Gateway grad Olivia Miller helping to lead Pitt gymnastics in final year of competition
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Olivia Miller knew Pitt was it during her sophomore year at Gateway High School.
The standout gymnast made her mark at the club level for Gymkhana in Plum before joining the Panthers program for her freshman season in 2019.
Now in her fourth and final year of competition with Pitt, Miller, a decorated collegiate performer, is hoping for more individual and team accolades while helping lead a group filled with numerous young and talented athletes.
“I am really excited for the season,” said Miller, a two-time first-team All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League selection in the all-around (2019, 2021) and a second-team honoree in the floor exercise (2020, 2021).
“We had our second meet of the season (Jan. 22), and we saw so much improvement from everyone. A lot of newcomers were able to step up and fill lineup spots. That was really exciting to see. Competing now as a senior, it is an awesome experience to help guide a lot of our younger team members about what it is like to compete at the collegiate level.”
Miller again is faring well on the floor exercise, and she also has helped the team score well on vault in meets against Long Island University, Maryland and Texas Woman’s University.
“Being someone who has competed consistently on floor for the past four years, it’s been really special to be able to sit in the leadoff position and start that rotation,” Miller said.
“It shows that my coaches and teammates really trust me to go out and start things strong, hit a great floor routine and put up the best score that I can.
“We have so much depth this year, including so many talented freshmen, and we are able to fill a lot of different lineup spots. I want to do my best in all of my events and contribute any way that I can. It’s the team goals we’re all focused on to see how far we can go this year.”
Pitt was scheduled to face North Carolina and Towson in a tri-meet last Friday in the historic Carmichael Arena on the North Carolina campus at Chapel Hill.
In addition to her all-conference accolades on floor and in the all-around, Miller has earned EAGL all-tournament first-team recognition in the all-around (2019) and second-team honors in the all-around (2021), vault (2021), bars (2019) and floor (2019).
She achieved career highs on bars (9.9), beam (9.825) and all-around (39.250) during the 2021 season and added four individual titles: one on bars and three in the all-around.
She also is a three-time member of the EAGL all-scholastic team (2019, 2020 and 2021).
“Olivia has been an integral part of our success over the past three seasons and now into her fourth season,” Pitt gymnastics head coach Samantha Snider said.
“She’s competed so well on the competition floor as you can tell by all of her awards and list of accomplishments. But she’s also been such an important part of our culture as a leader where she cares deeply for her teammates, this program and her university. She also serves as the president of our Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Last year, she was the student-athlete’s liaison for community service, and she led Pitt athletics to a national champion community service award. She is the true definition of what a student-athlete is meant to be. She’s so caring, compassionate and hard working.”
Through the NCAA’s granting of an extra year of eligibility to student-athletes because of the covid pandemic, Miller also is able to compete for a fifth season in 2023.
But with graduating in May and starting a physician’s assistant graduate program, she said this season will be her last for Pitt gymnastics.
“It is a little sad that I will be wrapping up my gymnastics career,” Miller said.
“But there is that extra motivation and an added bit of joy and energy to go out this season and give it my all for a team and a school I dreamed of coming to for a long time. I am savoring every moment. All good things do come to an end, but I am also excited for what lies ahead.”