Across from the UMN Rec Center, nestled in the corner of the third floor of Cooke Hall, the Minnesota Men’s Gymnastics team is gearing up for the commencement of the season.
As the stalemate of the summer and early fall shifts to a high-geared preparation for the season, the mentality of our team, likewise, is changing. The time to learn new elements, adapt to the strength regimen and adjust to our surroundings has passed. Our first test, the Maroon and Gold Intrasquad on December 12, grows nearer with the completion of every practice, every routine, and every turn.
While the Intrasquad is not an official competition a part of our regular season schedule, it stands vastly important, especially for our six freshmen who will sport the Maroon and Gold and the Block ‘M’ on their chests for the first time. The Intrasquad represents the debut of a new season for every member of the team and thereby the first chance for each of us to present our progress and readiness to the coaches and to our teammates that we’ve developed during the off-season.
The Intrasquad and the subsequent Alumni Meet will decide which of us will be in lineup for each event and, in turn, who will travel and compete. More important yet, it will offer insight regarding where we are in terms of our preparation for our first official meet and in which areas we need the most improvement.
These few days enjoyed at home over Thanksgiving break truly denote the turnover of the last page in the introduction of the year for our team; once we return, we know that the season is upon us.
The interlude of the athletic year has come to a close and, therefore, the first chapter of our team’s 2015-2016 journey is enveloped within our return to campus following Thanksgiving break. With individual and collective goals set, our sights are set on the promise of a new year and a fresh start.
As focus continues to center around making second day at the 2016 NCAA Championships, a ubiquitous execrable sentiment exists among this team in consideration of our two-tenth shortcoming last season; that sentiment is what has driven us this preseason and what will continue to drive us all the way to April in our quest to avenge our heartbreaking exclusion from 2015 NCAA team finals.
A new chapter of the year has begun for the Minnesota Men’s Gymnastics team, a new chapter which represents the beginning of the actualization of the goals paramount to the efforts of this team.
In two weeks, our season begins. In two weeks, our team embarks on the long road to nationals. In two weeks, a new chapter of Minnesota Gymnastics unfolds.
