The Nittany Lions are closing out the 2019 season and heading into the Big Ten Championships this weekend under the leadership of captain Chris Sands. The senior kinesiology major and Lancaster, Pennsylvania native started his Penn State career as a walk-on and rose through the ranks to become a consistent competitor in the lineup. Many Penn State gymnasts started as walk-ons, something Sands finds special about the roster each year.
"We don't have a lot of those top name guys," Sands said. "(Head coach Randy) Jepson turns them into something great and they come into their own eventually. That's what Penn State is."
Before coming to Penn State, Sands' teammates from his club gym went on to become captains on collegiate men's gymnastics teams. Training with them prepared Sands to follow their lead as a team captain. Two notable teammates from his club gym include former Penn State captain Allen Harris and former Navy captain Eric Poletti.
"This was a position I wanted my whole college career," Sands said. "Everything I did was to put myself in the best position to get there."
Sands has had a successful career in Blue and White, earning three victories in floor exercise and a victory on rings last season as well as Academic All-Big Ten recognition. This season, he has three podium finishes under his belt.
Although his sights were always set on a leadership role, he wasn't ready for it as a junior. He recalls all the upperclassmen being nominated for captain except him. Sands saw this as an opportunity to reevaluate the way he interacts with his teammates. Junior year was when Sands came into his own, and he notices the same in many of his teammates.
"They come in freshman year, they don't do a lot," Sands said. "Sophomore year is kind of falling into it a little bit and then junior year is when a lot of these guys start to thrive. I like seeing the progression of that."
The tradition of team captain within Penn State gymnastics is unique, as he is selected entirely by the team and not the coach. Jepson asks his team to keep in mind the best person to be a spokesperson and go-to guy in any situation. Only once in his tenure have there been co-captains.
"(Sands) has had a very solid career," Jepson said. "I'd love nothing more than to see him cap it off with two great meets here at the end."
Sands doesn't think his leadership style falls into just one category. His biggest concern is making sure he is never above the team because of his title as captain, so he emphasizes that he is just another guy on the team.
"I don't want to be a whistleblower with these guys," Sands said. "I want to be the rally guy, someone they look to for motivation."
One of the most unique instances of his leadership is his decision to randomize roommates for away competitions. Sands chose to assign the team roommates by unfamiliarity, hoping to bring the team closer by encouraging conversation among team members with whom they wouldn't ordinarily spend much time.
The underclassmen certainly take notice of Sands' leadership and find inspiration in his dedication to the team. Sophomore Alex Frack hopes to follow Sands' lead as he continues his career at Penn State.
"Not only was he able to support us emotionally and physically, he was ready at all times," Frack said. "He's been there for me the whole season."
The Nittany Lions are looking to finish strong as they compete in the Big Ten Championships, but the team mindset they have adopted means that this is just another meet for them. Sands is especially excited for the opportunity to make a statement.
"We always battled so many injuries," Sands said. "In past years it got to us, we could only really win if other teams messed up. This year, that's not the case. It's there for the taking."
