Maryland gymnastics has been known for its meaningful, message-driven leotards for several seasons now. Assistant coach Erinn Dooley designs the looks, including the iconic flag designs for the Terps’ Maryland Pride meets.
The team has also debuted tank designs, like a pride warmup that was a surprise for the team in the preseason. Coach JJ Ferreira is active on the Big Ten Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee and in similar capacities with the WCGA, and the team was excited to wear the warmups in support of him and his efforts.
The Terps are hosting their second Diversity, Equity and Inclusion meet Sunday, March 12, featuring George Washington, Temple, Towson and Yale. Dooley and Ferreira had the idea to create a leo design that each team could wear, featuring their school logo but otherwise identical.
All five teams, in matching leos, present a united front and illustrate the message behind the meet. While DEI meets have become increasingly popular over the last several years, with some teams having debuted Black Lives Matter and Pride leos, no meet has featured teams in matching DEI designs.
Head coach Brett Nelligan called the four visiting coaches and asked if they would be comfortable participating by wearing the leos, as well as about their apparel budget….
