Florida Gators
Georgia
Gators gymnastics team uses its word-of-the-day routine for inspiration and focus to open each practice
Thursday, April 19, 2012 | Gymnastics, Women's Swimming & Diving, Scott Carter
Photo: Florida's gymnastics team gets pumped for practice during its word-of-the-day routine.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – All 5-feet-1 of Gators gymnast Elizabeth Mahlich stood before her teammates at a practice last week.
As Mahlich took her place next to head coach Rhonda Faehn and assistants Adrian Burde and Robert Ladanyi, she began to read from a piece of paper.
The Gators hung on Mahlich's every word. They waited on the word.
"This year we have proven, not only to ourselves, but everyone, that we are not the hunted, but the hunters.
"We crave that glory of victory with each member of this team in mind. We have that one heart, one goal and one dream because we are that one team."
Mahlich's message in her word-of-the-day address – a daily ritual when the Gators gather for practice – was that the Gators have "heart," one heart.
They'll use that heart to hunt for their first national title at this weekend's NCAA Gymnastics Championships in Duluth, Ga.
The word-of-the-day routine is one the Gators have used since Faehn took over the program in 2002. Former assistant coach Randy Lane suggested the practice and it has stuck long after Lane, who is now an assistant at UCLA, departed six years ago.
"It motivates us,'' junior Ashanee Dickerson said. "Usually everyone has a quote they say before they say the word. Sometimes the quote is serious and sometimes it's maybe a joke.
"We have a lot of jokesters on the team this year. We try to keep it light in the gym just so that everyone can have fun doing what they love to do."
At another recent practice, sophomore Alaina Johnson shouted "go big or go home'' as part of her presentation.
"Everyone just laughed," Dickerson said. "We had a great day that day."
At the beginning of each practice the Gators line up horizontally according to height. They go down the line day-to-day until everyone has spoken before a practice, and then start over.
On Sundays the coaches take their turn.
Faehn likes the way the ritual sets the tone at the start of each practice.
"I thought it was fantastic because it involved everybody and made them accountable by really putting their stamp on the team as a group,'' Faehn said. "I usually bring in my favorite quotes I lived by when I was a gymnast.
"I look for quotes that are inspirational."
There is one word -- well, actually two -- that would make all the words of the day even more meaningful: national champions.
The hunters open that quest on Friday.
