On March 4, the University of Michigan gymnastics team hosted the team’s last regular meet for this season. Michigan posted an incredible 196.325, but couldn’t beat Alabama’s 197.075. A Senior Night ceremony occurred after the competition. Head coach Bev Plocki addressed the seniors and spoke of their time at Michigan and how they have all made individual contributions to the team. As well as Senior Night, former Olympic team captain and Wolverine, Elise Ray, spoke of her time on the Michigan team in comparison to elite gymnastics.
“I had a very difficult Olympic experience,” Elise Ray said of the 2000 Olympic games. The U.S team placed fourth during the team competition, just out of medaling position. The Chinese team won the bronze medal.
Ten years later, however, an age discrepancy in the Chinese team resulted in the team being stripped of their medals, which were awarded to the U.S team. “It was very surreal,” Ray said.“[College gymnastics] is a team competition, whereas before I felt like I was out there alone, it was very individual. But in college you have five other girls backing you up in case you make a mistake,” Ray said, and continued to say, “It was just fun and it just brought back my passion for the sport.”
- Former Wolverine and 2000 Olympic team captain, Elise Ray, posing with her bronze medal from the Olympics.
Currently, Ray coaches club gymnastics in Maryland. She believes that she will always be involved in college gymnastics because she loved her time at Michigan so much. “It was incredible. It really was four of the most wonderful years of my life so far,” Ray said. The same feeling of nostalgia was expressed by this season’s graduating seniors: Kylee Botterman, Kari Pearce, Trish Wilson, and fifth year seniors Jordan Sexton, and Sarah Curtis.
Kylee Botterman ended her last home meet on a strong note, tying for second on floor with a 9.900 and winning the all-around with a 39.450. This was Botterman’s ninth straight all-around win.
“We practiced all week with high energy and just really trying to have a fun time, and it definitely showed tonight,” Botterman said. “We were relaxed and having a great time.”
Senior Night was emotional for all of the seniors, as Michigan gymnastics has been a big part of their lives for the past four years.
Fifth-year senior Sarah Curtis started gymnastics when she was four years old. For Curtis, U of M has meant much more than just a sport’s team. “Michigan has meant a lot of things; mainly it’s meant friendship, it’s meant home, you know, being away from home, this has really been my family,” Curtis said.
At this meet, Curtis scored 9.825 on vault, beam, and floor. Struggles on bars caused her to score a 9.100 on that event, but she still finished third in the all-around with a 38.575.
Kari Pearce grew up in Ann Arbor, and went to meets at Crisler Arena when she was young. Pearce started gymnastics when she was two, so she has been doing it for 19 years. “I can’t really imagine my life without it,” she said.
Trish Wilson scored a nearly flawless 9.900 on uneven bars, tying for first place. This was Wilson’s second event title in the last five weeks, after starting her comeback from a career with four torn ACLs and six knee surgeries. Even though the team didn’t win, Wilson is feeling confident about the team in the post-season.
“We’re doing a little bit better each week, we still haven’t had our best meet, but we have the confidence to go to the next meet and really knock it down,” Wilson said.
Fifth-year senior Jordan Sexton was able to shine on her last home meet. She scored a 9.850 on bars, but also tied for second on floor and won beam, both with scores of 9.900.
“I was able to just soak it up and really enjoy it, and I had a great performance,” Sexton said. U of M gymnastics has really meant a lot to her over the years, and she still remembers her first day on the team, and the first night out with her teammates.
“Ever since then I formed such a bond with these girls. They’re really my sisters, not just my teammates,” Sexton said, “It’s just been a wonderful experience and I feel like I’m definitely a more educated, mature person.”
