The Gators have documented each meet with the help of a disposable camera this season as part of a season-long project. (Photo: Matt Pendleton/UAA Communications)
Smile, You're on Gators Gymnastics' Disposable Camera
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas — In the age of iPhones and Instagram, you just don't walk into the corner drugstore and grab a disposable camera off the shelf like days gone by.
That is so 2006.
The dilemma is one Gators gymnastics head coach Jenny Rowland faced in the preseason when Florida's coaching staff introduced a project for the team to capture meaningful moments this season.
"You had to go somewhere online,'' Rowland said.
Once Rowland clicked that problem away, the Gators started to click away. Each week during the season, one of the team's classes – freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and super seniors all got a turn – documented a meet with one of the disposable cameras.
The photo wall at Florida's training facility. (Photos: Mary Howard/UAA Communications)
The Gators developed a motivational theme for each week as a guideline. Family, Forward Together, and Stay In The Present, to name a few. The theme at this week's NCAA Championships is All For The Gators.
"It's just a fun way to make a memory of the moment, look back on how far you've come, just a lot of different things," said graduate transfer Rachel Baumann, who had an old reliable disposable camera in her backpack at Wednesday's practice. "It's really fun for us to enjoy adding this little bit to our weekly competitions. It gives us a little something not to look too far ahead and stay in the moment."
Perhaps more than any team on campus, the UF gymnastics team is well-versed in documenting moments with photos. They are savvy sharers on social media and active in the name, image and likeness era that has become omnipresent in college athletics since July 2021.
Following each meet, the Gators developed the film and taped the photos to a wall of mirrors in the team's training facility. They reveal a group of talented young women at the top of their sport and full of fun.
"We kind of go and relive those moments,'' said fifth-year senior Savannah Schoenherr. "It's been super creative and something to look forward to each week."
Of course, from Rowland's perspective, the project has been about breaking the season into chunks and building team chemistry. The season is long, and with the Gators one of the favorites to contend for the national title from the start, keeping the team engaged and relaxed has been crucial.
She is pleased with the way the Gators embraced the project.
"We focused on a word or phrase for each week to help us be mindful of staying a little more present in the moment,'' she said. "Whether it was to celebrate the present, be true to ourselves, 'normentum,' every week has been a little bit different.
"We talk about making each day count. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. We know that firsthand from experience. We can't look too far ahead."
As the only member of the "senior class," Payton Richards had the camera to herself for a meet. She was also busy competing, so she had to get help. Richards had no problem finding someone to click away. That is why this team is one of her favorites in her time at Florida.
"It feels like family. There have been teams in the past that have felt similar,'' Richards said. "I think in order to have a national championship team, you all need to be on the same page and work toward the same thing despite everyone's differences and beliefs.
"[The project] is honestly one of the coolest things we've ever done."
This week's "All For The Gators" theme is simple to Schoenherr, who has been unable to compete this season due to injury. Still, she has remained engaged and is one of the team's most active participants.
"All for the Gators is leaving it all on the floor and giving our all for the team,'' Schoenherr said. "We really mean the most to each other. We're not doing it for ourselves. We're doing it for the people around us because they all push us to be better."
Baumann is ready to aim and shoot Thursday.
She can think of nothing better than if the last shots of Florida's memorable season include a championship trophy.
"I'm hoping to save some from that moment."
What a Kodak moment that would be.
Yes, someone might have to explain what that means to the Gators after they put down their iPhones and post on Instagram.
As the only member of the "senior class," Payton Richards had the camera to herself for a meet. She was also busy competing, so she had to get help. Richards had no problem finding someone to click away. That is why this team is one of her favorites in her time at Florida.
