Podcast: Gymnastics alumni and coaches campaign to Save UAA Gymnastics

by Matt Jardin  |   

Marie-Sophie Boggasch and Kendra Daniels
From left: Gymnastics head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch, B.S. Aviation Technology '16, M.S. Interdisciplinary Studies '20, and gymnastics assistant coach Kendra Daniels, B.S. Health Sciences '19. (Photo courtesy of UAA Athletics)

In September 2020, the Board of Regents made the difficult decision to discontinue three UAA athletic programs due to reductions in the University of Alaska system’s state-funded budget for FY2019-20, unless the teams could raise two years of funding to cover expenses. 

Gymnastics was the second of these programs to achieve reinstatement, raising half their goal of $444,000 by June 2021. This accomplishment was enough to return for the 2021-22 season. Now the team is working on hitting their second goal of raising another $444,000 by June 2022.

Today the podcast is joined by aviation technology alumna and gymnastics head coach Marie-Sophie Boggasch and health sciences alumna and gymnastics assistant coach Kendra Daniels, to share how they achieved the first milestone and the work that lies ahead.

Marie-Sophie and Kendra also talk about how they became gymnasts, what it’s like to coach the next generation of athletes, and the ongoing relationship UAA gymnastics has with the Anchorage community. 

Donate to Save UAA Gymnastics.

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