2018 Southeastern Conference balance beam champion Alyssa Baumann is back in the competitive lineup after a training injury kept her out of the season opener.
Alyssa Baumann: Taking on Leadership Roles On & Off Competitive Floor
Sunday, January 27, 2019 | Gymnastics
A training injury kept Alyssa Baumann out for Meet 1 so she put her focus on voicing her support for the competing Gators. Now back in the lineup, Baumann is again posting big scores for the Gators.
Alyssa Baumann was a shining star for the Gators in her first season.
The Dallas, Texas, native was named a two-time All-American, became just the second freshman in UF history to post a score of 9.975 on beam, and was selected as the Gator Gymnastics' Newcomer of the Year.
But after an unexpected injury during practice took her out of the lineup in Florida's first meet against No. 11 Missouri, she had to temporarily take on a new role.
"It was definitely hard not to compete in the first meet," Baumann said. "So when I had that fall and wasn't able to compete I was really upset. I just switched my role from competitor to biggest supporter."
It's a role that her coach Jenny Rowland said Baumann wasn't expecting, but something that she did a fantastic job at.
"(She) really was able to set the tone, especially for the freshmen, for her teammates, and just go up to them a give them a little bit of encouraging words or what they needed before they even competed," Rowland said.
Last Friday, in her first meet back in the lineup on the road at No. 5 LSU, Baumann wasted no time picking up where she left off last season.
The sophomore posted a 9.90 on the beam and a 9.875 on floor in her debut, helping the Gators edge out the Tigers in Baton Rouge in the final rotation. It was Florida's first road win after a three-rotation deficit since 2012.
But Baumann's teammates and coaches see her as more than just a gymnast who they can depend on to post a high score every time she competes.
She is also seen a role-model for all of her teammates, especially the six new freshman, who look up to her and all of the experience she has both from her collegiate and elite careers.
"Alyssa has helped me so much along the way, always encouraging me, Jazmyn as well," freshman Nya Reed said. "They are great aspects of this team and they have a lot to offer gymnastics-wise but also as a teammate."
And while Baumann has shown off some of her skills already on two events this season, she's also excited to show Florida fans what's she's been practicing on another.
"I've been training a one and a half (yurchenko) on vault," Baumann said. "So I'm really excited and hopefully I'll bring that out a little later in the season."
The Dallas, Texas, native was named a two-time All-American, became just the second freshman in UF history to post a score of 9.975 on beam, and was selected as the Gator Gymnastics' Newcomer of the Year.
But after an unexpected injury during practice took her out of the lineup in Florida's first meet against No. 11 Missouri, she had to temporarily take on a new role.
"It was definitely hard not to compete in the first meet," Baumann said. "So when I had that fall and wasn't able to compete I was really upset. I just switched my role from competitor to biggest supporter."
It's a role that her coach Jenny Rowland said Baumann wasn't expecting, but something that she did a fantastic job at.
"(She) really was able to set the tone, especially for the freshmen, for her teammates, and just go up to them a give them a little bit of encouraging words or what they needed before they even competed," Rowland said.
Last Friday, in her first meet back in the lineup on the road at No. 5 LSU, Baumann wasted no time picking up where she left off last season.
The sophomore posted a 9.90 on the beam and a 9.875 on floor in her debut, helping the Gators edge out the Tigers in Baton Rouge in the final rotation. It was Florida's first road win after a three-rotation deficit since 2012.
But Baumann's teammates and coaches see her as more than just a gymnast who they can depend on to post a high score every time she competes.
She is also seen a role-model for all of her teammates, especially the six new freshman, who look up to her and all of the experience she has both from her collegiate and elite careers.
"Alyssa has helped me so much along the way, always encouraging me, Jazmyn as well," freshman Nya Reed said. "They are great aspects of this team and they have a lot to offer gymnastics-wise but also as a teammate."
And while Baumann has shown off some of her skills already on two events this season, she's also excited to show Florida fans what's she's been practicing on another.
"I've been training a one and a half (yurchenko) on vault," Baumann said. "So I'm really excited and hopefully I'll bring that out a little later in the season."
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