Most days I don’t have time
to, but when I can manage it, I like
to go home for lunch. It’s a good
break, not only from the competi-
tive atmosphere of our campus, but
also from all the responsibilities
that hang over my head. Since I live
near the Athletic Campus, I usu-
ally feel awkward walking back to
my afternoon classes while lacking
the athletic backpack. A stream of
athletes rush against me, outfitted
in their dark-blue parkas, heading
to what I assume to be practice. To-
day, I decided to turn around and
walk (drive) with them. By doing
so, I got to immerse myself in my
favorite team’s practice: Michigan
women’s gymnastics.
My love of gymnastics is rather
unfounded — I was never a gymnast
nor anything related. (Though, I do
have to resist the urge to cartwheel
at least once an hour.) Growing
up in a sports-loving family, in a
sports-loving town (Ann Arbor),
is most likely the root of my search
for a sport to become one with. Not
to mention, finding a sport to love
and entirely dedicate ourselves to is
simply good for you: frequent exer-
cise is known to boost endorphins,
dopamine and serotonin — bodily
mechanisms that, when activated,
are proven to increase mood and
ensure longevity. But, I had to find
the sport I love to watch — a tedious
project in itself. Football felt too
brutish to watch, basketball has no
risk and even swimming, my home
sport, seems to lack the certain sort
of shine and glamor that I had been
inherently craving. It makes sense
that gymnastics is the only sport
that really resonates with me — it’s
daring, glamorous and (even as a
spectator) stressful — all I could
want as a viewer. But as an athlete?
Let’s see…
Coached by Beverly Plocki,
the coach with the most Big Ten
titles in history — spanning any
sport — makes the Michigan wom-
en’s gymnastics team not just good,
but fantastically great. They are the
reigning Big Ten Champions, and,
as of today, are ranked fourth in the
country. After becoming one of
only seven teams to nab an NCAA
National Championship title in
2021, Michigan women’s gymnas-
tics seems poised to do it again
— with an almost identical compe-
tition team (the notable difference
being that Abby Brenner is now at
the University of Utah). The cur-
rent team includes the consistent
Sierra Brooks, ‘icey’ Abby Heiskell
and Natalie Wojcik’s perfection,
which left me wondering: How the
hell am I here? And: How can I pos-
sibly not humiliate myself?
Since I am physically weaker,
completely untrained and too
much of a liability to flip (which my
neck thanks and my heart curses),
I couldn’t do much actual gymnas-
tics. So, this immersion was basi-
cally a two-for-one: Half embar-
rassing myself while doing the most
basic of leaps and handstands — at
one point hanging motionless from
the high bar — and half admiring my
hard work.
Part one: Getting out there
From the moment I emailed
Brooks to set this immersion up to
the writing of this piece, my hands
have been clammy with sweat, too
much for chalk — used for its ex-
treme moisture-wicking capacity,
which enhances grip, in turn help-
ing the gymnasts stay on appara-
tuses — to even help. Because I was
so star-struck, I spent the first 10
minutes staring at the floor, my legs
shaking with each nervous pace. My
timidness was cut short by Plocki’s
booming, almost regal, voice: “you
wanted to immerse yourself — get
out there!” I’m pretty sure that my
face turned Ohio State red — a dif-
ficult color to pull off, especially in
Ann Arbor. But I did eventually get
on the mat, immediately stuttering
while more formally introducing
myself.
Unphased by my presence and
ready to start practicing, the team
decided it was time to break — an
end of a huddle cheer — a ritual in
which I got to participate. With
our feet in an aptly perfect circle
(apt because they are gymnasts,
obsessed with the details, such as
foot placement), the team rapidly
discussed what to chant, settling
on: “One, two, let’s take big fives!”
Conveying their determination to
win, which they did, a five team Big
Ten meet.
Splitting into two groups —
one at the uneven bars and one on
the balance beam — practice of-
ficially commenced. I went with
the beam group first, nervously
stepping onto the four-inch-wide
leather covered plank, laid out
on the floor with mats flanking it
for additional safety. I spent what
seemed like forever embroiled in a
mix of jealousy and complete awe,
watching the gymnasts masterfully
walking up and down the beam,
spinning so quickly and so elegant-
ly a tornado might as well have been
summoned, doing it all as if it were
second nature.
SAMMY FONTE
Statement Columnist
JENNA HICKEY/Daily
JENNA HICKEY/Daily
2 — The Statement // Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Team 47 and my urge to cartwheel
Sammy Fonte watches as sophomore Ashley Lane leaps on the balance beam during the women’s gymnastics team’s practice Monday, February 20.