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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 1997)
Preparation if for f tic .. % jam*. m Hie 13 members of the Nebraska women's gymnastics team spend about 888 hours a school year — a total of 37 daysworking out in a cozy practice gym in Mabel Lee Hall. Spending that much time —at least four hours every day from August through April — with the same people has helped the gymnasts deal with the difficulties of focusing on their sport and motivating themselves to become some of the most elite gymnasts in the country, junior Laurie McLaughlin said. “We practice a lot more than other sports," McLaughlin said. “We don't have any breaks. Usually the summers our hardest time, so we can learn new tricks.* > During the school y€a£ the Comhuskers HI spend close to an entire day refining their rou tines and„ To help the repetition, the radio always plays, Jhe gymnasts say it help? keep positive atmosphere in the gym. It alsd hg$p& die gymnasts Sebauseit representscrowdnoise, and it is not much of a distraction. “Good music puts everyone in a good mood,” senior Kim DeHaan said. “We joke around. It has to be fun, or you're not going to work as hard at it." Although the gymnasts are constantly say gggv. -Wl ing words of encouragement and t^pjp^j^lp one another with problems, the pracu^pa^ not as loose as a first impression may iftdicpp, NU Coach Dan Kendig said. /' “If you’re hot focused, gymnastics is dan gerous,” McLaughlin said. “If you’re not totally aware of what you’re doing and what your body is doing, you could get injured. If you are fo cused, then you can control your body.” Because many of the gymnasts have been injured during their careers, McLaughlin said, tbe team often acts as a support group. Del&an said the closeness of the team makes it stronger. “Our team is so small, it really allows you to concentrate on the whole team,” DeHaan said. “Some sports have 30 or SO people, and jtou can’t keep track of everyone. Here, you cab look out over the gym and see what everyone’s doing and if they’re having a good bad day.” . ^ With so much time spent in the gym together, once the Huskers leave practice, discussing gym nastics with any team member is not welcomed, DeHaan said. “It’s not my whole life,” she said. “In an other month, I’m done. But I think it will al ways be part of my life one way or another.” .- ' .:$t' gf. ‘ Photos and Story by Miller ALISHA LAMB (left), Shelley Bartlett aed Laurie McLaughlla practice theirtel
