Hey Ladies fans, Its sophomore Rose Deshler here with this week's gym talk!
If you have not heard already.... I brought a winter storm back from Minnesota with me all the way down to Shreveport, Louisiana. Last week on Monday the snow began and started a series of very interesting events for the Ladies. Class had been moved to remote and then cancelled all week. On top of that, shortly after Monday, most of the running water on campus had ceased. Luckily, athletic teams with locker rooms in the Gold Dome opened spaces for students to use the restroom and take showers for it was the only building on campus left with running water by the end of the week. It was amazing to see how students, staff, and their families stepped up and provided drinking water for students who remained on campus.
Unfortunately, the snow also managed to cancel our meet against TWU which was supposed to be last weekend. But aside from the snow catastrophe, the Ladies made the best of the experience by playing games, playing in the snow, and volunteering around campus to help improve the water situation. One of our sophomores, (my roommate) Kendall Huff, reached out to the Chief of Campus Police Eddie Walker, offering the gymnastics team's help filling water jugs at the pool and distributing them around campus. Some of our Ladies really got down and dirty trying to help clean toilets and remove ice from the stairs as well. After the workday was over, Chief Walker offered to cook the team burgers for dinner! It was a fabulous day, and we are so grateful to have such a kind Chief of Police (who also gives awesome golf cart rides FYI). Lastly, we would like to thank DPS, all staff members, all students, and all families for making this week manageable. We know everyone is doing their absolute best despite the circumstances and going out of their way to make things better.
On a different note, our practice gym was closed also. We were not able to practice for 8 days – first because we were unable to drive in the ice and then the gym did not have water either. After a week of no practice, and in preparation for our double meet weekend coming up, Coach Jackie arranged for a little field trip for us! The Ladies ventured to Tyler, Texas to practice at Texas East Gymnastics while the situation is improving back at Centenary. We are so thankful they were willing to open their gym to our team and let us use their equipment! Sunday, we spent the day getting readjusted in the gym (from our early spring break... or maybe late winter break haha) and Monday we went into practice full-speed-ahead! Some of our new upgrades are coming along too! Kendall Sanders was landing her new double-layout dismount off bars and Lauryn Stiff was doing her new full twisting vaults and front tucks on beam! Furthermore, Xian Baumgartner was hitting her triple series on beam and Taylor Ann Wilson also did her full-out dismount off bars!
We are off to Southeast Missouri State this weekend for a two-meet road trip. After some time off from the gym and working out in a different environment, this team is excited to get back into competition!
Stick with us to see what the ladies are up to next! Stay warm and safe everyone!
Yours Truly,
