Gymnastics Captains Named for 2015
10/7/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
PITTSBURGH-- University of Pittsburgh head gymnastics coach Debbie Yohman announced that juniors Lindsay Offutt and Tiara Chadran will serve as team captains for the upcoming 2015 season.
"We are very excited to announce our team captains for 2014-15 and especially excited about the quality of team leadership we see displayed among the ENTIRE squad," Yohman said. "I feel the commitment, passion, and individual accountability we're finding on the team will make Lindsay & Tiara's job fun. We've seen this developing since the spring and growing throughout the summer; we feel we're working with a special group."
Offutt concluded last the 2013-14 campaign by earning first team All-EAGL Tournament team honors on the floor and beam. During last year's EAGL Championship, Offutt placed 10th overall on the floor, scoring a 9.850 while earning a 9.700 on the beam. Overall, Offutt claimed six individual titles on the floor plus three on beam events. She matched her career-high score on the beam with a 9.900 against NC State to claim one of those titles. Academically, Offutt was selected to the EAGL All-Academic Team and was an ACC-Academic Honor Roll recipient.
"Lindsay is a natural leader - she's vocal, always working hard, and is one of our top athletes," Yohman said, "To see her in position to captain this squad is not unexpected."
Chadran will be making her debut in competition for the Panthers this season. The Wexford, Pa., native was unable to compete during her freshman and sophomore year due to injury. Chadran was an ACC Academic Honor Roll recipient in 2014.
"Tiara's being named as a co-captain is a little different - her knee injury as a freshman resulted in her losing two whole seasons as she worked to get not just her strength back but her confidence," Yohman said. "But Tiara's story is one of perseverance. Day in and day out she's giving the effort and never giving up. She does the right things, has a `great moral compass' and is really an inspirational role model for the team. Plus her personality is a bit more toned down than Lindsay's profile so we feel they will complement each other perfectly!"
Pitt gymnastics will host its annual Blue-Gold exhibition Saturday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Field House. The 2015 season will begin when the Panthers host Ohio State on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.