Sierra Alexander was perfect in pink in the Feb. 21 dual versus Alabama. She found perfection again last Saturday at Penn State, earning a 9.95 for her Yurchenko full vault.
Sierra Alexander: Adding Perfection to Her Storyline
Monday, March 9, 2020 | Gymnastics
This aspiring writer knows how to tell a tale. Her storyline for her senior season includes perfection and SportsCenter's Top 10.
Sierra Alexander's future is yet to be composed, but as an aspiring writer, who better to develop her storyline?
After changing her major three times, Alexander found the perfect fit for her creative gifts. She's pursuing a double major in English and African American Studies with a minor in Classics, in hopes to be a novelist and screen writer.
She's added perfection to her athletic storyline recently. In the Gators Link to Pink meet, her soaring Yurchenko full earned a 9.95 – the maximum value for the vault. She found perfection again last Saturday at Penn State. That vault landed her on that evening's ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10.
Attending the University of Florida has not only allowed Sierra to improve her gymnastics skills and make lifelong friendships with her teammates, it has prepared this aspiring author for the next phase of her life.
A three-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholastic All-American, the words of Gator Head Coach Jenny Rowland were among those advising Alexander to pursue her love of writing.
"Jenny helped me realize that in the end, I'm gonna be doing the work, so why not make it something I want to do?" The Gator coaching staff supports those aspirations as Alexander's class schedule forces her to miss team training a couple days a week. On those days, the staff holds individual practice session for Alexander, which allows her to take the classes she needs in order to reach her goals.
Pursuing a double major, a minor, and being a Florida gymnast seems overwhelming, but to Sierra it's a challenge she relishes. "I love school, I like to learn, so for me it's not a burden… I want to go to school and I want to do gym," says Alexander.
Coach Jenny Rowland echoed this, saying "[Sierra] is very driven, independent and motivated young woman. Whatever she decides and aspires to do, I know she is going to be able to achieve it."
Sierra plans to take some time off after graduation to relax and "be a normal person" for the first time in her life, then hopes to travel overseas to attend graduate school in creative writing.
Although she will be ready to move on to the next phase of her life following graduation, there is much she will miss from her time as a Florida gymnast.
Her favorite memories include road trips or being stuck in the airport with the team, being able to spend time together, talking and playing games.
When that final home meet in Exactech Arena comes, Sierra says she'll be sad to be leaving the Gator Nation and her teammates, but she will be happy on that Senior Night, surrounded by both her parents and brother and her gymnastics family.
Being a Gator gymnast has taught Sierra many lessons, but one of her biggest take-aways is that "you can't get to a goal without steps and without a process. You can have a big goal in mind but then it's only a dream if you don't work towards it."
Sierra has a bright future ahead of her thanks to her time spent in Gainesville. Keep your eyes out in the coming years for her name in bookstores or in the coming weeks on SportsCenter's Top 10!
After changing her major three times, Alexander found the perfect fit for her creative gifts. She's pursuing a double major in English and African American Studies with a minor in Classics, in hopes to be a novelist and screen writer.
She's added perfection to her athletic storyline recently. In the Gators Link to Pink meet, her soaring Yurchenko full earned a 9.95 – the maximum value for the vault. She found perfection again last Saturday at Penn State. That vault landed her on that evening's ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10.
It was a perfect Yurchenko full vault (max value 9.95) for 🐊🤸♂️ @Sierraalxander
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) March 8, 2020
And now its on @SportsCenter Top 🔟!!#GoGators#NOW pic.twitter.com/S5wTOn6IQ9
Attending the University of Florida has not only allowed Sierra to improve her gymnastics skills and make lifelong friendships with her teammates, it has prepared this aspiring author for the next phase of her life.
A three-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholastic All-American, the words of Gator Head Coach Jenny Rowland were among those advising Alexander to pursue her love of writing.
"Jenny helped me realize that in the end, I'm gonna be doing the work, so why not make it something I want to do?" The Gator coaching staff supports those aspirations as Alexander's class schedule forces her to miss team training a couple days a week. On those days, the staff holds individual practice session for Alexander, which allows her to take the classes she needs in order to reach her goals.
Pursuing a double major, a minor, and being a Florida gymnast seems overwhelming, but to Sierra it's a challenge she relishes. "I love school, I like to learn, so for me it's not a burden… I want to go to school and I want to do gym," says Alexander.
Coach Jenny Rowland echoed this, saying "[Sierra] is very driven, independent and motivated young woman. Whatever she decides and aspires to do, I know she is going to be able to achieve it."
Sierra plans to take some time off after graduation to relax and "be a normal person" for the first time in her life, then hopes to travel overseas to attend graduate school in creative writing.
How did perfection feel, @Sierraalxander?? 😏🤩🔥👏#GoGators #WeChomp #NOW pic.twitter.com/GbUZVdB6FM
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) February 25, 2020
Although she will be ready to move on to the next phase of her life following graduation, there is much she will miss from her time as a Florida gymnast.
Her favorite memories include road trips or being stuck in the airport with the team, being able to spend time together, talking and playing games.
When that final home meet in Exactech Arena comes, Sierra says she'll be sad to be leaving the Gator Nation and her teammates, but she will be happy on that Senior Night, surrounded by both her parents and brother and her gymnastics family.
Being a Gator gymnast has taught Sierra many lessons, but one of her biggest take-aways is that "you can't get to a goal without steps and without a process. You can have a big goal in mind but then it's only a dream if you don't work towards it."
Sierra has a bright future ahead of her thanks to her time spent in Gainesville. Keep your eyes out in the coming years for her name in bookstores or in the coming weeks on SportsCenter's Top 10!
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