MERLINA SAN NICOLAS LEYVA | Reporter

Before beginning a busy season in January, the gymnastics team held an exhibition at Hyland Arena dedicated to professors.

The exhibition is an annual event that gives athletes an opportunity to compete in the arena before the season starts. Almost all athletes on the roster participated, and they were divided into two teams, each consisting of 10 athletes.

Coach Jennifer Llewellyn expressed her excitement for athletes competing after a long period of training.

“The matting and the surface levels are a little different [in official competitions], so it’s just different and being in front of a crowd and being in the arena, getting all the jitters out now is an opportunity mainly for our athletes to get back to that environment after being out of it for five months,” Llewellyn said.

Every year, the exhibition changes its theme. This year, the team is recognizing and honoring the athletes’ professors. The judges panel was also composed of Lindenwood professors.

The two teams tied for the first two events, vault and bars, but after the floor routine and beam event, the black team took the win.

After finishing one of their best seasons in program history last semester, Llewellyn is hoping the entire team will have an opportunity to compete at the NCAA regionals.

“Our goal is to pick right back up where we left and continue to have a successful year,” Llewellyn said. ” Our goal is always to win conference, nationals and we really want to aim for top 36 which would take us to NCAA regionals as a team.”

The Lions’ first tournament will be on Jan. 13 in Illinois against the University of Illinois, Oregon State and the University of Kentucky.