Koulos Carries Family and Greek Legacy to Michigan
10/28/2019 5:14:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics, Features
By Ben Blevins
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman women's gymnast Nicoletta Koulos is the third in her family to attend the University of Michigan, and being Greek is very important to her everyday life.
Nicoletta, one of five children of Emily and Peter Koulos, is the third child to choose U-M. Her older sister, Penelope, was a member of the U-M dance team from 2012-16, while her older brother, Jack, is now a senior on campus and has played on the club ice hockey team.
Ann Arbor became a second home for the Koulos family from Long Beach, California. Over the last seven years, they have gathered together for football games, holidays and graduation. Nicoletta was very familiar with Michigan, which sold itself on its outstanding academics and athletics, but family was ultimately what led her here.
"I knew when I made my official visit in January that I was going to come here if I was offered because my brother and sister had so much fun here," said Nicoletta. "I always wondered what it would be like to go to Michigan."
Head coach Bev Plocki gave her that offer, and she committed on the spot.
Just like her brother, Nicoletta has already joined the Greek Club on campus. Some of her friends at Michigan were friends she met at a three-week camp in Greece the summer before her senior year of high school.
Greek folk dancing was a big part of Nicoletta's childhood. She competed in dance competitions all the way from five years old to her senior year of high school, performing traditional dances from the Greek islands. Her church would send groups of 10 to 25 people to the events.
"My church was really good," said Nicoletta. "We won sweepstakes, which was big. My whole family goes, and it is super fun."
Nicoletta Koulos with sister Penelope and brother Jack
Dancing in general was a big part of her life growing up. Her mother started her and her sister in dance. The two of them performed jazz, hip-hop, lyrical and ballet dances. Her sister eventually danced her way to U-M and helped the team place in the top 10 at UDA Nationals all four years.
Nicoletta was also very much into dance but discovered gymnastics at a friend's birthday party.
"It was always dance," she said. "I wasn't the kid climbing on the furniture and doing flips. Then one day I went to a birthday party at a gym and they said gymnastics came naturally to me. They said I had potential."
She was around four years old when she discovered gymnastics. She continued to dance as well, incorporating concepts from dance to help her with balance beam and floor exercise.
"In dance you have to be creative and pay close attention to detail with your hands," said Nicoletta. "That is a big factor in gymnastics also."
In her floor routine this year, she has mixed several Greek pop songs together and incorporated some traditional Greek moves to make it a cultural routine.
"It is super important to me, and hopefully in my four years I will always have a piece of Greek music in my routine," she said.
Nicoletta has given her family four more years of reasons to come together in Ann Arbor, all while keeping her Greek heritage a strong part of who she is.
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