Rosie Smith and Allie Southard keep telling their teammates all the hard work will pay off in the end.
With the hardships of a long preseason that includes daily practices and workouts lasting nearly the entire fall semester, the two captains of the Penn State gymnastics team are constantly reminding the team of the ultimate goal -- a national championship.
Smith and Southard are resuming their role as captains after leading last year's junior-laden team to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2005. The two seniors look to use their experiences of last year, when the Nittany Lions finished a mere .200 short of an appearance in the Super Six, to improve for the 2010 season.
"I loved the responsibility last year, and I'm really excited to have the honor again," Southard said. "I just think that we're gonna be awesome this year."
Smith said the team was excited to start the preseason, which officially started on Sept. 28. Although the Lions have looked really good so far, she said there have been times when they go into a slump in practice, and it is the responsibility of the captains to pick their teammates up.
"There are definitely the days when everyone is sore and tired and stuff like that," Smith said. "Those are the days that I try to really be positive and try to motivate and let everyone know that they're hard work will pay off."
Penn State coach Steve Shephard said the two senior co-captains work well with the three other seniors to keep the team cohesive.
Smith, a former walk-on, suffered a lisfranc fracture on her left foot early last season. She said the injury ended up helping her in the long run as it forced her to be a more vocal leader.
"Last year, I kind of started out as a leader by example," Smith said. "I worked hard every day, and I hoped people would follow me, and I wasn't that much of a verbal leader. I kind of have both aspects now."
Madison Merriam is one of three Nittany Lion freshmen and said she felt an immediate impact from the captains.
At the beginning of the preseason, the captains made the freshman aware of certain rules the coaches have that they may have not been accustomed prior to coming to Penn State. One of those rules prohibits the gymnasts from talking or making any sounds during their beam routine.
Overall, Merriam said that Smith and Southard have been really helpful during the first few months of the preseason.
"During practice, the captains definitely make sure they cheer for the freshman," Merriam said. "I mean they cheer for everyone, but I think they go out of their way to support the freshman and let them know that their work will pay off."
Aside from helping the freshman, Southard said she thinks her biggest role is to serve as a motivator, and the key is to just keep pushing her teammates to get back to the NCAA Championships.
"Sometimes the preseason is long and hard," she said. "But I just have to remind everyone of our ultimate goal, what were working for every day."
