Most consider gymnastics to be an individual sport. After all, each gymnast performs on the bars, beam, or floor by themselves. However, the members of Enloe’s gymnastics team would beg to differ. The sport is anything but individual, and the role of the team in and out of competitions cannot be understated.
For one, while gymnasts compete by themselves in each event, the team is evaluated collectively and receives a single score that takes each gymnast’s individual scores into account. So, each gymnast has a vested interest in their teammates’ success because they all need to do well for the team to succeed.
The team is closely connected beyond just the intricacies of scoring, though. Enloe’s team is quite small, with only five gymnasts competing across all events. Team captain Heaven Mitchell describes the team as “a mini little family where everyone gets along.” Even the freshmen, who have only been on the team for a few months, describe how their teammates quickly welcomed them onto the team. According to freshman Ella Kirk, “We’re very close. Even though I’ve only known [the team] for a few months, I’ve grown so much with them.”
This close bond is what transforms gymnastics into a team sport; every member of the team supports each other through failures and successes. After a loss or fall, every member of the team steps up to lift the gymnast’s spirits. “There’s a lot of hugs, [but] sometimes space is needed. If you take a fall on [the] beam or something, then you need space,” says junior Zoe Russler.
Most importantly, team morale at meets can make or break a performance. Mitchell makes it a priority to keep the energy up: “[Whether] the meet is going bad or good, the energy is always going to be good and uplifting. We are always there to have fun.” Many gymnasts find that the team energy helps them perform better. Russler explains, “If there’s a more positive attitude and my teammates are cheering me on, it helps me get into the right mindset where I can focus on what I’m trying to do.”
This positive impact isn’t just anecdotal; the statistics tell the same story. The team placed second at three consecutive meets and placed fifth at the state championship. Multiple gymnasts also earned a perfect ten in a variety of events throughout the season.
Enloe’s women’s gymnastics team has had an outstanding season, proving time and time again that you don’t need a big team to make big wins. Each gymnast has added so much to the team and should be incredibly proud of their performance this year. Their outstanding achievements can only be attributed to their strong team bond and dedication to uplifting one another through thick and thin. Congratulations to the whole team for a great season, and we are sure to see them continue accomplishing great things next year!
