By Sean Savage
@SeanSav13
Anticipation is heating up inside the newly renovated Kresge Gymnasium as the Springfield College women’s gymnastics team prepares to flip into action. The team is one of the final winter sports yet to begin its season.
“We come back [to campus] on January 3, and we’re getting right into it,” junior Claire Geiger said. “We’ve been talking with our coaches, and they’ve been encouraging us on what to do over break.”
A major asset this year is the new equipment and upgraded facilities in Kresge Gymnasium, tailored to meet the demands of Division I and II competitors. Key improvements, such as deeper pits and wider vaulting areas, provide a safer and more efficient environment for gymnasts to develop more complex skills.
“The equipment is really nice,” Geiger said. “There’s been a bit of a transition with figuring out the logistics of space and sharing it with the men’s team, but other than that, it’s been really good.”
Along with the physical upgrades, team camaraderie remains unwavering, fueled by traditions like Gymnast of the Week, which is featured on the teams Instagram. Junior Stacy Taylor was the most recent honoree, earning both a trophy and the team’s weekly bragging rights.
Taylor’s recognition comes from her work ethic during practices, whether on the vault or in her willingness to attempt new passes on the floor. Her determination and focus are evident with each practice, as she consistently pushes to improve her performance on the mat.
Head coach Diana Gallagher, entering her second season with the Pride, is also looking to up the ante. Gallagher’s résumé of experience includes roles such as Assistant Director of the USAG Development Program Girls’ Team at Dunne’s Gymnastics, USAG Level 10 Judge and Head Coach at Flip-Flop Gymnastics in New York.
In her first year, Gallagher made it clear that her approach to coaching stems from hard work, mutual support and emphasis on maintaining the program’s competitive success, especially on the national stage.
“She’s lovely,” Geiger said. “She does a really great job, and she was a really good fit for us last year. We’re seeing a lot of really good changes heading into the season.”
She also has firsthand experience performing similar routines as her players. As a former Division III student-athlete at SUNY Cortland, her experience helps her from the sidelines.
“That 100 percent makes her more relatable,” Geiger said. “It’s good when they get what it’s like to be a student-athlete and when they can understand the sport of gymnastics on more than just a physical level. She’s really understanding.”
The Pride are aiming to have its athletes perform under the bright lights of the NCGA National Championships, taking place on March 22.
With five athletes qualifying for last year’s championships – including standout returners Julia Reer, a junior, and senior Ayako Maeda – the team carries momentum alongside high expectations.
“That’s what we’re looking at,” Geiger said. “We lost a lot of really good seniors last year, so we’re building our team back up with what we have now.”
Photo: Springfield College Athletics