Click here to view a video from Friday’s gymnastics event.

This past week it has showered pink in the Hornets Nest and on the road. Pink socks, pink ribbons, pink headbands, pink rub-off tattoos, pink hair ribbons, pink rhinestones and pink leotards.

The Sacramento State gymnastics team began a breast cancer event last year entitled “Think Pink,” which has expanded to the women’s basketball team this season.

The gymnastics team purchased pink leotards for last season’s “Think Pink” event, which was held on Jan. 28 when the Hornets took out Boise State 193.000-191.125. The next month, the team sported the same pink leos for an away meet in the same honor.

Last year’s proceeds, more than $300, went to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, but this year the gymnastics proceeds will go to the Sacramento community at the Mercy Hospitals.

This season the team opted to revamp one of the Hornets’ old leos instead of buying new pink leotards, which would only be worn once.

Senior Nicole Giao said assistant coach Tamara Ross dyed last season’s pink leos because the outfits were a tad lighter than the women would have liked.

“I dyed them because I didn’t want them to have to wear them again,” Ross said.

Ross said she attempted to dye the leos in the sink, but it didn’t work well. She ended up using three dark pink dyes and one red dye in the washing machine, which she said made a little change to the lightness of the leos purchased last year.

Sophomore Traci Taekda said the issues surrounding getting new leos gave her the idea to improve one of the Hornets’ leotards.

“We had some problems getting new ones for the meet, since we only wear it for one meet,” she said.

Ross said coach Kim Hughes thought pink on the black leotards, which are rarely used, would be a nice fit for the event.

Taekda said she “loves rhinestones” and picked out the black leotard, which already had some rhinestones across the chest spelling out ‘gymnastics,’ for her pink rhinestones project.

“It turned out really well,” she said. “The pink pops with the black.”

The coaches loved the new look to the old leotard.

“She worked very hard with the leos,” Hughes said. “She’s very talented.”

Hughes said the black leos were from about five seasons ago and the team last wore these leos during the senior meet last season because former senior Sara Williams chose to wear them.

“It’s a great use for the leo we don’t wear anymore,” Ross said.

Taekda wasn’t the only one who loved the revamped black leos.

“I love it,” freshman Alycia Chan said. “Traci did an awesome job. We are blinging.”

At the end of competition, pink carnations were handed out to the top three of each event. Hughes said it was Senior Women’s Administrator Lois Mattice’s idea to give out the pink flowers during the results.

Gymnastics may have been the first to honor awareness for one of the top killing cancers of women, but the gymnasts aren’t the only team raising money for a good cause.

The women’s basketball team competed in three “breast cancer awareness” games this past week, which were put on by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

“I think this is one of the best things since basketball is catching on,” Taekda said.

Women’s basketball coach Dan Muscatell said the women were given pink socks during the Portland State 68-67 overtime loss on Feb. 9 and wore pink headbands on their arms during the two home games last Wednesday and Thursday. Along with wearing the headbands, the Hornets gave out extra headbands to Montana State and Montana.

Muscatell said being a part of these kinds of events is “near and dear to his heart.” He’s had a loss in the family due to cancer and coached a cancer survivor in Lindsey Heard.

“I’m tremendously proud of the WBCA and its support and focus on this cause,” he said.

The fifth-year coach said the staff has been involved with a program called “Suits and Sneakers” with the Men’s Basketball Coaches Association since the first season he stepped on the Hornets court.

Muscatell isn’t the only one who has personal reasons for supporting this cause.

Senior gymnast Melissa Genovese said her grandmother is a two-time breast cancer survivor. She said she loved being a part of something good and “that every little bit helps.”

Giao agreed with her teammate.

“It feels awesome with anything we can do,” she said.

This event gives the younger community a chance to help show other younger people that everyone can help.

“Its trendy. People jump on the band wagon. It’s a good way to raise money and it’s a fun way,” Taekda said.

The Hornets raised $250 from all three events last week.

Karyn Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]

Click here to view a video from Friday’s gymnastics event.