While most gymnasts are entering the year and preparing for the long gymnastics season ahead, four athletes at Gustavus Adolphus College are gearing up for not just one season, but two. Athletes Lili Guy, Maddox Lee, Autumn Schmidt, and Lily Tews navigate a unique collegiate journey by participating in both gymnastics and track and field at Gustavus. While many athletes and coaches would see dual participation as an extra burden, head gymnastics coach Aryn DeGrood and her athletes see it as a superpower.
Being a dual sport athlete at Gustavus is not just tolerated at Gustavus, it is encouraged by coach Aryn DeGrood, a former collegiate dual-sport athlete herself. After competing in two sports in high school, DeGrood became a transfer student at Gustavus competing on both the varsity gymnastics and track teams. DeGrood attributes her success as an athlete to the “built-in break” competing in another sport provides. “It’s going to allow them to cross-train, and do the things that they need to do, that’s going to help gymnastics,” said DeGrood. “I wanted to bring that mentality when I became the head coach
In order to be able to fully participate in whichever sport is in season, the athletes are only attending one practice at a time. During the gymnastics…
