For most teams, the final home meet of the season is a bittersweet one because the team recognizes the accomplishments of its senior class. Pittsburgh’s was no different, as it honored its four seniors, Brittany West, Charli Spivey, Krista Collins and Lucy Brett.
These four have accomplished a lot in their four years as Panthers. In their freshman season, they were part of the first Pitt team to win an EAGL championship. Last season, they helped their team qualify to regionals for the first time since 2013. Most recently, Spivey was nominated for the prestigious AAI award which is given to “the most outstanding senior female gymnast.”
“It’s so hard to put into words what they’ve meant to us,” head coach Samantha Snider said. “They love this team and this program, and it’s been such a joy to coach each of them. They’ve all had their own individual struggles with injuries and different obstacles, and they’ve all persevered and overcome.”
It’s often rare to have a class where each member contributes to lineups. West anchors the beam lineup, Spivey leads off on vault and anchors floor, Collins has contributed on bars and Brett has been a staple on bars and beam and has also contributed on floor.
“They’ve been such strong leaders on the competition floor and great contributors all year long,” Snider said.
For West, being able to compete the sport she loves at Pitt has been special.
“It’s meant so much,” she said. “I love this sport, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot from it, and I feel like at Pitt I’ve been able to grow more as a person [and] as a gymnast.”
When the season ends and these seniors graduate and move on to the next stage in life, their absence will definitely be felt.
“There are going to be some big shoes to fill next year, but they’ve done a great job of really teaching everybody else on this team what it really means to be a Pitt gymnast,” Snider said.
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Article by Mary Emma Burton
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