University of North Carolina Athletics
Getting To Know You: Janell Sargent
January 12, 2015 | Women's Gymnastics
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
GoHeels: What is your hometown and home gym?
Greenville, N.C.; Rose's Gymnastics Training Center
GoHeels: Tell us how you got into gymnastics, your experience in club and the lead up to your recruitment.
My violin teacher, Leonna Love, suggested that my mom put me in gymnastics because I had so much energy. However, I was extremely shy when I was younger and would not go into gymnastics class unless I got to go with my violin teacher's daughter, Katie, who is older than I. Although I was technically supposed to be part of a different class, the teachers at Rose's graciously let me go to class with my friend, and I enjoyed it so much that I have been doing it ever since!
I loved my club gym and coaches! Darlene Rose, the coach who was with me the longest throughout my club career and who is also the owner of Rose's Gymnastics, pushed me to be the best gymnast I could be but did not do so at the expense of my having a healthy body. She cares about her gymnasts as people, not just as athletes who can win another trophy for her gym. She wants us to enjoy our gymnastics experience and thus runs practices with a good balance of hard work and a good balance of fun.
GoHeels: How and why did you pick Carolina?
I had grown up interacting with the coaches at NC State, attending many of their home meets and a gymnastics camp they hosted, and just being more familiar with their program overall. However, my club coach suggested that I visit Carolina because she knew Derek and how much he cared about his gymnasts. My coach felt that Carolina would be a good fit for me and my personality so I gladly visited Carolina and loved it. The campus was beautiful, the team was caring and supportive of each other. Derek and (then assistant coach) Penny were so welcoming, and as an added bonus, my favorite color had always been blue. As I continued to pray about my decision and visited both Carolina and NC State, I felt more and more that God was leading me toward Carolina.
When NC State wanted me to make a definite decision so they could finalize their recruiting plans, I told them I had to respectfully decline. I then committed to Carolina even though Derek had not been able to offer me a full scholarship at the time.
Looking back, that decision was a real test of faith because we had no idea how we were going to pay for college, but my parents told me that if UNC was where I felt God leading me, then that was where I needed to go. Sure enough, a few weeks later Derek offered me a full scholarship that would cover all four of my years at Carolina.
It was neat to see God's faithfulness in providing exactly what I needed, and a good reminder of the importance of trusting and following wherever He leads, even if we don't know the whole plan at that time. (Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”)
GoHeels: What is your favorite event and why?
Beam is my favorite event because it is so neat to keep learning different strategies for staying mentally calm and collected during competitions.
GoHeels: What about being a part of Carolina Gymnastics has been the most exciting thus far?
I love being part of such a supportive, loving family that is lively, passionate and classy.
GoHeels: What about being a part of the Carolina athletics community makes you most proud?
Just seeing the way all the teams support each other and attend each other's games/meets.
GoHeels: What is your favorite class and professor and why?
Just about any class in the EXSS department could be considered my favorite. I love the material, and the professors are extremely caring, enthusiastic about their topic of research, fun, and, not to mention, incredibly smart.
GoHeels: What is your favorite sporting event to go to and why?
I love going to men's lacrosse because my brother plays lacrosse in high school and helped me discover that it is such a fun sport to watch!
GoHeels: What is your “Favorite” body by Biener exercise? (Eric Biener is the team's strength and conditioning coach)
The speed ladder is always quite entertaining, especially when you try to do it on your hands.
GoHeels: What are you looking forward to accomplishing while at Carolina?
Well, considering this is my final semester, the most salient thing on my mind is simply making it through the next 15 ½ weeks successfully. I have somewhat of a challenging semester ahead of me, but God has faithfully guided me through all my previous semesters, so I have no doubt He will do the same for this one, and by the end of my courses, I hope that I will have greatly improved my Spanish!
GoHeels: What events do you think you will be competing this year?
I would like to consistently stay in the beam lineup, but I would also love to be able to compete floor throughout the season as well!
GoHeels: Tell us something about yourself you think people would be surprised to find out.
Although I was extremely shy when I was younger I now I greatly enjoy talking to any and everyone.
GoHeels: What is your favorite Carolina memory thus far?
I think some of my most enjoyable moments have come from attending the Athletes in Action meetings throughout the semesters here. Being able to fellowship with other student-athletes and people who love God and want to learn more about Him, as well as having the opportunity to learn from the Bible with them, constitute some of my favorite Carolina memories.
