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First-year gymnast finds the right balance

Erin Alderman excels in her first meets on TWU’s gymnastics team, earning early praise for her scores

Heather Hines, Reporter

First-year Erin Alderman competes in the floor exercise rotation at Kitty Magee Arena.
First-year Erin Alderman competes in the floor exercise rotation at Kitty Magee Arena.

First-year Communication  Sciences and Disorders major Erin Alderman has exceeded expectations in her first collegiate gymnastics meets. Training in the all-around, Alderman has competed at every meet TWU has participated in this season, excelling on floor and competing on the beam and vault as well. Originally from Fair Oaks, Calif., Alderman came to TWU with 15 years of experience as a gymnast.

In her first meet representing TWU on Jan. 8, Alderman received a score of 9.700 on the floor, making her the team leader for the Pioneers. In her fourth performance on Jan. 24, Alderman received a score of 9.725 and also took the title of team leader.

When asked about her success, Alderman stated: “Having great coaches and a great team to support me has been so helpful, and my family back home has been supporting me throughout everything, so just to have them behind me has been what’s helping me get through.”

Alderman not only has succeeded in gymnastics this year, but she also earned a spot on the Chancellor’s list her first semester while participating in the honors program while coping with her move from California to Texas. Alderman came to TWU all the way from her hometown because of our gymnastics team’s renown.

Alderman's performance at gymnastics meets has earned praise for her skill.
Alderman’s performance at gymnastics meets has earned praise for her skill.

Alderman shared: “I fell in love with the coaches and the team when I came and visited, and I love the campus and I like the close-knit feel. Everything just worked out great, and it was just where I was supposed to be.”

  TWU will be fortunate to have Alderman for more than the typical four years. Alderman intends to earn her graduate degree in speech-language pathology and continue as a gymnast while being a graduate student at TWU.

Alderman explained: “In gymnastics, your body starts to wear down, and a lot of gymnasts quit after they graduate, so I want to be a speech pathologist and work with kids because that’s what I love to do.”

For now, Alderman has enjoyed working with her teammates and is looking forward to this season of gymnastics. She added: “[I want] to see how far this team goes because we’re capable of so many great things, and I really think we will get there. I can’t wait to see what we do as a team.”

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