University of Georgia Athletics
Tomlin Has Enjoyed Stellar Sophomore Season
April 10, 2026 | Gymnastics, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Harley Tomlin is driven to excel as a gymnast. She's also obsessed with finding the perfect sandwich, according to her Georgia teammate and roommate, Nyla Aquino.
"She's on a sandwich hyper-fixation right now, one she makes at home. It's a pesto sandwich," Aquino said. "She's been making this sandwich every single day when she gets home from school. It's got turkey, and sometimes ham, and it's on sourdough."
In gymnastics, like cooking, the pursuit of perfection takes dedication and attention to detail. It's often the little things that can transform something good into something excellent.
"It's a lot of work," said Tomlin, a sophomore from Pittsburgh. "Like my beam routine, I've done those skills since I was probably 12 years old. All of that time, it gives me the confidence to know that I can do it under pressure."
As a freshman last season, Tomlin was recovering from leg surgery and was limited to competing on the balance beam in four meets. This season, as the No. 6-ranked GymDogs head to Fort Worth, Texas, next week for the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, Tomlin has competed in all 15 meets in the floor exercise and 14 times on the beam.
"Getting over (the surgery) was one of my big struggles last year, so I feel like just getting back into the rhythm and just getting over that was a challenge. But since competing last year and this year, I feel like it's just confidence. I've had more numbers competing than last year, so I feel like I'm more mentally prepared, and that's a big part of it for me."
Tomlin was one of nine GymDogs to earn All-SEC honors this season, doing so after scoring a 9.900 on floor at the SEC Championships. She's set career highs on beam (9.900) and the floor exercise (9.9500) this season. In her last five competitions, including the NCAA Tempe Regional final when Georgia was battling for a spot among the final eight teams in Fort Worth, Tomlin has scored a 9.9500 on floor three times.
"Last season was hard for her because she had her surgery at the beginning of the year, so she was fighting the whole preseason and the whole season to get in there," Aquino said. "Now, we go back-to-back on floor, my favorite event and her favorite event, and seeing her out there, it almost makes me emotional. I love seeing her out there, and going out there right after her feels like it takes a weight off of my chest, because she just went out there and had so much fun."
Tomlin said the floor exercise "comes the most natural" to her. It both allows her to show off her skills and offers a chance to really perform for the crowd.
"I feel like you can really express yourself more than you can in the other events," she said. "I'm more locked in on beam, but I can just go out there (on floor) and have fun."
Tomlin is from a very athletic family. Her father, Mike, played football at William & Mary and was later the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007-25, and famously both led the storied franchise to a win in Super Bowl XLIII and never had a losing season in his 19 years in charge.
Tomlin's mother, Kiya, was a collegiate gymnast at William & Mary, while Tomlin's brothers, Mason (Columbia) and Dino (Boston College), played college football. As you might imagine, they're a competitive bunch.
"Every year, we have a competition between the three siblings. It's called the Tomlin of the Year. Our parents award it to which kid they think did the best that year, so that definitely keeps us very competitive," she said, smiling. "We all really try to support each other, but I obviously want to win the Tomlin of the Year."
Tomlin played a number of different sports when she was young, from soccer and tennis to track, but gymnastics was her favorite. She said her mom would offer gymnastics tips if she asked, but otherwise let her progress on her own with her coaches.
"She told me pretty early on, around the age of 13 or 14, that I was already better than her in college," Tomlin said.
Tomlin and her brother Mason are also connected in gymnastics — he made the music that plays during her floor routine, she said. And when she's not busy with school or gymnastics, Tomlin likes to sew her own clothes. It's something she picked up from her mother, who has her own clothing line, Kiya Tomlin Fashion.
"I grew up doing that, so I feel like it's kind of second nature," she said.
Tomlin said her best moment in gymnastics so far was qualifying for Nationals. But she's hoping to top it next week.
"I feel like club (gymnastics) has its moments, but when you're a part of a team like this," she said, "it means a whole lot more."
Staff Writer
Harley Tomlin is driven to excel as a gymnast. She's also obsessed with finding the perfect sandwich, according to her Georgia teammate and roommate, Nyla Aquino.
"She's on a sandwich hyper-fixation right now, one she makes at home. It's a pesto sandwich," Aquino said. "She's been making this sandwich every single day when she gets home from school. It's got turkey, and sometimes ham, and it's on sourdough."
In gymnastics, like cooking, the pursuit of perfection takes dedication and attention to detail. It's often the little things that can transform something good into something excellent.
"It's a lot of work," said Tomlin, a sophomore from Pittsburgh. "Like my beam routine, I've done those skills since I was probably 12 years old. All of that time, it gives me the confidence to know that I can do it under pressure."
As a freshman last season, Tomlin was recovering from leg surgery and was limited to competing on the balance beam in four meets. This season, as the No. 6-ranked GymDogs head to Fort Worth, Texas, next week for the National Collegiate Women's Gymnastics Championships, Tomlin has competed in all 15 meets in the floor exercise and 14 times on the beam.
"Getting over (the surgery) was one of my big struggles last year, so I feel like just getting back into the rhythm and just getting over that was a challenge. But since competing last year and this year, I feel like it's just confidence. I've had more numbers competing than last year, so I feel like I'm more mentally prepared, and that's a big part of it for me."
Tomlin was one of nine GymDogs to earn All-SEC honors this season, doing so after scoring a 9.900 on floor at the SEC Championships. She's set career highs on beam (9.900) and the floor exercise (9.9500) this season. In her last five competitions, including the NCAA Tempe Regional final when Georgia was battling for a spot among the final eight teams in Fort Worth, Tomlin has scored a 9.9500 on floor three times.
"Last season was hard for her because she had her surgery at the beginning of the year, so she was fighting the whole preseason and the whole season to get in there," Aquino said. "Now, we go back-to-back on floor, my favorite event and her favorite event, and seeing her out there, it almost makes me emotional. I love seeing her out there, and going out there right after her feels like it takes a weight off of my chest, because she just went out there and had so much fun."
Tomlin said the floor exercise "comes the most natural" to her. It both allows her to show off her skills and offers a chance to really perform for the crowd.
"I feel like you can really express yourself more than you can in the other events," she said. "I'm more locked in on beam, but I can just go out there (on floor) and have fun."
Tomlin is from a very athletic family. Her father, Mike, played football at William & Mary and was later the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007-25, and famously both led the storied franchise to a win in Super Bowl XLIII and never had a losing season in his 19 years in charge.
Tomlin's mother, Kiya, was a collegiate gymnast at William & Mary, while Tomlin's brothers, Mason (Columbia) and Dino (Boston College), played college football. As you might imagine, they're a competitive bunch.
"Every year, we have a competition between the three siblings. It's called the Tomlin of the Year. Our parents award it to which kid they think did the best that year, so that definitely keeps us very competitive," she said, smiling. "We all really try to support each other, but I obviously want to win the Tomlin of the Year."
Tomlin played a number of different sports when she was young, from soccer and tennis to track, but gymnastics was her favorite. She said her mom would offer gymnastics tips if she asked, but otherwise let her progress on her own with her coaches.
"She told me pretty early on, around the age of 13 or 14, that I was already better than her in college," Tomlin said.
Tomlin and her brother Mason are also connected in gymnastics — he made the music that plays during her floor routine, she said. And when she's not busy with school or gymnastics, Tomlin likes to sew her own clothes. It's something she picked up from her mother, who has her own clothing line, Kiya Tomlin Fashion.
"I grew up doing that, so I feel like it's kind of second nature," she said.
Tomlin said her best moment in gymnastics so far was qualifying for Nationals. But she's hoping to top it next week.
"I feel like club (gymnastics) has its moments, but when you're a part of a team like this," she said, "it means a whole lot more."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Gymnastics
AA
/ GymnasticsGymDogs Punch Ticket to Nationals
Sunday, April 05
Gym NCAA Regional - Nyla Aquino - Floor
Thursday, April 02
Gym NCAA Regional - Harley Tomlin - Floor
Thursday, April 02
Gym NCAA Regional - Kelise Woolford - Beam
Thursday, April 02