Troy gymnastics preps for 2025 competitions

Football, basketball, baseball and other sports stretch into adulthood for many players. Athletes that participate in sports such as gymnastics may not be so lucky.

Gymnastics is often overlooked and misunderstood. However, in essence, it combines athleticism and beauty to create art.

“Our sport can be difficult, it’s really hard on your body – but there’s also a delicacy to it,” said team president Maren Settle.

Although gymnastics has been around for decades and is an Olympic sport, Troy Athletics does not sponsor a team. However, recently, the university added a club team.

“It all started the spring of my freshman year – I was a gymnast and dancer for 15 years and stopped when I got to college,” Settle said. “I had the idea to start the team – I noticed that there are a lot of other programs like our teams at other schools.”

Settle and others banded together to form a 10 women team in their debut season. Since, the team has blossomed into a competition style team. The year 2024 marked the team’s first competitive season and much more.

“Last season was something that I never could have dreamed of, and I think a lot of our girls as well,” Settle said. “We were kind of thrown in our regional meet and everybody performed to the best of their abilities, and we were placing.

“It was amazing, and as a team we scored a 107, which won first place.”

Alongside placing first as a team, several members earned gold medals in their events. Their success is reflective of the culture of the program.

“Our team is really close so there’s a lot of joking around and having fun at practice, but we do get down to business,” said Settle.

The 2025 campaign is slated to get underway Feb. 1, 2025, when the Trojans travel to South Carolina to participate in the Cocky Classic. The season will continue with the NAIGC Southeast Regional held at the University of Georgia. The season is set to end following the Chomp the Swamp event on March 1, 2025.

For those interested in joining next year’s team visit the team’s Instagram page @troytrojansgymnastics.