Showtime
In case you hear intently, you possibly can hear the group noise already. You may really feel the vitality rising. You may see the ocean of purple throughout the sector in big waves, together with flashes of sequined crimson and cream on the ground below the lights. It’s showtime. In primetime.
In gymnastics circles, tonight is the actual Tremendous Bowl. And everybody is aware of it, together with the present No.1-ranked, six-time Nationwide Champion Oklahoma Sooners, who will face the present No.2 crew, the reigning Nationwide Champion LSU on the Tigers’ house ground within the PMAC. With each groups constructing quick on consistency, issue, and particulars, and simply flat out competing stellar gymnastics week after week, what occurs tonight may very properly be a preview of what occurs in April in Fort Price on the Nationwide Championships. That is the one we’ll nonetheless be speaking about on Monday morning.
However first, there’s enterprise to do, and lots of gymnastics to come back in between Friday and Fort Price.
Fueled By Religion
Talking with Oklahoma junior Religion Torrez this week, the Sooners are targeted on one meet at a time, their bubble, and being at their greatest for one another. Whereas profitable towards LSU within the PMAC, and capturing the Nationwide Championship in April is certainly on her thoughts, what fuels Torrez most proper now’s being current for her crew each time she competes, every single day in coaching, and anytime they want one thing, on or off the ground. It’s how she stays grounded and the way her gymnastics, pun very meant, stays balanced.
“I’m doing it for my crew,” she mentioned. “These ladies are actually particular, and we’re all so shut. Competing for one another has actually pushed us. We’re actually targeted on dwelling within the current and the place our ft are. Clearly, you might have the long run aim that everyone thinks about once in a while, however simply being actually current, simply actually specializing in the now and what I can do to higher myself is what I’m targeted on.”
By definition, Torrez is casually calm and relaxed – she mentioned her teammates would describe her first as nonchalant, whereas concurrently outgoing and cheerful. On this season’s marketing campaign, alongside together with her unimaginable gymnastics, she’s additionally introduced quiet management to the crew. It’s one thing she’s embracing extra, particularly as every part at instances, she mentioned, appears to be on fast-forward. With each management alternative, there’s additionally a little bit of a shock she didn’t see coming.
“I positively do assume I’m rising into it,” she mentioned. “Which is loopy to say as a result of I nonetheless really feel like I’m a freshman generally! Everyone at all times mentioned, ‘Oh, it’s going to go so quick.’ You by no means actually consider them, since you didn’t actually need to consider them as a result of it’s simply such a loopy a part of your life. I believe, actually, among the upperclassmen additionally look as much as our freshmen. They’re actually nice folks in and outdoors of the health club. I actually assume all of us comply with one another, lookup to one another, which is a very good thing to have.”
Ranked No.1 for the sixth week in a row, with a mean rating of 197.746 and the crew hitting on all strides, Torrez is feeling nice in regards to the potentialities she sees for this crew, notably with their phenomenal mixture of upperclassmen expertise and freshman expertise.
“We’ve performed these routines hundreds of thousands of instances. We’re actually simply specializing in the little particulars and making an attempt to remain as constant as potential. We even have so many freshmen, they usually’re wonderful freshmen! Guiding them, and them with the ability to lean on the upperclassmen – they’re nice at that. They at all times come to us for recommendation. Having the connection between all of us has actually helped us as far as properly.”
