2023 SEC Gymnastics Community Service Team Announced

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 21 league-sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight athletes from each school who give back to the community in their outstanding service efforts. The 2023 SEC Gymnastics Community Service Teams are as follows:

Sania Mitchell, Graduate Student, Alabama

Mitchell leads the gymnastics team in community service hours, accumulating more than 35 hours this year. She volunteers at organizations such as We Care Family Practice Clinic, Skyland Elementary Day Care, RISE Center UA and Habitat for Humanity. Mitchell also volunteers every Wednesday at the Tuscaloosa Soup Kitchen. He is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Health Education Promotion, where he has a 4.0 graduate GPA. Mitchell also received the Crimson Tide’s Lewis Each Courage Award for the 2022 season, which is the highest honor given to an Alabama gymnast.

Maddie Jones, Sophomore, Arkansas

Jones is one of two gymnastics representatives on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which represents fellow student-athletes and serves as a liaison to the University of Arkansas, the Athletic Department, the SEC and the NCAA. She has participated in the Tyson Food Truck Event, Cartwheels for Dyslexia, made craft kits at NWA Children’s Hospital, National Girls and Women in Sports Day Mini Clinic, and Salute to Veterans. Jones also participated in the second season of the Gymbacks Giveback Campaign, where athletes have chosen to cause a fundraiser close to their hearts. Coming from a military family, Jones is encouraged to raise funds for Bo’s Blessings, an organization in Northwest Arkansas dedicated to “providing programs, support, and resources that help veterans return to civilian life with their families and communities,” as well. is Northwest Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Sophia Groth, Sophomore, Auburn

Groth and his team have been actively reading in many elementary and preschool schools for the past two years. In addition, Groth and her colleagues have done gymnastics demonstrations in elementary schools, promoting the importance of an active lifestyle. He has also served on the leadership panel at the elementary school. In addition to his service at local schools, Groth has been instrumental in local play and food drives. He has participated in a food drive to help feed fellow students who have food insecurities over the last two school years. Groth also led a major toy drive in the Auburn area, providing gifts to local organizations Big House in December 2022. He has served on Title IX panels as well as galas that fund local organizations.

Chloe Clark, Junior, Florida

Clark volunteered more than 60 hours for community service events beginning in the fall of 2022. He participated in field days for Noah’s Endeavor. Clark wraps and delivers shoes and socks as part of the Gator Tracks program, which will distribute 400 shoes to Gainesville area youth by December 2022. He is a frequent participant in the Lunch Buddies Mentor Program at Terwilliger Elementary School, serving as a role model for Gainesville youth. Clark also visited Oak Hall School as part of the Gators Read and helped at the kickoff for Girls on the Run. He contributes to many activities focused on mental health and serves as the 2022-23 UF Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Mental Health Chair. A 2022 Gator Gymnastics top honoree, Clark was named to the 2021-22 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll and the 2020-21 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.

Haley de Jong, senior, Georgia

As the senior leader of the Georgia GymDogs, de Jong has gone above and beyond in his duties for the UGA and Athens communities. He is a 2021 Georgia Leadership Academy Inductee and serves on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. During her last four years at the University of Georgia Haley has taken advantage of many volunteer opportunities, including Special Olympics Gymnastics, Lydia’s Place, Athens Boys and Girls Club, back to school events with Howard B. Stood Elementary School, and Operation Teammate.

Ashlyn LaClair, Senior, Kentucky

LaClair has logged more than 60 hours of community service in the Lexington area. She has volunteered with 14 different causes and organizations, including: God’s Pantry, Amachi, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Southland Christian Church, Girls on the Run, Leestown Middle School, Samaritans Christmas Child Operations, Meals on Wheels, Roots and Heritage Parade, Paws 4 Cause, KEDC – Kentucky Educational Development Corporation, American Red Cross, Appalachian Christian Project, and Ronald McDonald House. A three-time member of the Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll, LaClair is a member of the UK Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She is involved in the local non-profit I Am Second as well as Dam Worth It, a peer-led mental health awareness campus campaign. LaClair was named a Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Sierra Ballard, Junior, LSU

Ballard is the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representative for the LSU Gymnastics team, where she also serves as a special events committee. His responsibility on the committee is to help organize events around campus for all student-athletes. Ballard is heavily involved in community service efforts around gymnastics and in the Baton Rouge community. This year, they are selling raffle tickets for the Dream Come True Foundation, making baskets for Basket of Hope for Our Lady of the Lake patients and their families and area food banks. Ballard also participates in the Blue-Ribbon Soiree, an event that raises money for prostate cancer research, the Thankful Tiger drive, which donates school supplies to foster children, and the Miracle Baseball League. He is heavily involved in Athletes for Hope, an organization that helps athletes around campus with mental health as well as the community through service and advocacy.