Gator gymnasts share their Link-to-Pink stories
Thursday, January 27, 2011 | Gymnastics, Men's Tennis, Scott Carter
The part that really gets Alicia Goodwin is when those in the crowd are asked to stand if they have survived breast cancer or know someone who has.
A senior on the UF gymnastics team, Goodwin is competing in her final “Link to Pink” meet Friday night at the O'Connell Center when the top-ranked Gators host Penn State and N.C. State. The Link to Pink meet – this is the fifth consecutive year UF has held one – is part of a Southeastern Conference initiative to raise awareness of breast cancer prevention and treatment.
The Gators will toss their Orange and Blue aside for pink leotards.
A year ago as the third-largest crowd in school history (9,198) packed the O-Dome, the event turned personal for Goodwin. Her aunt, Carolyn Goodwin, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2009 and was undergoing treatment.
“I have a really big family and we're all supportive of each other,'' Goodwin said prior to Thursday afternoon's practice. “It was really hard on the family when that became reality.
“Even for her to say, 'I have breast cancer,' it was a really big deal.”
Carolyn Goodwin underwent radiation and other treatment for the disease. As she talked Thursday afternoon from her Dallas-area home, Goodwin says she feels very blessed to be cancer-free today. She recently retired after a 37-year career as a kindergarten teacher.
She watches Florida gymnastics events regularly online and when Alicia was growing up in Texas, Carolyn often attended her events.
“She is a precious niece,'' Carolyn said. “I love her to death. We are looking forward to watching [Friday's meet]. It kind of gives [breast cancer survivors] hope.''
“I know she'll be watching,'' Alicia said. “I'll be wearing pink for her.''
Meanwhile, Gators freshman Mackenzie Caquatto will be competing in her first Link to Pink event. The movement was started at the University of Georgia several years ago after former Bulldogs gymnast Talya Vexler was diagnosed with breast cancer during her senior year of college.
Vexler immediately underwent an aggressive treatment plan that included a double mastectomy.
The disease hit close to Caquatto a few years ago when her grandmother, Jeanette Johnston, was diagnosed with the disease during a routine mammogram.
“Two weeks later when she went in for surgery, it had spread into her lymph nodes,'' Caquatto said Thursday. “It was a very aggressive cancer. Luckily, they got it all out and she then had two rounds of radiation back to back.''
Caquatto says one of the highlights of her freshman season will be when her grandmother visits next month to watch her compete for the first time at UF.
“It really makes you realize the time you have can be short,'' she said. “I think this meet is going to mean a lot more to me than all the others. It will be for the team and for one of my family members that has been affected by this illness.''
Gators head coach Rhonda Faehn didn't know what to expect of the Link to Pink movement when UF started holding an annual event in 2007. It's now one of the biggest draws on the schedule.
Like her gymnasts, Faehn has known people who have battled breast cancer. She is thankful to have an opportunity to recognize them and to raise awareness of the disease.
“It's really touching and amazing,'' Faehn said. “The survivors and the people affected by it, they really want to share. They are really inspiring. To be able to come out of the tunnel and see people sitting all the way up into the third level in the rafters, it just shows how giving our community is.''
Before every practice, the Gators huddle and shout a word of the day.
The word on Thursday: pink.
