Community service is a pillar of Alabama’s gymnastics team, and senior Rachel Rybicki is a perfect picture of what that means.
“I go into community service hoping to help other people and hoping to serve them,” Rybicki said. “You don’t expect it, but it really makes an impact on you and helps you grow as an individual too.”
According to NCAA rules, gymnastics programs are allotted 20 hours to practice each week. Alabama practices for 19 hours and dedicates the 20th hour to community service as part of the “Be the Change” movement.
“We want to go out there, connect with what you’re passionate about and help change the community,” Rybicki said. “We want to serve the community to be able to make a little change in the world, little by little.”
Head coach Ashley Johnston started the “Be the Change” movement during the 2024 season. Rybicki said community service is “really important” to Johnston and that she encouraged the team to find what they were passionate about.
Rybicki chooses to spend her hour volunteering at Flatwoods Elementary School. As a Spanish minor, Rybicki leverages her academic background to volunteer in the classroom with Spanish-speaking students.
She was able to reach out to people on the Alabama Athletics team to help find the perfect spot for her to be.
Rybicki started volunteering at Flatwoods in her sophomore year with former teammate Luisa Blanco. They started with classrooms and also had individual pairings throughout the year, according to Rybicki. She now goes once a week to the elementary school.
Rybicki said one of her special moments with the kids was when they were able to watch her compete at the Crimson and White preview meet hosted last December.
“We were able to get them pajamas, and we got Chick-fil-A to come here, and we got them popcorn for the meet,” Rybicki said. “It was really amazing, and kids are coming up to me saying ‘these are my first pajamas, thank you so much, I’ve never had french fries before.’ Stuff that seems so little and normal in our everyday lives can actually be a really big deal.”
Volunteering at Flatwoods has given Rybicki many memories and opportunities that she is grateful for.
“When you walk into the school and you just get bombarded by kids coming up and knowing you and giving you big hugs,” Rybicki said. “It warms my heart so much because I’m not there everyday, but they remember me.”
At the 2025 SEC gymnastics championships, the Community Service team was announced. Each SEC team has one gymnast named to the Community Service team for their commitment to their community. Rybicki was Alabama’s gymnast named to the team.
Rybicki has one more year left with the Crimson Tide and said that she can’t wait to keep volunteering at Flatwoods.
“I just hope that I’ve been able to help them, and have an impact on their life in some little way,” Rybicki said.
