NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University gymnastics season is underway as the team prepares to continue the success they had last year. While their first meet isn't until January 13, the team is ready to compete.  

Libby Allen, SCSU '25, said that her responsibility as captain is to prepare the team to make sure the team can go back and compete at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship. 

"I just know my main goal is just helping our team become one and, I don't know, helping us win a national championship," said Allen. 

Allen also said that being a captain has its pressures but she is glad that she is in the position to be a leader on her team. 

"It is a big responsibility," said Allen. "But having the role helps me lead our team to success to help show everything we got." 

Allen also remarked that it is nice to see the freshman come in and watch them grow, something she remembered when she was first on the team. 

One of those freshman, Gigi Mastellone, comes from New Jersey and is looking to get past the preseason and into competitions.  

"Just being with the team and being able to travel ton big meets with my teammates," said Mastellone. 

While the translation from high school to college can be tough for some high schoolers, there is an added layer for Mastellone that she did not know anyone on the team before coming to campus. 

"It was scary. There's a lot of emotions coming into this," said Mastellone. "I was a little bit nervous, but everybody was very welcoming and I'm super excited for this year." 

This welcoming atmosphere of the team was also highlighted by teammate Alexa Melanson, SCSU '25, who said it was nice mentoring the freshman that came in.  

"It's really fun having the freshmen come in and being able to mentor them as well and go through the experience together," said Melanson. 

Like her teammates, Melanson is ready to come back for the Spring semester and start competing. 

"I mean, to me, it's really exciting and I'm excited to get started," said Melanson.  

The theme of excitement among the team runs up to Head Coach Byron Knox. 

"This year is going to be really good," said Knox. "You know, we're trending upward. We have a better team than we had last year. We made it to Nationals as a team, so we're pretty excited" 

Knox also said that this year's group of incoming freshmen are skilled enough to make an impact this season.  

"Typically you have freshmen, they don't always make an impact coming in," said Knox. "But I think this year we have quite a bit of talent that's going to actually do that." 

While Knox is optimistic about how his team will perform come January, he knows that they still have to go out there and prove his confidence right.  

"There's a lot of unknowns but we're comfortable with that," said Knox about himself and his coaching staff.  "We are comfortable with what we have." 

Southern opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2:00 p.m. at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. for a quad meet against Rutgers, Oregon State and Utica. The Owls will celebrate Senior Day and Alumni Day in the James Moore Field House on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 1:00 p.m. against Rhode Island College and Springfield College.