Gymnast Nya Reed performs at last season's meet dedicated to social equality. (Photo: Alexis Greaves/UAA Communications)
Gators Gymnasts Have A Message To Deliver
Friday, January 14, 2022 | Gymnastics
#Gators celebrate Equality Night Sunday.
— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) January 16, 2022
🔸 🐊🤸♀️ 🆚 Alabama🐘
🔹 🕒 3pmET in @OConnellCTR #GoGators pic.twitter.com/o1CirZjD6Q
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators will be competing for something more than a win against Southeastern Conference rival Alabama on Sunday. They plan to use their voices for a greater cause.
Their message: equality.
They have a fitting stage. The Florida-Alabama meet will be shown live on national television, the first NCAA gymnastics regular-season dual meet to be broadcast live (ABC, 3 p.m.) on one of the three major networks.
Senior Savannah Schoenherr discussed the magnitude of the equality meet at Exactech Arena/ O'Connell Center.
"I think it is so awesome," she said. "Myself and our whole team are just so excited that we're able to have this platform to not only showcase our gymnastics and what we've been working so hard for athletically but just to show that there is something much greater than just a sport. But just to stand up for equalities of all sorts.
"We're going to have our Black Lives Matter flags, our Pride flags. We just have such a diverse team, and we think it's so great that everyone is going to have this platform to show our support and our allyship for each level of equality. And for everyone to get to represent their own diversity within that as well."
Schoenherr shared what she is specifically competing for this weekend.
"I'm going to be competing for equality as a whole. It kind of hits a little closer to home being gay, and just having that platform to have a little bit more LGBTQ+ representation in the sport of gymnastics. I think it's just going to be a really great opportunity. But I am also excited for the opportunity to show my allyship for antiracism, Black Lives Matter, Hispanic Heritage, and just BIPOC in general. I'm just super excited to have that platform to show the greater cause."
Head coach Jenny Rowland supports the team's social awareness through various initiatives throughout the season to support different causes. The team conducted a similar campaign during the 2021 season.
"I am always proud that they are willing to step up and speak their voice and use their platform to benefit the good of everyone,'' Rowland said. "Really, truly thankful that UF is also allowing us to help lift the student-athletes voice. So, really excited for Sunday and just really grateful to be a part of such a really strong group of women."
Senior Nya Reed, a three-time All-American, talked about the importance of educating the younger generation to stand up for what is right.
"For my four years here, every single one of my teammates has been like, 'what can we do to open those minds of those little girls?' because ultimately it starts with little kids," Reed said. "That's how you make a change; that's how you make a difference. So, I really think that my generation will be able to be that generation to make that change in society. I'm really excited about that. And to keep pushing forward to other generations and be like, you know right is right, wrong is wrong. Be true to yourself and to love everybody. I think that's the main idea."
Equality continues to be a topic of conversation within the team. Reed emphasized the value of the discussions that have taken place surrounding racial injustice, mentioning a roundtable talk held at the beginning of the season.
"Recently, with the freshman coming in before season actually starting and preseason, we did a round talk, like a roundtable talk about what racial discrimination is, how is it seen, how is it being misconstrued in the past and stuff like that," she said.
The ability to initiate and carry on honest conversations within the team setting is a tribute to Rowland and her staff's culture.
"I just think over the last couple of years, my team has done a great job and has built a foundation of respect for each other. I think it's just been really easy for them to feed off of that and spread that outside of our small little gymnastics bubble,'' Rowland said. "And they have the ability to use their platform. They're using their platforms to spread love, to spread joy, to just share that message of equality for all. Really just amazed by their strength and their ability to, you know, share and use their voice."
And while Rowland highlighted her gymnasts, Reed discussed the leadership from her coaches in support of this initiative.
"Jenny and all of my coaches definitely make sure that we are aware of what is happening, what is right and what is wrong and we're standing for and what we're not allowing on the team," Reed said. "And I think that's a huge thing to be able to be a part of a team like that and be able to, I guess, educate others is something huge."
The Gators sound like a team that knows equality. They want others to know it, too.
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AA
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