Gymnastics fans gather at Dickies Arena for NCAA Championship
Olivia “Livvy” Dunne from Louisiana State University practices for the 2024 NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
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Fans are traveling from all over the country to Fort Worth for the 2024 National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championship. Some are here in support of family members;others are looking for something fun to do.
Sooners super fan Jan Sullivan and her husband traveled from Norman, Oklahoma, to cheer on the University of Oklahoma gymnastics team.
“It’s going to be a good championship, but I’ll only be happy if my Sooners win,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan admitted that while she is there to support the Sooners, she also is excited to watch Louisa Blanco, a senior gymnast at the University of Alabama.
Louisiana State University gymnastics team member practices for the 2024 NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
“She’s beautiful to watch,” Sullivan said.
Jennifer Hoffman is the mother of Louisiana State University gymnast Jillian Hoffman. Jennifer said her daughter has been out this season due to an injury, but she came anyway to support the team.
University of Arkansas gymnastics team practiced for the 2024 NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
“We’re excited for the girls,” Jennifer Hoffman said, “and are hoping for the best — Go Tigers!”
The LSU team features social media influencer Olivia “Livvy” Dunn, who has more than 5 million followers on Instagram.
Olivia “Livvy” Dunne from Louisiana State University talks to teammates during their practice session at the NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Not all attendees are as well-versed in the sport. Phil Clater brought his wife and daughter to town while he attended a medical conference.
“People were talking about the championship going on today, so I told my wife and daughter about it, so here we are,” Clater said.
The Clater family are from just outside Boston and said it is their first time visiting Texas.
“We don’t know any of the team members, but we know LSU is competing today, and they’re big into gymnastics,” Clater said.
Stanford University gymnastics teammates watch a team member at their practice for the 2024 NCAA Women’s National Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
High schooler Addison Franz and her mother traveled from McKinney to attend the competition. Franz has been keeping up with the OU team all season and is completing high school online in order to focus on her gymnastics career.
“My coach went to OU, so I wanted to come support the team,” Franz said. “I hope to play at the collegiate level one day.”
California State University gymnastics team warms up before their practice session April 17, 2024, at Dickies Arena. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)
Hanna Landa is an audience engagement fellow at the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at hanna.landa@fortworthreport.org. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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