by Dave Lohse, Associate Sports Information Director, Retired
Life often exists on a circular path. For Tar Heel gymnast Elizabeth Culton, that is especially true of her athletics career at the University of North Carolina, which is celebrating 50 years of women's athletics this year.
A native of Durham and a veteran youth gymnast at the Bull City Gymnastics club team, Culton was honored as a first-team All-America in 2021 and was the first Tar Heel to earn first-team honors since national champion Courtney Bumpers in 2005.
The honor had special significance, considering her grandfather, Bill Cobey, was an assistant athletics director when Carolina established its first seven varsity women's sports, including gymnastics, in 1971-72 under the Department of Health and Physical Education.