re: Remove

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Also interesting to see Jay talk about his concern that there isn't an "alpha" or real leader setting the tone on this team. Who do you all see potentially stepping up to that role this year (the way Gnat did in 2016 and 2017)?

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As far as the leader position on the team goes, while yes the covid seniors do a great job (for the most part) of physically filling the role of “go in the gym- get the work done- go out there on meet day and compete”, but none of the seniors, D’Antonio included, really have the vocal leadership type personality we’ve seen in previous years from someone like Bugs, Myia Hambrick (who lead vocally in a different, quieter than Bugs type of way but was still effective), McKenna Kelley, Sarah Finnegan, Lexie Priessman, Kennedi Edney or Ruby Harrold. Even though she didn’t compete as much over the years, I feel like even Olivia Gunter even had that same type of vocal leadership the team needs/needed/is looking for this year just based on her sideline presence. Not to say this years seniors aren’t capable of it, I just don’t think that is their personality type and that is ok.

With that being said, from what I’ve seen the last couple seasons, both with regards to in the gym at practices and on the sidelines at meets, I see Kai Rivers stepping into that role. She’s a team favorite, hard working, is a fighter and a competitor but also has the energy and the fighting spirit the team needs that I think Jay is looking for. Yes she may be a junior who took last year off due to an injury but even though she was sidelined last year, she still was the vocal leader her teammates needed, from the pre routine pep talks, to the post routine celebrations (both as a competitor her freshman year and on the sidelines last year). Plus after being out last year, we all could see at Gym 101 how hungry she is to be back out there and give her very best for the team week after week both on the sidelines as a teammate and while she’s competing, so we can bring home that national title