Townsend Continues Canadian Tradition for U-M Women's Gymnastics
10/27/2017 2:42:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In its history, the University of Michigan women's gymnastics program has had eight gymnasts from Canada come through the program. The ninth is freshman Syd Townsend, who hails from four hours northeast of Ann Arbor in Conestogo, Ontario.
Townsend joins good company, as seven of the previous eight U-M gymnasts from Canada ended up earning All-Big Ten honors, while three were All-Americans. Former Canadians in the Wolverines program include Talia Chiarelli (2014-17), Shanna Duggan (2005), Alison Rudisi (2001-02), Karina Senior (1998-2001), Lisa Simes (1996-99), Wendy Wilkinson (1991-94), Angela Williams (1985-89) and Katherine Beckwith (1981-84).
Chiarelli, the most recent U-M gymnast from Canada, graduated last May with a degree in sport management. Although they were four years apart, Chiarelli and Townsend spent some time on the Canadian Women's National Team together.
"I was really young when we were on the national team together," said Townsend. "Tal was someone I looked up to, and when I committed here I was always interested in what she was doing and followed her scores."
Now she is following in the footsteps of the gymnast she followed so closely. When Townsend arrived on campus and was given her locker, it happened to be the same locker Chiarelli had.
"It was really exciting," Townsend said. "I was so happy."
Townsend was in the elite system in Canada, just like Chiarelli was before coming to Michigan, but the last two years she has battled injuries. She is now back training in the gym looking to prove that she is still at that elite level.
"Having gone through some injuries, bouncing back is very important to me," Townsend said. "I want to show Michigan I can contribute to the team and do what they recruited me to do. It has been very difficult to come back, but I had a great support system at home and the coaches here have been very helpful. They never put pressure on me to come back earlier than I needed to."
Her goal coming in as a freshman is to contribute to the team as much as she can. She joins a team with a lot of potential, returning a talented group that includes two All-Americans. Having been on the international stage, she understands the hard work that goes into being a great gymnast.
"The amount of work the top gymnasts in the world put in is incredible," said Townsend. "Representing my country internationally meant so much to my heart. I got to travel to some amazing places like Japan, Russia, China, Brazil and Scotland. Being able to represent the Maple Leaf was awesome."
Even though she has left her home country to come to Michigan, Townsend feels right at home. Earlier this month the U-M performance nutrition staff made a Canadian Thanksgiving meal for all the Canadian student-athletes.
"It was cool seeing everyone's photos on the wall," said Townsend. "We all got to sign a Canadian flag after."
It showed Townsend she wasn't the only Canadian student-athlete on campus. She has met freshman Kiara Shannon, a volleyball player from Oshawa, Ontario, and spends time with Anthony Tawfik, a freshman men's gymnast from Mississauga, Ontario.
She also has a pipeline of Canadian alums from the women's gymnastics program she can reach out to, including Chiarelli, who will be back in Ann Arbor this weekend as the 2017 team will be recognized at the football game on Saturday (Oct. 28) for its 2017 Big Ten championship.
Townsend will look to continue the tradition of excellence from Canadian gymnasts within the Michigan program.
Players Mentioned
