By Matt Haufe
Illinois Athletics Communications

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Junior Jordan Kovach and  sophomore Emanuele Muehlhauser have both taken long journeys to becoming Fighting Illini. While their paths may be different than others on their team, they both share the common love for gymnastics and competition.

Both Manny and Jordan grew up in military families, meaning they were constantly subject to movement around the country, even around the world. This made it tough to settle down and have a 'normal' life in one town growing up.

"My dad was in the Army, and he was a lab tech," Kovach said. "I was born in Texas and then I moved overseas to Germany. I lived there for a couple of years, then we moved back to the states [and] lived in Washington for a couple years, then lived in Oklahoma and now I'm in Illinois".

"My dad is a security officer so we moved around a bit, but not too much, said Muehlhauser. "I was born in Rome and stayed there until I was about five. Then, I moved to Maryland and stayed there until I was 10 and then moved to Hawaii and stayed there until I was 18. When I came to Illinois, my family moved to Virginia."

While the transitions between different homes were tough for both Kovach and Muehlhauser, the two approached the moves with two different mindsets.

"I really enjoyed it," said Kovach. "I was homeschooled through my youth so I never had to worry about finding a new school or making friends, my friends were just my gym friends. And no matter where we moved I found friends in whatever gym I went to."

"For me it was pretty hard at first when we found out we had to move. I was basically leaving everything that I knew," Muehlhauser said. "After some time you kind of get used to it, you build new friendships when you move, and the atmosphere around you is different."

While moving around, not only did Manny and Jordan deal with making new friends in new schools, towns, and neighborhoods, they also had to continue to perfect their craft in the gym. This proved to be challenging for the two, but ultimately led them to the University of Illinois.

"I kind of lucked out because when I first started to become competitive, we were in Oklahoma and that's where my Dad retired from the military, so I stayed in the gym I was at for eight-plus years. So I had that consistent coaching and training" Jordan said.

"When I was in Italy there was no competitive team. And when I moved to Maryland there was no team either, so I was just jumping on trampolines the entire practice" Manny said. "It wasn't until I was 11 when I started at the only men's gymnastics team in Hawaii and basically got to start building my skills."

While overseas, Kovach experienced different styles of coaching gymnastics than he has here in the United States. "I could see through the coaching there that it was more strict, they have different tendencies and different ways with training and skills, and even punishments" Jordan said. 

Through all of the new gyms, friends, and experiences, the lessons that were taught to Kovach and Muehlhauser were very similar, and lessons that would stick with them for the rest of their careers, and the rest of their lives.

"One of the biggest things that was taught to my family was dependability on each other. Since we were moving to different places with different people we didn't know, and the only people we knew was our family" Kovach said. "We just focused on staying consistent and honest with each other, and making sure we are all there because we were the only people we had."

"Similar to Jordan, me and my family learned to cherish everything we have, because we never knew when we were going to leave, so be grateful for all the relationships and family that you've built over your time in the place you have been at," Muehlhauser said.

Jordan and Manny both went through unconventional upbringings. Through their experiences, the two gained valuable lessons, lasting friendships, and overall a love and appreciation for the sport of gymnastics.