Q) Tell us a little bit about yourself in general.
A) I'm from Louisville, Kentucky where I lived with my parents and younger sister - Hillary. I attended Southern Indiana Gymnastics School (SIGS) before coming to Alabama.
Q) How old were you when you started gymnastics? Where? Coaches?
A) I started when I was 2 ½ at Kentucky Gymnastics Academy. My coaches were Tina, Ingrid, Jackie, and Jenny Smith.
Q) When did you determine that you were talented enough to compete nationally/internationally?
A) There wasn't really one point in my career when I determined that I was talented enough to compete nationally/internationally. It just sort of progressed to that point.
Q) Do you have a favorite gymnast? Who? What is it about that gymnast that you like in particular?
A) I don't have just one favorite gymnast. I always enjoy watching the Chinese gymnasts on bars and beam. Also, I like Vanessa Atler on vault and floor.
Q) What is your favorite apparatus? Why?
A) Bars - Because it is one of the easiest events for me and competition is over quickly.
Q) What was your best competition performance?
A) 1997 J. O. Nationals
Q) Favorite competition location?
A) Canberra, Australia.
Q) Interesting travel experiences through gymnastics competitions?
A) I've had the opportunity to travel all over the US. My favorite competition was J.O. Nationals in 1993 in Baltimore. Competing in Australia was also a wonderful experience.
Q) Tell us about your collegiate recruiting experience. Who recruited you, how many visits did you take, and at what point did you decide to attend the University of Alabama?
A) I took my first visit to Nebraska, then LSU, then Alabama, and finally Utah. I had a visit planned for Arizona but canceled it when I realized that Alabama was the place I wanted to sped the next four years of my life.
Q) What skills are you currently practicing and do you expect to contribute on each apparatus this season?
A) At the moment I'm coming off an ankle injury but will be back for the season, hopefully contributing on every event.
Q) What are your academic and athletic goals for the upcoming season?
A) Academically I would like to get a 4.0. Athletically I'd like to be a member of the 1999 NCAA National Championship Team.
Q) Do you have a best and a worst experience involving gymnastics?
A) My worst experience in gymnastics was forgetting my floor routine at a meet when I was 8 years old. My best experience was winning J.O. Nationals in 1997. |
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