GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alyssa Baumann made official last week what the most passionate of Gators gymnastics fans had speculated about and hoped for since fellow senior Megan Skaggs announced last month that she was returning for a fifth year of eligibility in 2022.
Yes, Baumann was returning for the additional year of eligibility the NCAA granted due to the coronavirus pandemic's impact on the 2020 season. A mainstay in the UF lineup the last four seasons, Baumann was recently accepted into graduate school at Florida and leaped at the opportunity to compete one more year at the ripe old age of 23 – perhaps somewhere near 50 in gymnast years.
If Baumann had any reservations in the back of her mind about continuing in a sport that retires teenagers, 50-year-old professional golfer Phil Mickelson delivered a strong rebuttal against Father Time over the weekend by winning the PGA Championship, becoming the oldest player in history to win a major.
Mickelson happens to be the favorite player of Greg Baumann, Alyssa's father.
"We were really excited,'' Baumann said. "He was like, 'see.' "
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— Alyssa Baumann (@Alyssa_Baumann_) May 21, 2021
The return of Baumann and Skaggs strengthens a Gators team that returns nearly everyone from last season when the Gators won the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and advanced to the NCAA Finals for the first time since 2018. In addition to the returners, the Gators have signed five newcomers next season that make up one of the nation's top recruiting classes.
The confluence of events makes the Gators a strong contender for the 2022 national title, which certainly factored into both gymnasts' decisions. But above all else, each understands the unique opportunity presented and view it as an unexpected gift to cap a difficult, challenging year.
"It was definitely a process and something I had thought about for a while,'' Baumann said Tuesday on a video conference call. "When I found out that we had that opportunity, I didn't want to shut it down right away. The potential is through the roof for next year. To think that we've already won SEC regular season with such a small team this year, I'm really excited for possibly five new freshmen coming in. They are all phenomenal. Lineups are definitely going to be tricky. It's going to be hard to make them which is just going to push the team more."
Skaggs voiced similar thoughts.
"I think the biggest thing was just loving the sport and that's really even grown this year, so why not, in a sense,'' Skaggs said. "I'm honestly so excited for the opportunity and it's something I truly couldn't pass up."
Baumann is an eight-time All-American and three-time All-SEC selection who said she is in the best shape of her career after incorporating running into her exercise routine and returning to competition on the uneven bars in 2021. She had dropped the routine from her rotation on a regular basis after a serious arm injury during her elite career. However, the additional time off a year ago – the 2020 postseason was canceled and the Gators spent the summer spread around the country as COVID-19 protocols dominated everyday life – rejuvenated her physically and mentally.
Meanwhile, Skaggs is a six-time All-American and two-time SEC performer who enjoyed her best all-around season in 2021. She set or matched her career-high scores in all four events last season and is a fan favorite, with Gators football coach Dan Mullen and his daughter, Breelyn, among that group. When Skaggs announced on Instagram that she planned to return for a fifth season, Mullen responded with an encouraging comment.
"It really is so sweet. I was definitely fan-girling,'' Skaggs said. "It really does mean a lot. Being able to represent the Florida Gators on such a huge stage truly is an honor."
Baumann and Skaggs said the biggest challenge in returning is maintaining the physical conditioning and mental focus that allowed them to have banner seasons in 2021. For Baumann, the key is her work in the gym during the week more than anything she does on the competition floor on Friday nights.
As she has gotten older, Baumann has continued to perform at a high level by being smart at practice. She has cut down on her practice routines to save her body for the competition floor.
"It's a big numbers game,'' she said. "I think we really figured out a good balance for that this year. These skills, I know how to do them. It's more about staying strong. I don't need 10 bar routines a day or 10 vaults a day. I really like running. I think it's good for the stress portion of it as well. I have dealt with shin splints my entire career, and this was first time I didn't have any problems with it."
The opportunity to mentor what is expected to be large team in 2022 is another reason both veterans opted to return.
Mostly, though, they know this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And they still love the sport and are having fun.
If that sounds familiar, Mickelson said much of the same after his historic victory over the weekend.
"I feel like I'm kind of hitting a stride in my career late on, which is maybe strange, but I feel good,'' Skaggs said. "I'm excited to walk into the summer being able to continue to work and do gymnastics. I want to walk away with no regrets."
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May 27, 2021 at 01:06AM
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Passion Project: Baumann and Skaggs Not Ready to Retire - Florida Gators
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