MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Confidence is one thing the 2016 West Virginia University gymnastics team (2-2, 0-1) has gained in the past few years. The squad is four weeks into the season and is ranked No. 23 in the nation. This is a huge success for the team as it is the first time is has been nationally recognized since 2013.

 

“It’s a great motivator for the team, but we could still be doing better,” coach Jason Butts stated.

 

The gymnasts began the season with a shaky start, finishing third against No. 16 Denver and No. 24 Southern Utah on Jan. 9. Once the team was back at the WVU Coliseum, it earned wins against No. 18 New Hampshire and William & Mary.

 

The Mountaineers are looking forward to a busy schedule in the upcoming weeks. The first meet is at Iowa State on Feb. 5, with another match at No. 2 Oklahoma on Feb. 7. This is the first time in recent history the team has competed in two meets in the same weekend. The Mountaineers also will compete the following weekend at No. 4 Alabama.

 

These big away meets will give the squad a huge chance to climb higher in the national rankings.

 

“I’m really excited to see those teams, and I’m really excited to get this team out there,” Butts said.

 

The Mountaineers placed fifth at the 2015 NCAA Morgantown Regional Championships, and Butts believes that they can go even further this year. He would love to see more gymnasts reach All-American status.

 

The squad only has three returning seniors this year. Although the trio is featured in a handful of routines, “they’re doing the best gymnastics that they can,” Butts said.

 

The seniors - Melissa Idell, Jaida Lawrence and Audrey Tolbert - are supporting their teammates in a huge way. Butts has taught them that they have to protect the WVU gymnastics legacy. In fact, Cary Gym is plastered with pictures of former Mountaineer gymnasts instead of the seniors. Butts expects the seniors to want to earn their spots on the wall.

 

“All three of them have done an incredible job buying into the legacy protection idea. It sounds kind of selfish but at the same time it’s a great mantra for all of us to remember because it’s how we will be remembered in life, and they’re doing an incredible job with that,” Butts explained.

 

WVU lost many contributing routines from 2015, and the Mountaineers are a much younger squad. Butts has complete confidence in the freshmen’s ability to compete at the collegiate level. Rookie Kirah Koshinksi has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for three weeks straight, becoming the first Mountaineer to earn three Big 12 honors in consecutive weeks.

 

“For a young class, 90 percent of our freshmen are competing like they’ve been here doing this for the past two years, and that’s really cool,” enthused Butts.

 

Overall, the team has been working hard in the gym and has the passion to earn high rankings throughout the season.

 

“Our strongest strength right now is that they love the sport of gymnastics, they love competing and they love being in front of a crowd. They don’t want to look silly. They don’t want to fail in front of the judges or the fans. They show up every day in the gym and just say ‘let’s get it done’,” said Butts.

 

The Mountaineers also have had a huge culture change in the last two years. Falling during practices and warm-ups was a constant problem for the team. Coaches took a look at how the team was performing and changed the mindset. Now the team knows that falling is not an option. The squad has built up confidence by pushing itself to be the best.

 

Butts mentioned that one of the biggest things he told the team was, “you can do it every time and you have control over your body and your mind. Let’s get it done.”

 

Three Mountaineers have already shown that they are fearless and ready to compete. Koshinski, Alexa Goldberg and Zaakira Muhammad have been nationally ranked and earned career-high scores in multiple events.

 

Now that the season is in full swing, there are high expectations in the following weeks. Butts stated that the team does not want to peak so early in the year, but the confidence is definitely rising.

 

Butts explained that his biggest goal is for the squad to be in the top 25 going into the NCAA Regional Championships in April, but he believes that this team has what it takes to go all the way to the NCAA National Championships.

 

“Probably this team more than any other in my career I’d love to see at nationals because right now, we have five All-Americans on the wall down in Cary Gym, and we could double that in a single appearance as a team at nationals. That is my goal,” said Butts.

 

With climbing confidence, the Mountaineers are prepared to take on top teams and fight for a strong finish in April.