The start of the new year means new beginnings for many Badin students in both academics and athletics. However, nothing is new for the gymnastics team as they continue training and working hard throughout the cold winter months for upcoming competitions.

Gymnastics practices are on Mondays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. each week and are very different in structure than other practices at Badin.

“First, we warm up by running and then stretching. Next we line up and do cartwheels, levers, leaps, and round offs before we pick an event to work on whether it be floor, beam, bars or vault. From there we just do the next events and if a meet is coming up, we will perform the events we are doing for the meet in front of the whole team. Most of us are beginners so we don’t do every event,” senior gymnastics team captain Sam Sarvak said.

Gymnastics meets, however, function similarly to track meets with various events scheduled at certain times that the gymnasts wait for.

“First, we all gather as teams to stretch and do our line up warm up. Then, there is an organized time for each team to warm up for each event. The girls pick a corner and take turns tumbling to the opposite corner a couple times as a warm up. Then, you take turns at each event. Finally, we end with awards,” Sarvak said.

The team is always very happy to accept new members no matter how much experience you have with gymnastics.

“My favorite part of gymnastics is just being with my teammates. You don’t have to have any experience to join Badin gymnastics, you just have to show up and have fun. Our coach, Mr. Murrell, is extremely supportive and works hard to motivate us to become the best we can be,” Sarvak said.

The gymnastics team always works very hard to prepare for meets but never forgets to have fun with the sport as well.