By Jack Bernstein, Mizzou Strategic Communications Student Assistant
Alyson Heimsath's final two seasons as a Mizzou gymnast did not go according to plan as she dealt with injuries. However, she stepped in as a locker room leader and mentor who helped take the program to heights it had not seen in years.
"The amount this program has grown and is still growing is really cool to have been a part of and now to watch," Heimsath said. "When I came in, the majority of the coaching staff was new. I really enjoyed being able to watch the changes and grow with the coaches over my four years here."
Heimsath was a mainstay in the Tiger lineup as a freshman in 2013, scoring 9.7 or better 25 times while also leading the team twice on beam in SEC competition. Heimsath's success carried over to her sophomore campaign, where she competed in the Tiger beam lineup 11 times, the floor lineup 10 times and the vault lineup four times. She recorded scores of 9.8 or higher on six occasions, and came up clutch when it mattered most, scoring a career high 9.825 on beam at the NCAA Regional. Injuries kept Heimsath sidelined for all but two meets during her final two seasons but her senior leadership proved vital to a young and talented Tiger lineup.
In Heimsath's Mizzou tenure, the program jumped 26 spots nationally, from 43rd her freshman year all the way up to No. 17 in the country this past season. Coaching played a major role in the program's recent rise to dominance, but much of the success can be attributed to a drastic change in commitment and mindset after moving conferences.
"The main change that I noticed from my freshman year to my senior year was commitment to the team," Heimsath said. "We started to focus on successes as a team and not so much as individuals. Another major adjustment was our mindset. We started believing that we were good enough to be competitive in the SEC."
Originally from Houston, Texas, Heimsath credits the family environment in the gymnastics program and the passionate Mizzou fans for making Columbia her second home.
"My favorite thing about the gymnastics program is the family atmosphere, from the girls all the way down to the staff. It really is a family away from home.
"One of the coolest parts about being part of the Mizzou family are the amazing people you meet along the way. No matter where you are, if you are wearing anything Mizzou affiliated, someone will yell out MIZ and expect a ZOU back."
The former Mizzou gymnast plans on staying in Columbia and is currently looking for a full-time job. She has an internship this summer and is still involved in the Mizzou community, coaching at gymnastics camps alongside her former teammates.
Although the program loses one of its leaders in Heimsath, she says the team is in very capable hands moving forward.
"Everyone on our team is a leader in some way. Even though we had a young team, we were all on the same page when it came to our goals and what we wanted to achieve. I am forever thankful for the friends I have made here and the many memories that have come with being a Missouri Tiger."