Open the Vault: New Faces, New Skills
9/22/2017 4:07:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
Olivia Karas, a junior communication major on the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team, will take fans inside the program throughout the 2017-18 school year, giving a first-hand account of what it is like to be a member of the Wolverines gymnastics team by sharing stories, photos and videos through her blog titled "Open the Vault."
Michigan fans! It's the most wonderful time of the year again ... preseason time! Team 42 has been in the gym working hard during captains' practices over the summer and for the last week official team practices. We have three phenomenal new freshmen that have joined the Wolverine squad, and today, I want to give you guys an inside scoop on the past few weeks of Michigan gymnastics. It includes new faces, choreography and a partridge in a pear tree!
Meet our new freshmen: Lauren Farley, Syd Townsend and Sam Javanbakht -- three fabulous additions to our lovely Team 42. They stepped on campus about a month ago and dove right into the college scene, getting their choreography done by Michigan alum and legend Reema Zakharia. Reema didn't fail to push these freshies out of their comfort zone and show them the collegiate gymnastics choreography ropes within the first few hours of their Michigan experience.
I asked our three freshies to tell me how their first month has gone so far, and they unanimously said they have enjoyed a new and independent environment and getting to bond and hang out with their new teammates. That right there is the beginning of 14 beautiful friendships brewing over here in Ann Arbor! The freshies also talked about loving the change of pace in a college practice and training with others their own age. The lovely Sydney Townsend (Conestogo, Ontario) mentioned, "All of the resources here are so helpful and incredible for all student-athletes." You've got that right, Syd!
Speaking of newbies, meet Scott Vetere and Kaitlyn Betts, two more who joined our Michigan family this year as assistant coach and volunteer assistant coach. Our team has enjoyed the last month of getting to know our two new coaches and has worked well with them to adjust to their coaching and to start forming a relationship with them.
Our team has struggled this preseason with a very grueling situation ... nicknames. With two Laurens (Lauren Marinez and Lauren Farley), two Sams (Sam Roy and Sam Javanbakht), and two Scotts (Scott Sherman and Scott Vetere), it has been an eventful month of trying to figure out how to distinguish who is who. We found that calling Sam J "Java" has helped the distinction, and Lauren Farley goes by "Farley" whereas Lauren Marinez goes by Lolo. It has definitely been tough. In terms of distinguishing the Scotts, we have some ideas but nothing is set in stone yet. Scott squared is our new nickname to refer to both of them together. We may or may not be calling Scott Vetere "Snow Dragon" as of now, but that's an entirely different story for a different time.
Love Michigan floor routines? Besides all the new faces in the gym, we have also put a lot of work into our new choreography. We stepped it up a notch this year. A lot of the routines are different and make people step out of their comfort zone. Each person has a character they become in their routine which helps us act more than just dance. We've got characters ranging from Lady Gaga to ballerinas and even a Latina from the Dominican Republic who transforms into her American self. Crazy, fun stuff! We cannot wait to show you guys our new performances!
Our team has been working really hard all summer to make some upgrades and new additions to routines. Every event has some new flare to it this year, as well as some new and exciting floor routines that are definitely different than the usual Michigan gymnastics style. All I can say as of now is get excited to see some new gymnastics and new faces in our meets this year!
Go Blue!
Players Mentioned
