Q) Tell us a little bit about yourself in general
A) I am a mechanical engineering student. I'm from Bloomingdale, IL. I have an older brother (Tom). He is a senior Biomedical engineering student at Marquette. I enjoy reading.
Q) How old were you when you started gymnastics? Where? Coaches?
A) 6 years old. I started in a taps, shoes and tumbling class at a dance studio. They told me to go to the club because I was better at tumbling than at dance. I then went to Palmers.
Q) When did you determine that you were talented enough to compete nationally/internationally?
A) It was never a decision that I made, my coach put me into elite and it took me a year before I made it to nationals.
Q) What is your favorite apparatus? Why?
A) Floor. I like to tumble and try new things. I love playing to the audience.
Q) Favorite competition location?
A) Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center of course. I love to compete here at Coleman Coliseum in front of the home crowd.
Q) Interesting travel experiences through gymnastics competitions?
A) I had to stay in an armory on my way to a competition in Ohio. There was a bad blizzard. I had to compete the day after we slept at the armory on broken cots.
Q) Tell us about your collegiate recruiting experience. who recruited you, how may visits did you take, and at what point did you decide to attend the University of Alabama?
A) I visited Alabama, Stanford and Michigan. I gave myself a week after my last visit to make my decision. I knew I wanted to come to Alabama the whole time, but my family wanted me to got to Michigan. I finally decided I would go where my heart desired and not where anyone told me to go.
Q) What skills are you currently practicing and do you expect to contribute on each apparatus this season?
A) Round-off whip double back and whip half front full punch front on Floor.
Double layout dismounts off Bars.
Tsuk layout fulls on vault.
I hope to contribute on each event this season.
Q) What are your academic and athletic goals for the upcoming season?
A) I hope to become a scholastic All-American and make the Dean's list. I would love our team to make it up on the awards stand once again this year (hopefully on top) It was such an amazing experience last year.
Q) Do you have a best and worst experience involving gymnastics?
A) Coming in third place as a team this past season and competing in LA is my best experience. |
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