Xavier senior Lauren Stevens recently released a line of merchandise available for purchase on her e-commerce and informational website, ChalkWarrior.com.

Steven’s business, which she started in February of 2017, began as a gymnastics website with related articles, photos and videos.The first Chalk Warrior products offered were custom websites called “gymnastics profiles,” which college coaches use for recruiting.

“I remember when I was a gymnast and different Olympians would come out with their own leotard line and I thought that was so cool,” Stevens said. “I’ve always wanted my own leotard line, even though I knew I would never be an Olympian.” Stevens has designed three competition leotards that have been worn on the national stage after she began designing merchandise.

“I was actually so surprised to see how many people wanted Chalk Warrior products,” Stevens said. “[I] guess a lot of gymnasts like the name Chalk Warrior. It’s unique.”

According to Stevens, the idea for the name of her business came when she was looking at gymnastics terms in an online dictionary with her father. “We were going through an online gymnastics term dictionary and were trying to figure out what would click,” Stevens said. “When my dad said ‘Chalk Warrior,’ I instantly fell in love with the name and it stuck. So I have to give all credit to my dad for that [idea].”

Stevens — who hopes to become CEO of USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States — is looking forward to watching her business grow throughout the next few years.

“I probably won’t have time for Chalk Warrior [after college]. If the opportunity presents itself to sell the company, I will be okay with that as long as I know that it’s going into good hands. However, I will always be involved in the gymnastics community in some way.”