the team is able to work more closely with their coaches, as “there aren’t a lot of them.”
“If I have any questions about a move, I know my teammates will always have answers,” Ishaq said.
At the end of the meets, judges provide scores, giving out awards to those that scored well.
Closely bonded to the sport, the gymnasts highlight the impact of the sport on their lives, noting that the sport isn’t always about just winning, but also how it makes them feel.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve been energetic and found gymnastics a place where I could cool my mind and have fun,” Ishaq said. “Being able to throw myself around made me feel so free.”
Gymnastics is “its own little world where every step you take matters,” Sulaiman said. “I feel like it is a part of me.”
