The stage was set in Crisler Center as the Michigan women’s gymnastics team gathered for its practice March 15, the day before its final regular-season meet against Alabama. As gymnasts lined up one by one to run through their routines, teammates gathered around the event, cheering each one on while simulating the moves with their arms. At the conclusion of practice, the girls headed to the locker room ready to decompress before the big day.
But before they left, they had one more thing to do.
In the locker room, graduate Reyna Guggino and junior Lily Clapper set up their posts. A group of their teammates gathered around them, all a part of their predetermined “queue,” ready to get their hair braided.
Then, Guggino and Clapper got to work. The pair meticulously parted their teammates’ hair, making sure everyone was meet-day ready. The team conducts this session the day before every meet to save time, and it’s the first step of the gymnasts’ process of perfecting their look before stepping onto the mat in front of the crowd.
Yet beyond the cosmetics of this hair-braiding ritual exists the sentimental journeys and deep-rooted bonds that are formed through it.
The designated braiders
Before Guggino and Clapper took over as the team’s designated braiders, they worked under the tutelage of former teammate Natalie Wojcik, who was known for her iconic, elaborate hairstyles. Back then, Wojcik was the one with the long queue of girls in the locker room, while both Guggino and Clapper recall braiding the younger girls’ hair, preparing for when Wojcik would eventually pass down the torch to them.
“I was terrible when I first got to college,” Clapper told The Michigan Daily. “I would braid the freshmen, and it was so bad. But slowly, I learned. My mom got me a mannequin head when I was younger, with real hair to braid on, so that’s how I first learned. And I’ve just gotten better and done different hair types.”
As the seasoned veterans of the team now, Guggino and Clapper have continued the torch-passing tradition, picking out their own “hair-braiders in training.” Because for the Wolverines, the importance of keeping this skill and tradition alive is ingrained into the nature of the sport.
“You don’t really see other sports doing hairstyles like this,” Clapper said. “… Gymnastics is definitely more artistic (than other sports) and we really like to show that side of us when we go out and compete. … It’s definitely unique to the sport, but it’s really fun.”
In a sport that is simultaneously physically demanding and artistically centered, there is an extra emphasis added onto the athletes’ physical appearance. But beyond what meets the audience’s eye, these extensive preparations before hitting the competition floor are just as important for the gymnasts’ own mindsets.
And according to sophomore Ava Jordan, that mindset culminates toward a mantra that is shared by her teammates:
“Look good, feel good, do good.”
The personalized evolution of hair
For most gymnasts, their relationship with hair changes when they transition from their high school club days to college. With many gymnasts far away from home and gaining newfound independence, gone are the days of family members right in your corner to alleviate that painstaking task. Yet, even with this universal shift, each gymnast’s journey with their hair looks different.
For freshman Jahzara Ranger, hair braiding is still a family endeavor. Before college, she consistently opted for the same hairstyle, always done by her grandma. But after leaving her hometown of Coconut Creek, Fla. for Ann Arbor, she decided to switch it up, using her hair as a symbol of her new era and maturity.
“There’s a specific college style of hair,” Ranger told The Daily. “Growing up, you have the normal donut buns. In college, you have the fold-over buns that are much more mature and the braids are just like the cherry on top. It’s definitely something you look forward to.”
Yet, while Ranger has branched out and explored new hairstyles in her new environment, Ranger’s grandma is a constant in her pre-meet hair routine. Frequently, her grandma is still the one to complete this special part of the readying process when she comes up to Ann Arbor to watch Ranger compete, just like she did back in Florida during Ranger’s club days. But when Ranger’s grandma isn’t there to do it, Clapper takes over.
“Lily’s really good, this is the third time (she’s doing it),” Ranger said as Clapper braided her hair ahead of the Wolverines’ meet against Alabama. “My grandma is coming in a little late, so she can’t do it. … I knew I was gonna have to plan for (this) eventually.”
While Ranger adjusts to the new hair-styling scene in her first year of college, graduate Jenna Mulligan is experiencing the opposite end of the spectrum. In her five years at Michigan, Mulligan’s journey with her hair has gone through many twists and turns. After consistently braiding her hair for competitions, Mulligan experienced the damaging effects that the tight, intricate gymnastic-style braids had on her hair. So for a period of time, Mulligan opted for a simple slick-back, giving her hair a break and letting it repair. But then, prior to her senior night against the Crimson Tide, Mulligan wanted to circle back and do something special for the final stretch of her gymnastics career.
“I realized that I don’t have many more meets where I can do this,” Mulligan told The Daily as Guggino braided her hair ahead of senior night.
No matter where they are in their collegiate career, this customary step before each meet holds a unique significance to every gymnast in the maize and blue. But its effect goes well beyond the individual level — beyond crafting braids and polishing up for the competition floor, the Wolverines have created unbreakable bonds of sisterhood through these moments together.
Braiding and bonding
During every away meet, after settling into their hotel following a chaotic travel day, the Michigan gymnasts gather around for tea time — literally. One by one, the Wolverines gather around in one hotel room and prepare for their away-meet tradition. With a teapot brewing and a movie playing, the girls set up their queue just like they do before every home meet. In the midst of all the nerves and anticipation, especially ahead of competing in an opponent’s arena, the team has each other to lean on while winding down in stressful moments.
“It’s like our little moment of calm all together before we compete,” Clapper said.
From the Crisler Center locker room to crammed hotel rooms, little moments of calmness before meets have blossomed into the fostering of long-lasting friendships. If someone walked in on one of those moments, they’d hear the excited chatter of the girls, talking about anything ranging from “girl math” to dinner plans to their unfortunate COVID-ridden high school graduations.
But beyond listening in on the gymnasts’ simple pleasures and casual conversation, they’d also witness the camaraderie and heartfelt support that each gymnast has for each other — something that braiding hair has undoubtedly furthered.
The post Braids and bonds: Inside Michigan gymnastics’ pre-meet hair-braiding sessions appeared first on The Michigan Daily.
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