Desire. Phenomenal. Believe. Heart.
What may seem like a random collection of words has a much deeper meaning to the UF gymnastics team. Those are just four of the dozens of words the team has chosen for its "Word of the Day."
Each practice day, a different gymnast - organized by height - picks a quote and a word that usually goes along with the quote. Sometimes the gymnasts will give a speech about the word and quote with the goal of inspiring the team. The tradition is capped off with the whole team doing one Gator chomp as gymnasts yell the word before practice.
"It's your time to shine," senior Corey Hartung said. "Your time to say what's on your mind and say the positive things that you want to say to influence your team."
Hartung said she searches online the night before her day for a quote that means a lot to her.
She saves quotes she likes and even has a file on her computer serving as a compilation of some of her favorites.
While the word of the day usually serves to inspire, sometimes a gymnast will say a more lighthearted, jovial word, reflecting how the team is feeling.
At the Southeastern Conference Championships, the word was "phenomenal." Hartung picked the word in an effort to find a more unique and less cliché word.
Faehn said the word carried through the whole weekend of the competition, as is the case with any word picked on any given weekend.
Following the SEC Championships, "phenomenal" even made it through to press releases.
Junior Ashley Kerr, who has used "believe" as her word a few times, said "heart" has been one of her favorite words this year, synonymous with the team's motto, "A Team Beats with One Heart."
"This year, especially just with all the adversity we've gone through, this team has put their heart, especially at SECs, everybody put their heart out there," Kerr said.
Kerr said she usually picks her word after gauging how the team is feeling or if she feels her word touches her or her teammates.
Maranda Smith, who always gives a quote followed by a speech, sees her day as an opportunity to shine as a leader.
Earlier this year, her word was "oomph."
"The difference between try and triumph is a little oomph," Smith said.
Even coaches aren't exempt from the "Word of the Day." Sunday is coaches' day.
"I always like to pick quotes that are about hard work, the positives, the mental aspect," Faehn said.
One Sunday, Faehn's word was "Noah," after her son, whom she brought to the gym.
"I wanted to make it light that day," Faehn said. "There's little Noah. He's going to run around and it brings a smile to (the gymnasts') face."
