Leaps of faith: senior gymnast hopes to leave spiritual legacy

By AMBER GAUDET

For many people, their religious faith is a core part of their identity. For senior gymnast Erin Alderman, faith experiences as a student, but as an award-winning gymnast.

Alderman, ahead of the final performance of her career this weekend, was named the Midwest Independent Conference Woman of the Year. Alderman’s recent honor comes just weeks after being named Edward Jones Athlete of the Month for her February performance and receiving Midwest Independent Conference Performance of the Week honors earlier this month for her Balance routine against Arizona, Air Force and Centenary. Alderman, who is graduating in May and enrolling in a master’s program for speech pathology, says that although she was honored to be recognized, awards have been far from her mind this season.

“This season has just been really sweet in the sense of just being free and enjoying the last few moments that I have with this team and with my coaches because I’ll be done in a month,” Alderman said. “My focus has been more on that and in glorifying God in all that I do, so it hasn’t been about trying to get certain recognition, but it’s still nice to have – it was a big honor.”

Alderman said she owes her recent successes to the determination that her spirituality lends her.

“Just the freedom from my faith, glorifying God in all that I do and being what I can be for my teammates and going out there, going big and having fun,” Alderman said when asked about what made February such a standout month for the athlete.

Surrendering to her beliefs has made a fundamental difference in Alderman’s life, allowing her to embrace the present and granting her a self-assurance that she said has made all the difference in her athleticism.

“My freshman and sophomore year especially, I really struggled with fear in general, but also just trying to please people and do things to make people proud of me,” Alderman said. “The last two years, but especially this year, a lesson I’ve been learning has just been letting go and… being obedient in what I can be and letting Him take care of the rest. That’s what I mean by freedom – just being in the moments that I’m in and caring for my teammates and just enjoying this last little season and…focusing on the journey more than the destination.”

Alderman is eager to embrace life beyond the beams, though she said the lessons that she learned in her time as a student-athlete will stick with her.

“On one side, it’s exciting that I have this whole new journey ahead of me of life without gymnastics and just focusing on my masters,” Alderman said. “But the other part of me is sad about it, because it’s been a part of my life for 18 years. I love my teammates and my coaches and the things I’ve learned through gymnastics – hard work, perseverance, discipline and time management – has been like no other.”

Alderman also hopes to leave a legacy of her own for her teammates.

“My whole focus… has just been that they would see Him through me, so honestly, that is what I hope I leave,” Alderman said. “I hope they see Jesus through me and develop their own relationship with him and just enjoy this journey for what it is.”