Temple’s Two Out Gay Gymnasts Compete in Final Home Meet

Evan Burke about to do something fabulous and gymnastics-y on the floor.

It’s Senior Meet and Alumni Homecoming weekend for Temple’s men’s gymnastic team — an event that marks the last home competition for the team’s two out members, Dashiell Sears and co-captain Evan Burke. The two seniors will be graduating in May with degrees in political science and sports psychology, respectively.

Twenty-two-year-old Sears says the meet — against conference rivals Army and Navy — is also the last before the much-anticipated Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), which will be held next weekend at Springfield College in Massachusetts. At this match, Sears says he not only hopes to beat A&N but to “get really high scores,” so the team can qualify to compete in ECAC. Things are looking good for the seniors, who have placed high in their respective events over the season. An article on owlsports.com highlights their recent outstanding achievements: On rings, Sears has reached a season-high score of 14.5, and Burke, who is returning this season with a vengeance after suffering a broken foot last year, has reached  season highs of 15.3 on the floor and 14.9 on the vault.

Dashiell Sears working the rings.

Sears, who some of you may know as Mr. Gay Philadelphia 2011, says the final home meet will be a bittersweet moment for him. Though he’s sad it’ll be his last time competing on home turf, he’s excited about the possibility of performing at the ECAC in his final year and then wrapping up the season to revel in some personal time. “The human body can’t take this kind of punishment forever,” he laughs, saying the sport keeps him in the gym 20-plus hours a week. “Gymnastics will always be a part of my life in some capacity — whether its coaching or something else, but I’m excited to have a lot more time to do some of the stuff I’ve always wanted to do.”

The meet takes place tomorrow at 2 p.m. in Temple’s McGonigle Hall (1800 N. Broad St.).

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