Gymnasts show plenty of potential in season’s first practice competition
12/13/2022 6:25:35 PM | Gymnastics
To provide team members an opportunity to showcase their skills in a competitive format before Christmas break, Liberty University first-year gymnastics Head Coach Jessie Lowe staged an exhibition performance on Sunday afternoon out of Balance Gymnastics & Fitness in Concord, Va.
“All of our athletes did really well,” said Lowe (’17), a former Liberty gymnast herself who trains gymnasts out of that Campbell County facility on the side when not coaching the Lady Flames in the Liberty Club Sports Complex. “We had them simplify their routines and just throw some skills down because we haven’t had any meets this fall semester, and we want them to be ready to compete safely and with confidence when they come back for the spring competitive season.”
She was impressed by the team’s collective spirit as well as the strides all 12 gymnasts who competed have made since the start of the fall semester.
“The mistakes they made are easy fixes, and the energy they showed together as a team was fantastic,” Lowe said. “They were rooting each other on through every high and low.”
Lowe divided the 12 team members into red and blue squads for the mock competition, giving them points based on various skills tests. The event finished in a tie at the end of the day, which she had the gymnasts break by seeing which squad could stick the most back tucks in a row on the floor exercise mat.
Liberty’s first scheduled competition of 2023 is Feb. 19 at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., though Lowe is hoping to set up a local meet before then.
“Most of them will be practicing throughout the winter break, so hopefully, they will all stay in a groove and come back ready to compete,” Lowe said.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
