Resume: 2008 and
2009 individual state qualifier
What
is your earliest gymnastics memory?:
When I was really young, I remember my sister pushing me into the
middle splits in our dining room.
Do
you have any superstitions or rituals for practice or meets?:
Before a meet, if it is not after school, I take a certain bubble
bath before getting ready and then I eat a Belgian waffle.
What
is your greatest gymnastics moment?:
I really can't think of one. It is just so rewarding anytime
you accomplish something you have worked so hard for.
What
is the best part of gymnastics practice?:
The best part is helping your teammates. I really enjoy pushing them,
too, because I like to see them get new tricks.
What
are your memories of competing at state as a freshman and sophomore?:
Well, freshman year, I was super shocked, and was completely
overwhelmed when I walked into the gym. I was so nervous and
didn't sit still or stop talking the whole day. Sophomore
year was even more
surprising though because I never saw floor as a strength of mine. It
was really nice because my club coach showed up and supported me.
At sectionals my junior year, I was really sick and honestly just
wanted to make it through the meet, However, I was really
disappointed with my performance and wished that I had qualified.
Immediately following the sectional meet, I got to work in the gym
and am hoping to not only to make it to state this year, but also to
place. I have gotten a couple new routines and hope that it will be
enough to push me to the top.
What
are at least three qualities of a good gymnastics teammate?:
1. Genuinely caring about the team's performance, not only your own,
and helping your teammates in any way possible. 2. Recognizing
your importance on the team and seeing how your actions affect the
whole team. 3. Working as hard as you can to improve yourself, thus
improving the team.
If
you could instantly acquire one gymnastics trick, which would you
choose and why?: A blind
change on bars. I can do front giants, which come after one, and
I can do the turn out of the front giants into regular giants.
However, I cannot seem to get a blind change placing me in the front
giant position. I have worked on it for around five years and
tried many different approaches, and I still am trying to get
it.
What
do you know about
gymnastics now that you wish you knew as a freshman?:
Well as a freshman I really still thought it was all about you
individually, and could not seem to grip the whole team idea. Now
I love my team and get that you shouldn't only want yourself to do
well, but also your team.
Can
you share the backstory about the picture of you doing a handstand on
a tree stump (photo in left column)?: Well, I do
handstand basically everywhere, as I am sure many gymnasts do, and
that stump is in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin, where we have been going
all my life. That stump used to be a full tree with a swing on it,
but was cut down because so many people got hurt on it. I just ran up
the super-steep sand hill and did a handstand on the stump.
If
you could bring back any canceled/ended television program, which
would you choose?:
'Friends.' I just love the show, I have seen every episode multiple
times and just love each character.
What
food/drink do you enjoy that you don't/can't have as much during the
season?: I don't change
anything that I eat during season. Maybe I just drink more water and
eat a little healthier.
If
you could be a guest star on any current television show, which would
you choose?: 'Criminal
Minds.' It's my
favorite show and I think it would be fun to play the roles of the
characters.
What do you
enjoy about hiking?: I love
being outside and active. My family went to the boundary waters in
Minnesota/Canada and my dad decided we were all going to go
on a short walk to a waterfall. Well it ended up being a 12-mile hike
with tons of ticks and black flies, the waterfall was merely a
stream, and we ran out of water so we resorted to eating wild
blueberries. Although many things seemed to go wrong, I experienced
some of the most beautiful scenery with my family.
If
you could tell President Obama one thing or ask him one question,
what would you say?: I
would tell him that I appreciate all the work he has done, and I
would ask him for any advice on how to achieve something so great.
If
you could be granted any superpower, which would you choose?:
To fly. I am not sure if that is a power, but I think that it would
be the best. You could see and experience so much and explore the
beautiful sky.
