How do you feel about the season so far? How have practices been going?
Overall, this season right now, I feel very proud of myself (and) my teammates and how far we’ve come. I feel a lot more confident, and I see a lot more confidence in the girls as well. Practices have been going really well. Everyone’s been productive on schedule, up to timing. We’ve been putting in new skills—at least trying to get new skills in our routines and just getting prepared for each meet that’s coming up.
What’s your motivation to keep going?
Definitely my team—they bring motivation for me, but also my parents’ approval. (What’s motivational) for me is disciplining myself to keep going, and to continue trying my best. Working as hard as possible and staying on task so I can feel good about myself (motivates me as well). But also about how far the team has come and showing my coaches and parents that I know what I’m doing and that I’m here to have fun (and to) do my very best.
What challenges you in gymnastics?
Definitely getting new skills. It’s all very mental in gymnastics—trying to put in new skills is very stressful, and I get really scared, especially seeing my other teammates trying to put in new skills—it’s very nerve-wracking. Another challenge would be staying up to the task because some days we can get a little bit distracted.
What are you doing for the younger/other players on the team? How are you helping them if they need it?
For younger, new people, new girls are coming on the team, making them feel included and having fun. Always encourage them to be there when they need help or comfort, or anyone to talk to, and if they (need additional support), I will ask the coaches if we can step out (and) have a one-on-one because sometimes we rely more on our teammates and coaches with personal things. If it’s really bad deep in their life, I could definitely help them with that. Just getting someone else to talk to, especially at your age or around your age is very helpful. Also, making sure they’re having fun and staying confident no matter what happens is important. (The) sport is competitive, but the main thing is to have fun. Positivity is key, and we’ll try to spread it to everyone.
What are your goals and hopes as a captain?
As a captain, I hope to stay motivated and try to be there every day. (The) hope is to be there every day. (The) hope is to encourage everyone. A goal is to stay really positive as a captain, try not to bring myself down, which would bring everyone else down, and just build relationships with the teammates—that’s a major goal, but also bringing them to have a good relationship with our coaches as well.
How are you bringing the team together? Team bonding?
Bonding-wise, we do this thing called pasta parties. We go over to someone’s house or at the gym, and one of the captains brings in pasta and people bring in drinks. It’s just a nice little moment where it’s usually after practice. It’s nice to get a little refreshment after where we can all eat, talk, and not really have to worry about anything, just live life altogether. Another thing that’s really fun that we do each year for the season is a sleepover again at a captain’s place. We all goof around, take a break from practice or competitions, be silly (and) relax. We all just bond really well because we’re all more comfortable with one another.
When did you start? How do you feel like you’ve improved (gymnastics progress)?
Around four or five years old, (I) started gymnastics, actually, at the gym that I literally go to the high school gym right now. I would say that my gymnastics has improved exponentially when it comes to how I deal with my mental health in it because in club gymnastics, you get really beaten up mentally, and high school gymnastics has definitely improved my mental health, but also physically, too, with having lift every two days, every week, and I’ve also definitely improved my strength and discipline.
What are your favorite memories/favorite part of gymnastics overall?
One certain day at Club, my head coach would allow my team and I to run over to this nearby McDonald’s to get a little treat because we did really well. That was definitely one of the best memories I’ve ever had, because we had younger gymnasts, we’d be paired up with them. We give each other piggyback rides. There would be a grass field where we’d all do fun little tricks. So that was that. My current favorite memory, I would say, is goofing around on the trampoline before practice.
What are you looking forward to this season?
I personally am looking forward to competing a lot more in general. Still, I’m also looking forward to adding new skills into my routines, specifically a bail on bars, which is just a release move and beam doing a back handspring back handspring into my dismount. Those are really hard and bring a lot of stress, but I’m looking forward to putting that into my routines and completing them. I’m also looking forward to seeing how my teammates are doing, seeing the progression in them, whether it’s mental awareness, physical awareness, but also just comfort awareness and seeing how the season takes them on a wonderful journey.
