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Sophomore Nicole Cowart
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March 5, 2008
Get behind the scenes of Illinois Gymnastics with Illini Ink - the weekly women's gymnastics journal. In this week's edition, sophomore Nicole Cowart talks about this weekend's meet and sending the seniors out on a high note.
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Hi everyone!
We are beginning the second half of our season, which is always an exciting time. The whole team is extremely pumped for our Senior Day meet this Saturday. We will be competing against Missouri, which is always a close competition, while the Men's Gymnastics Team is competing against Michigan. This meet is always so warming to the heart. It is a celebration of all that our seniors have accomplished here at Illinois. There is no way that any other girls will ever be able to fill the spots of our seniors, Michelle McGrady and Krystal Melcarek.
For many of the other girls on the team, I know that this meet is anticipated and dreaded when the day comes for their own senior meet. At last year's senior meet, Laura Woolf had tears forming in the corners of her eyes for the senior's recognition. Also, she turned to me and said, "Suki, in less than four years that will be us and it will be here so much faster than you think." At the time I laughed and shrugged it off. Now, as my sophomore season is more than half over I am starting to get this panic feeling as well.
However, before I start to get all sentimental, Illini gymnastics has so many different goals that we would like to accomplish. Nothing would make our team happier than to send our seniors away with an ending at the National Championships. I know that our season hasn't been going as well as we have planned, but our team will only grow stronger together through the hard times. It is easy to be happy and get along when your team is doing well. It's the rough times that let a team grow together. We have learned a lot about ourselves and a team through the hardships we have encountered thus far.
I have much faith in this team and all of the talent it possesses. Our expectations are set very high and we wouldn't settle for anything less. Although, we haven't been winning, I know that we will send our seniors away with a big win against the Missouri Tigers! Thanks for reading and I can't wait to see everyone at Huff Hall on Saturday!
Suki
