The Revolutionaries can recognize that they’ve had a slower start than usual, plagued by preseason injuries and inconsistent performances on beam and bars. But in her third year at the helm of George Washington, head coach Stephanie Worrell maintains a positive attitude. “We’ve had a rough preseason…and we’ve got a lot of kids that are working on coming back. I’m looking for a strong setup for next year, but I really love the fight that’s in our team for this year and working with everything that they have,” she said.
Injuries open the door for athletes who may not otherwise compete, cultivating depth and weaving confidence in both practice and competition. Worrell praised the brilliance of the GW Revs’ all-around core, consisting of three athletes across different academic classes. “It’s not just a senior class carrying us. We’ve got that depth across the years,” remarked Worrell.
The all-around roster for George Washington includes senior Deana Sheremeta, sophomore Lola Montevago, and freshman Aspen Tucker. Each has found respective success this year, collecting numerous conference accolades and making their mark in the GW record books. Junior Delaney DeHaan, though currently out with an injury, had been a top contributor with her all-around campaigns in the past, securing for herself a slot upon her expected return to competition.
Counting DeHaan, the GW Revs boast a potential all-around athlete in each class year, something that many teams cannot claim. That inclusive strategy is advantageous in preparing younger athletes—responsible for the future of the team—for competitive pressure as the lineups turn over year after year. “[The all-arounders] are pushing everyone, because in the gym, they’re making themselves better every day. So everyone else is like, “Wait, I’ve got to keep pushing myself, too,’” Worrell added.
In the weeds of a slower season, expert individual performances stand tall. Deana Sheremeta competes on four events, adding vault to her repertoire as a senior. Worrell noted that Sheremeta “hasn’t vaulted since her senior year of high school, and we’re back to the Yurchenko full. It’s a big vault.” Before her all-around debut, Sheremeta was already a valuable asset for George Washington. Qualifying to regionals on beam and floor in 2025, Sheremeta has emerged as a leader for the GW Revs in her senior year.
“I know the first time it was definitely just a lot of adrenaline,” referencing her return to all-around competition, “but I think now I have gotten into the groove of it, and I understand it a little bit better. Doing four events in practice every day has helped me gain the endurance to do so,” said Sheremeta.
In the Feb. 15 meet with William & Mary and New Hampshire, Sheremeta set new personal career-bests on vault (9.825) and in the all-around (39.125). At that meet, the GW Revs battled several falls on beam, and Sheremeta, as the anchor, faced the pressure of overcoming three misses. Sheremeta turned to Worrell for support ahead of her slot, saying, “She took an extra second to talk to me, calm me down, and get my confidence up, so I could go out there and just hit my routine. That’s what we needed in that moment.” With Worrell’s pep talk to ground her, Sheremeta stayed on the beam, saving the GW Revs from a third-counted fall. Though supplying a crucial hit, Sheremeta was still unhappy with her performance: “I want to get back onto beam and really just find my confidence again,” she explained.
Worrell acknowledged the season-long struggle on the event, saying, “They’ve got to stay grounded, and I tell them all the time…you can only do your routine. You can’t make up for the person in front of you, and you have no control over the person after you.” That mindset propelled Sheremeta to success in that critical moment.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Worrell embraces positivity. “They’re really doing well in the gym…I believe that we’re going to start to see that translating into meets,” said Worrell. Worrell has implemented decisive logistical changes to training plans, including switching practice facilities to be much closer to campus, and increasing the weightlifting regimen. In her third year as head coach and tenth as part of the coaching staff, Worrell anticipates results. “We see magic happening on events, and it’s just got to come together on all four, which I really see it’s going to be in our future, that’s for sure,” said Worrell.
With the remainder of the season looming, the reigning EAGL champions gear up for an uphill battle, eager to achieve the same success as in the past. “There isn’t one ounce of give up… they show up every day ready,” said Worrell. The gritty strength of the all-around core supplemented by a slew of talented event specialists suggests the GW Revs hold the ingredients to find their footing again. While this season has yet to deliver the numbers they want, Worrell believes the GW Revs’ demonstrated ability to fight back against adversity is a step in the right direction, underlining the unyielding character of her team. “They just didn’t let the punches take them out…I feel like it’s a good building block for what we’re trying to do this year,” said Worrell.
Quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
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