UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The 2021 Penn State Women's Gymnastics season is underway and off to a tenacious start. In response to making this season possible in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous amounts of leadership, motivation, and sacrifices have been made by coaches, staff, and gymnasts.
One thing notable about the leadership of this team is the youth of it. With senior Lauren Bridgens out with an injury, adjustments have been made to the lineup that have put young freshmen and sophomores in vital positions.
Three freshmen starters, Maggie Ayers, Natalie Cross and Maggie Johnston, and sophomores Amy Bladon and Cassidy Rushlow, have all stepped up so far to earn their spots, contribute in vital lineup positions and have demonstrated impressive leadership along the way.
Rushlow, a sophomore competing in the all-around, made a tremendous first impression through her own freshman year and the first three meets of 2021. Named All-Big Ten second-team after her freshman season, a Big Ten Gymnast To Watch this season, Rushlow has a hopeful and endearing season ahead of her, already with two all-around titles in the first three meets and was ranked 16th in the country in all-around, 17th on bars and 29th on vault after the first two meets.
Rushlow, among the other young gymnasts of the team, has stepped up in the gym to improve her skills, motivate her teammates and take advantage of the leadership opportunities even as an underclassman.
Rushlow serves not only a vital role in the lineup as a sophomore, but also as a mentor towards the freshmen to make them feel comfortable and acquainted with the important positions they have.
Going into this season, Rushlow says it was important to help make the freshman feel prepared and a valued part of the team and the lineup.
"It is really important as a team that everyone has a voice, so we really made that an important thing for them to know," said Rushlow. "Everyone on our team is equal, everyone gives what they can and tries their hardest. It was really important for us especially going into this season and having a lot of different people in the lineup, just to know where everyone was at and know that they could share whatever they could and be confident".
With freshmen such as Cross and Johnston holding important lineup spots in certain rotations, Rushlow has given best advice for freshman for how to keep from nervous or anxious as they start their college careers.
"Having confidence in yourself and your gymnastics," said Rushlow. "It's new when you're a freshman,because you want to go out there and have fun and try out all the new skills you formed and developed in the gym. Stay confident and know your abilities and how consistent you are. Make sure you have a good time!"
Rushlow serves as not only a leader for the freshman but the whole team. Head Coach Sarah Brown has called Rushlow a "rock" of the team.
Rushlow explains what Brown meant by this saying she constantly motivates her team by, "Keeping gymnastics lighthearted and fun in any way I can. I try to keep the vibe up on the team to make sure everyone is having a good time. There's days where if anybody needs individual help, I reach out to them. It just comes down to the team knowing you have their back and they have yours. We all do what we know how to do and go into meets doing our job, having fun and enjoying it!"
Rushlow says she resonates deeply with the one of this year's team mottos "I Got You Bro".
"It's important to us as a team knowing that we have each other's backs," said Rushlow. "I have their back no matter what whether, it's just in life or in competitions. We will do our job and we have each other's backs."
In response to the pandemic, Rushlow notes some changes and adjustments the team had to make to ensure health and safety.
"The changes with COVID have definitely been something unique," said Rushlow. "It really did change between last season and preparing for this season in the sense that we weren't on campus for a while. We were practicing in pods and we had to make a lot of sacrifices just to be safe as a team to be able to receive the opportunity to compete. As a team, we are really resilient and we're really good at adjusting to certain circumstances and situations. If anything, this situation has only made us more grateful to have had this opportunity to compete, and it isn't something that we ever take for granted".
With COVID restrictions, Rushlow said the team was able to bond in unique ways by having Zoom bonding meetings, Zoom workouts, and making Tik-Tok videos together. She said they even read a book together.
Even as a young sophomore, Rushlow has proved how her individual work ethic in the gym comes with qualities of leadership, motivation, and being there for her teammates.
"I'm very excited to see what this season has to bring," said Rushlow. "At the end of the day, it just comes down to being confident and enjoying yourself in the moment."
