COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – When Ohio State University and Minnesota women’s gymnastics teams took the mats Sunday, they wore different uniforms, but they also matched.

Each athlete wore a gray and gold ribbon in their hair to show support for 13-year-old Emma Van De Water of Hilliard, who is currently in Nationwide Children’s Hospital after emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor.  

Van De Water is a gymnast at Universal Gymnasts in Hilliard, the same gym where Buckeyes Karleigh Reutzel and Tory Vetter trained. 

“She’s such a sweet girl,” Reutzel, a freshman, said of Van De Water. “Has always been a big light in the gym, so we wanted to do whatever we could to support her and really bring awareness to what’s going on for her.” 

Reutzel was talking to her mother about Emma when they had an idea.  

“My mom, actually, she is a school teacher, and so she’s really good at coming up with fun ideas to bring people together,” she said. “So she brought up the idea to make ribbons for her.” 

Much like a team, the Universal Gymnasts view each other as family.  

“Everyone’s always behind you,” Buckeye senior gymnast Tory Vetter said. “Everyone’s rooting for you. Everyone wants the best for everyone. So when something like this happens, everyone just wants the best outcome and everyone wants to be there to support and the ways that they can.” 

Thus, an idea became a mission to uplift and support Emma by wearing gray and gold ribbons during the Buckeyes’ Sunday meet at the Covelli Center against Minnesota. The Buckeyes weren’t the only ones wearing the ribbons for Emma — the Golden Gophers also showed their support by matching the Buckeyes with gray and gold ribbons as well. 

“Even though we’re going against each other, all of us uniting for one purpose was, it was really special,” Reutzel said.  

Ohio State head gymnastics coach Meredith Paulicivic said she was proud of the way the team jumped at the opportunity to bring awareness to the struggles of a “teammate” in gymnastics.  

“We’re doing this for something greater than ourselves, right?” Paulicivic said. “At the end of the day, you’re going to have wins. You’re going to have losses. You’re going to have good years. You’re going to have bad years. But what we’re trying to do here is grow quality people. And when I see them come together for something like that, it makes me really proud.” 

Paulicivic said she makes it a point to bring the girls together in more ways than just through gymnastics, because the sport leads to long-lasting friendships.  

“Those connections are what make the time worth it,” she said. “They’re not going to remember the wins and the losses. They’re going to remember the fun, goofy times with their teammates.” 

The teams competing on the mats weren’t the only ones wearing gray and gold in their hair Sunday. A whole group of Emma’s teammates from Universal were there cheering from the stands.  

“Emma is, like, the funniest person I’ve ever met and she always, like, lights up her room, and she knows how to make everybody laugh,” Avery McGee, one of Emma’s teammates, said.  

They all had heartwarming things to share about Emma.  

“She’s such a strong person, and she’s just amazing. And she’s there for everyone all the time,” teammate Sisi Berry said.  

“You can always just, like, see her dancing and, like, encouraging other people and she’s one of the happiest persons I’ve ever met,” teammate Harper Friesner said. 

“She was always there for us,” teammate Molly Bell said. “If we were having a hard day and she was always like giving us like words of encouragement.” 

Now, Emma is the one who needs support.  

Paulicivic had words of encouragement for Emma as she recovers.  

“I just want to let her know that we’re saying lots of prayers for her,” she said. “She’s got a whole group of people on her side putting good thoughts out into the universe.” 

Emma’s teammates, meanwhile, wanted to make sure Emma knows how loved she is.  

“We love you, Emma, and just stay strong. Keep fighting because we’re always going to be there for you no matter what. You’re such a strong person, Emma. And we love you,” they all said.