But in the first event of the day, Teike’s dreams shattered when she crumpled to the ground after landing wrong during a vault routine.

“When I landed and my knee went sideways, and I felt that pop, I still had so much adrenaline, so I didn’t quite feel the pain,” Teike said. “But the first thing that went through my head is, ‘I cannot believe this is happening to me, especially at regionals.’”

Teike said something felt off about the vault from the beginning, and in the air she quickly realized she had two choices: try to finish the more difficult routine or bail out and play it safe.

Always the competitor, Teike elected to finish her routine, and it cost her an anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. Before coming to MSU, Teike’s left knee already was damaged badly and the injury to her good knee rendered her unable to continue with gymnastics.

“I just remember (head coach Kathie Klages) telling me, ‘We’re not going to have you compete,’” Teike said. “And that crushed me because it was the first time in 18 years I was told I couldn’t compete.”

Teike was medically disqualified from competing with the team, but has since joined Klages’ coaching staff as an undergraduate student coach so she can continue to help her team any way she can.

“A lot of the team members can talk to (Teike) because she’s already competed for two seasons, so she can talk about how it feels to be a gymnast,” sophomore Taira Neal said. “She can help with things that are easier to understand coming from a gymnast rather than a coach.”

However, Teike’s transition from player to coach hasn’t been completely smooth. Teike said it’s difficult for her to be around the sport she loves because she no longer can perform.

“Even though she’s been very beneficial to us in the gym, I know it’s not easy for her,” Klages said. “She’d much rather be out there performing instead of coaching.”

Despite how difficult it has been, Teike’s team has been very supportive throughout her ordeal. On days when it is too difficult to be in the gym, she said the girls have understood and allowed her to do so.

During the team’s first meet of the season, reality hit Teike like a brick, and she had to hold herself back from running onto the floor and performing a routine.

“It’s still hard,” she said. “I definitely have the urge every meet. I just want to go out there and perform during my junior and senior year, but I just know that’s not realistic anymore.”

Last Saturday, Teike helped the team to its first win of the season. And though her body no longer can take the strain of competing in Division I athletics, Klages is glad Teike chose to remain a part of the Spartan family.

“The fact that she loves MSU gymnastics (and) she wants us to get better is all very beneficial to our team,” Klages said.