For most gymnastics teams, early December is an exciting time of year. It’s when teams host intrasquads and the excitement of competition season starts to feel real. But for Lindenwood, that exciting buzz quickly turned into heartbreak. Just days before its annual Black versus Gold preview, the team got the news that it would be cut following the 2024 season.
Head coach Catelyn Branson described the news as getting “the rug swept out from under you.” Before they were able to compete, Branson and her team had to stop and sit with all of the emotions that came with the abrupt news. “We actually took a second to reflect on it,” sophomore Nya Kraus said. “We want to compete in this Hyland Arena a few more times. Let’s go do it.”
Every time the Lions competed, they focused on this year, not what’s going to happen a year from now. “We just really worked on us and being present in the competition,” Kraus said. “And we just took it skill by skill and routine by routine. We had a lot of fun during every competition.”
Having that type of positive outlook was crucial for Lindenwood this season, and for that to happen, there needs to be someone to facilitate that optimism. For Lindenwood, it was Kraus.
“It’s not just her gymnastics. It’s so much more than that,” Branson said. “She is the most joyful person to be around ever. Her gymnastics is just icing on the cake.” That “icing” earned Nya Kraus an individual spot on beam at the Ann Arbor regional where she scored a 9.700.
This weekend, Lindenwood will compete at the USAG national championships. It will be the Lions’ last competition as a program before the gymnasts go their separate ways, either entering the transfer portal or retiring and finishing our their academic careers at Lindenwood.
“Results aside, I just want them to enjoy every single moment, enjoy being together, and put a full meet together,” Branson said. “Obviously, that’s the gymnastics goal but mostly just enjoy these last moments together and go out as big as we can.”
After these gymnasts leave Lindenwood, their impact won’t be forgotten. As Kraus goes into her junior year, at whichever school she ends up at, she hopes to “carry what I’ve learned from Lindenwood on to the next school.”
Seven conference titles. Four national titles. One team regionals appearance. Countless other accomplishments. Even though the program is getting cut, Lindenwood’s legacy will remain.
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Article by Emily Lockard
