This season’s group of freshmen gymnasts had a big void to fill entering their first season of competition at the collegiate level.
The freshmen gymnasts are replacing four seniors in a class that helped propel Missouri gymnastics to historical heights last season. Last year’s squad was just the second in MU history to qualify for the national championships, snapping a 29-year drought.
“There was a big role to fill,” coach Rob Drass said. “We had lost about half of our competitive routines, and we were counting on freshmen to replace seniors, it was a daunting task for them.”
As if having to replace one of the most successful classes in program history wasn’t enough of a challenge, the newcomers had to overcome injury issues. A handful arrived at summer practice banged up from club gymnastics and others were still recovering from recent surgeries.
“As coaches, we had to get them not only healthy but also accustomed to college life in addition to gymnastics,” Drass said. “The girls had to deal with homesickness, roommate issues, classes, all the stuff regular freshmen have to deal with. At times it was a little overwhelming.”
The learning curve was immense, but the six girls came together, forming a bond that has helped the largest recruiting class of Drass’s tenure at MU acclimate themselves to the new experiences presented by both college life and college gymnastics.
“We’re all coming from being the top dogs at our gyms, and (we) are now at the bottom of the totem pole in college,” freshman Katelyn Trevino said. “But here it’s about the group, not just the individual. You have to get used to being a part of a team.”
Drass said he believes the girls have grasped the concept of “we” rather than “me”.
“They’re starting to figure out what it means to be a part of a team,” Drass said. “You change focus from your individual performance to that of the team, and it’s a hard change. You have to realize that despite possibly having a disappointing individual performance, it’s about the team.”
It’s been evident that the freshmen have made the adjustment to collegiate gymnastics, as Cathryn Aliceaacosta, Taylor Medrea, and Trevino have all found themselves in the lineup regularly as of late.
“We’re doing a better job now,” Medrea said. “We’re acclimated, and it doesn’t feel like we’re freshman anymore,”.
The common bond shared by the freshmen has made their progression possible.
“We’re all completely different, yet we’re so close,” Trevino said. “We have people that are outgoing, laid back, shy, really serious but when it comes down to it, they’re like sisters to me.”
After successfully weathering what Drass referred to as the “Perfect Storm”, Trevino believes the possibilities for the future are endless.
“We have great expectations for ourselves that we’re going to hold ourselves to for all four years,” Trevino said. “We can win nationals down the road.”
