Head coach Danna Durante embraces freshman Sydney Seabrooks after she scored a 9.725 on the uneven bars. UNC head coach Danna Durante watches vault competitors. UNC scored 49.275 on vault.Mother-Daughter duo, Sami Durante-Money and Danna Durante, discuss competition scores during the floor routine section of the UNC-Pitt matchup on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Durante-Money and Durante celebrate a stuck landing during UNC’s rotation on the floor. Junior Jessica Naranjo holds her landing on the balance beam during her routine. Naranjo earned a 9.850 on her beam routine. Naranjo celebrates with her coaches and teammates after sticking the landing on her beam routine. Coach Durante-Money cheers on UNC gymnasts after their vaults during the meet on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.The Carolina Women’s gymnastics team hype up their teammates during the floor rotation of the UNC vs. Pitt gymnastics meet. UNC gymnasts cheer on their teammate during her performance on the floor. UNC scored a 49.225 on floor. Youth gymnasts perform at the UNC Gymnastics meet on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
Audio Story by Hailey Stone
This story focuses on the rise of the University of North Carolina’s gymnastics program and how head coach Danna Durante is reshaping perceptions of the sport within the Atlantic Coast Conference. In a collegiate gymnastics landscape long dominated by powerhouse conferences like the SEC and Big Ten, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is emerging as a program to watch, thanks to Durante’s leadership, recruiting, and emphasis on visibility. Through competition sound, crowd energy, and insight from coaches and athletes, the story shows how increased attention on UNC gymnastics not only elevates the team itself but also brings greater recognition to the sport across North Carolina, signaling a broader shift in where elite gymnastics can thrive.
