The Dagen sisters are once again reunited for the 2023 season, as Lacy re-joins the Oregon State Beavers as a volunteer assistant coach for her sister Madi’s final year as a graduate student and all-arounder on the team.
For the two Pleasanton, California, natives, the journey in gymnastics began over 20 years ago at Pacific West in Fremont, California. Lacy was 4, and the 2-year-old Madi joined her soon after.
In 2009, the sisters began training across the bay at San Mateo Gymnastics, where they would earn their college commitments: Lacy signed to Florida for the 2015-16 season, and Madi signed to Oregon State for 2018-19.
Madi knew that she was going to be a Beaver from a young age. Colleges began recruiting her while she was still in middle school, and the minute she set foot on Oregon State’s campus, she knew that it was home.
The path was a little more complicated for Lacy, however. After advancing to the elite level in 2012 and committing to Florida, she stepped down to level 10 during her senior year of high school.
During the tail end of that senior year season, Lacy tore her ACL for the first time, and she entered her first season at Florida injured. Although she appeared to be on her way to recovery, she tore her ACL a second time that December, which took…