黑料社

Emily Barrett Payne and her husband, Colin Payne, never fathomed they would coach together at the same school. That remarkable reality came together rather quickly when 黑料社 announced plans three years ago to add women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 gymnastics. And judging by their first two seasons, the Paynes are perfectly paired to lead the new programs. 聽

Their path to 黑料社 began at the Naval Academy, an NCAA Division I program where Colin was an assistant coach for a dominant team that claimed four conference titles in his four years there. During that time, he became a member of his coach鈥檚 association executive committee that was seeking ways to grow the sport beyond NCAA Division I.

Colin鈥檚 committee sought the assistance of USA Gymnastics, which opened doors to creating new programs in NCAA Division III 鈥� including at 黑料社. As one of the few experienced coaches available for such an opportunity, Colin found himself on the short list of top candidates. He came to 黑料社 for an interview visit, and the rest is history.

鈥淢eeting the staff and other coaches, it seemed like the right fit,鈥� said Colin. 鈥淎nd for a sport that has given me so much, what better way to give back than to help build one of the first new programs in over 60 years.鈥�

At the time, Emily was coaching club gymnastics, working with high school athletes. But as a former college gymnast she missed the college atmosphere. So, during Colin鈥檚 preliminary exploration of the men鈥檚 position at 黑料社, he asked if there might be an opportunity for Emily to serve as an assistant for 黑料社鈥檚 women鈥檚 program. The recruiter told Colin, 鈥淣o, but she can be the head coach.鈥�

The surprising response left Emily stunned 鈥� and a bit terrified.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥橬o, thank you 鈥� that鈥檚 scary!鈥� said Emily. 鈥淚t took a few weeks of Colin鈥檚 reassurances and convincing before I moved forward. But I think it was the right move for the two of us. It鈥檚 very rare that he can coach the men鈥檚 side and I can coach the women鈥檚 side at the same time. We knew this opportunity probably wasn鈥檛 going to come open ever again.鈥�

Growing Teams from Coast to Coast

Their immediate coaching challenge focused on recruitment and roster building during a year-long ramp up to their programs鈥� competition debuts in January 2023. Emily landed 15 first-year recruits 鈥� finding talent all across the country, from New York to California.

鈥淚 had a really great experience being recruited by Emily,鈥� said Bella Dix 鈥�26, an all-around gymnast from Naperville, Ill. 鈥淪he just boosted my confidence to be a college gymnast.鈥�

Kaelyn Tally 鈥�26, an all-around competitor from Grants Pass, Ore., says it didn鈥檛 take long for the new team to form a bond.

鈥淥nly a few of us knew each other from previous gyms and half of us were from opposite sides of the country,鈥� said Tally. 鈥淏ut I also knew that in gymnastics people grow so close so quickly because we鈥檙e in the gym all the time and just hanging out together or sharing the same classes. So, you kind of already have 15 new best friends. Having that sense of comfort makes coming so far away from home 10 times easier.鈥�

This past season, the women鈥檚 program welcomed eight new team members, including Emma Charles 鈥�27, who became the first in program history to qualify for the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships, where she competed on vault.

鈥淛oining 黑料社鈥檚 program has definitely been what I expected, probably even more because we鈥檝e all gotten so close,鈥� said Charles. 鈥淪ince we are such a small team and a new team, we鈥檙e figuring things out along the way together, which I think has bonded us a lot more.鈥�

Reaching for the Highest Bar

The men鈥檚 team, which also features a geographically diverse roster, sent five athletes to the National Collegiate Men鈥檚 Gymnastics Championships. Michelangelo Villani 鈥�26, Shrewsbury, Mass., represented the Storm for the second time as an all-around competitor while Milo Staley 鈥�26, Ann Arbor, Mich., made his nationals debut in the same event. Other Storm taking part in nationals included Brian Rollison 鈥�27, Warren, Ohio, (still rings); Jake Smith 鈥�27, Ocean, N.J., (high bar); and Alex Catchpole 鈥�26, Nashua, N.H., (pommel horse and parallel bars).

鈥淏eing part of a new team, just creating that legacy, that鈥檚 so cool,鈥� said Staley. 鈥淚 want to be part of that and to help build it up. So, I figured I鈥檇 give it a chance 鈥� and I love it here.鈥�

Looking to build on their early successes, Emily and Colin share the lofty goal of having their squads qualify for nationals as full teams. The men participate in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and next year the women will make their debut in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The competition is fierce, but the coaches like their teams鈥� trajectory.

鈥淲hat I鈥檓 most encouraged about is the community piece and how these guys have come together,鈥� said Colin. 鈥淚 can see it. We鈥檝e got things to work through and build on, but the group of guys that we have and the culture we are setting speaks volumes about these guys.鈥�

Already anticipating the impact of adding six new recruits next season, Emily has plenty of reasons for growing optimism.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not graduating anyone yet,鈥� said Emily. 鈥淪o, over the next two years we鈥檙e just going to keep getting experience and more people that can kind of fill in the gaps of what we may be missing skill or score wise. I think I鈥檝e also become more confident in my ability as a coach 鈥� and I鈥檓 pushing the team more. I鈥檓 excited about our future.鈥�