After 2 years of uncertainty, UAA gymnastics is ready to put the focus back on the mat

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - In 2020, the University of Alaska-Anchorage gymnastics team was faced with a bleak realization.

Not only would the pandemic result in a lost season for the program, but a string of budget cuts for Alaska’s university system meant that the team was facing the possibility of elimination. But two seasons and nearly $900,000 later, it’s back to business as usual.

“I’m really excited to showcase some of our talent,” said UAA head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch, who was quick to praise the community that kept the program from being wiped away.

“We achieved the historical permanent reinstatement just last year,” Boggasch said. “It’s always really special to do things that include the fans, to include our former, current, future donors. And without them, again, we just wouldn’t be here.”

Yet even with the program fully reinstated, the move to normal operations is still an adjustment for the Seawolf coaches and 20 gymnasts.

“These last couple years were so filled with the fight, with fundraising, we were [a] super close-knit group,” Boggasch said. “We still are a close-knit group, but our goals now have to shift a little bit. They have to realign in the gym and not just, ‘Oh, we need to fundraise this money, we need to reinstate our team, we need to submit these proposals, we need to submit these funding requests, right?’ It’s a different dynamic.”

The Seawolves’ new dynamic will be put on display in just a few days. The first and only home meet of the season arrives Friday as UC Davis comes to town.

“I think we’re probably looking forward to that home meet the most, because we only get that one weekend,” Boggasch said. “So we hope a ton of fans are showing up. It’s gonna be in the main arena [inside the Alaska Airlines Center], hype, fire, smoke, hopefully, the whole shebang!”

The home meet begins at 7 p.m. Friday and continues at 2 p.m. Sunday. The team will be on the road for the rest of 2024.

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