Auburn’s Samantha Cerio smiles and signals to the crowd before competing on the uneven parallel bars during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships Friday, April 14, 2017, in St. Louis. Jeff Roberson AP
In between sessions of Friday’s NCAA regional, Georgia’s Courtney Kupets Carter crossed paths with the Maryland gymnastics team as it prepared to take the Stegeman Coliseum floor. The coaches exchanged pleasantries, and a short, direct message was shared.
Be safe.
In gymnastics, that’s the biggest wish amongst teams engaging in competition. Ten teams convened in Athens to compete for a trip to the national championships, but winning-and-losing wasn’t the utmost priority.