Oregon State Gymnast Jennifer McMillan Reveals Biggest Lesson Learned From Head Coach Tanya Chaplin
Jennifer McMillian heads into her junior season with Oregon State gymnastics after being a difference maker for the Beavers on the balance beam and the uneven bars over the last two years.
Head coach Tanya Chaplin has helped develop the North Carolina native's skills to a point where she was a critical figure in OSU's back-to-back Pac0-12 titles in 2022 and 2023.
Talking with OSUBeavers.com, McMillan described her biggest lesson learned from Chaplin.
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"[Chaplin] has always said to stay in the moment and while she is usually talking about gymnastics, I think it applies well to life as well. You make the best memories and have the most smiles when you are truly present with those around you. Whether that means turning your phone off for a little bit or getting out of the house to go visit a friend, staying present in the moment will help you cherish and appreciate your life so much more."
With that philosophy in mind, McMillan hopes her legacy as a Beaver will go beyond anything that she accomplishes on the mat, bars, or beam.
"I want to leave an impact on the people I've been around. Everyone here has been so welcoming and friendly, and my hope is that I can not only be an inspiration to the little girls that watch us every weekend, but that I can bring joy to every person that I come across."
McMillan will be one of the leaders of Beaver gymnastics in 2024 alongside two-time Olympian Jade Carey. With Oregon State Gymnastics still competing under the Pac-12 banner, it's not immediately clear how the Beavers' schedule will be set up for the 2025 season.
The upcoming campaign will be Chaplin's 28th at the helm for the Beavers.
Joe Londergan joined the SI brand in 2023 with G5 Football Daily. With over 15 years of experience in covering and working directly in college and pro sports, Joe's expertise has been featured in Front Office Sports, SB Nation, and XRAY.FM. He is a member of both the Football Writers' Association of America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. Joe holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville and a master's degree in sports administration from Seattle University. Outside of his writing career, Joe enjoys golfing, although he admits that while he hits driver decently, his short game is a liability.