Q & A with RU Gymnasts
Apr 08 | Women's Gymnastics
Kiah Banfield
What has been the highlight of the 2009 season for you?
Our home meet on February 28th was the highlight of the season for me, not only because I personally scored my season high scores on vault and floor, but because as a team we got our season high score of 192.05. I felt so proud of everyone for working hard and hitting their routines.
How was the experience at the EAGL championships?
EAGL's is always a fun experience. It was a great opportunity for team bonding and we got to fly to North Carolina which is a first. It was nice not having to sit on a bus for 6+ hours.
How did it feel to be invited to the USA Nationals?
I'm honored to be invited to USAG Nationals. It's a great way to end the season and I feel accomplished knowing that my hard work has been recognized.
How do you feel this years gymnastics team has differed from those of the past?
I felt like this year we had a great group of talented athletes that wanted to go big and score big.
What are you expectations for the Rutgers Gymnastics team going into next year?
I have huge expectations for not only the Rutgers Gymnastics team as a whole, but for myself personally. I'm hopefully going to be able to upgrade my routines on all four events, which would help contribute to our team score. Next year, I want to qualify to USAG Nationals as a team and hit 48's on each event which will hopefully lead us to score 190's all season. I really think next year's team is going to be amazing.
Do you see your role differing around the gymnastics team next year?
Yes! I'm not going to be an underclassmen anymore, which means I'm going to have to take more of a leadership position on the team, as opposed to just kind of being in the background.
What Rutgers gymnasts routine was your favorite to perform in this season?
I enjoy competing my routines, but I also love to dance along with my teammates floor routines while they compete, especially Danae Johnson's, Nicole Schwartz's, and Latara Northcutt's.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of gymnastics?
Go to the beach or play other sports like volleyball.
What is something interesting that most people don't know about you?
I'm the only member of my immediate family born in the United States.
Give one word to explain the 2009 Rutgers Gymnastics season.
Challenging (in a good way)
Danae Johnson
What has been the highlight of the 2009 season for you?
When I got a 9.875 on floor. That was one of my best floor routines.
How was the experience at the EAGL championships?
It was fun, I'm a really competitive person, and competing against the other schools made me want to get that much better.
How did it feel to be invited to the USA Nationals?
It is an honor to be invited as a freshmen.
What are your expectations for the Rutgers Gymnastics team going into next year?
We want to go to Nationals as a team.
Do you see your role differing around the gymnastics team next year?
Yes, hopefully I'll be competing All-Around for most or all of next season.
What Rutgers gymnasts routine was your favorite to perform in this season?
My favorite event is vault. But I also like to compete floor.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of gymnastics?
I like to play sports with my sisters
What is something interesting that most people don't know about you?
Most people don't know that I love football. I wish I could be Ice-Box from the movie The Little Giants.
Give one word to explain the 2009 Rutgers Gymnastics season?
Inspirational.
Nicole Schwartz
What has been the highlight of the 2009 season for you?
When our team got a high score of 192, and also when I got my first 38 in the all around.
How was the experience at the EAGL championships?
It was a lot of fun, and very exciting to be a part of such a big collegiate meet.
How did it feel to be invited to the USA Nationals?
As only being a freshmen I feel very honored to be going.
What are your expectations for the Rutgers Gymnastics team going into next year?
For everyone to continue to work hard so that we can improve for next year.
Do you see your role differing around the gymnastics team next year?
No, I just plan on continuing to work as hard as I can, and do my best to help my team in any way I can.
What Rutgers gymnasts routine was your favorite to perform in this season?
Beam
What is your favorite thing to do outside of gymnastics?
Go to the beach and the movies with my friends
What is something interesting that most people don't know about you?
I used to do Karate
Give one word to explain the 2009 Rutgers Gymnastics season?
Exciting !
Kristy Behr
What has been the highlight of the 2009 season for you?
The highlight for the 2009 season was our second to last home meet when we scored a team total of 192.025. It was amazing for all of our hard work to finally pay off and it really encouraged the team to push ever harder.
How was the experience at the EAGL championships?
I thought that EAGLs was going to be my last gymnastics meet ever because I had no idea I would qualify for nationals. Looking at it as my last meet was definitely a challenging process considering gymnastics has been part of my life for 18 years. It was a great experience for us a team to fly down to North Carolina and compete against some great teams.
How did it feel to be invited to the USA Nationals?
I could not believe my coaches when they told me. It is just the perfect way to end my gymnastics career.
How do you feel this years gymnastics team has differed from those of the past?
This year our team was closer than it has ever been before. We worked really great together inside and outside of the gym. The girls were not only my teammates but they were my best friends as well.
What are you expectations for the Rutgers Gymnastics team going into next year?
I am graduating this year but I know that all of these girls are amazing gymnasts and are only going to succeed in the future. I know that they can make it to nationals as a team and I hope that everyone is able to stay healthy and safe in the new season.
What Rutgers gymnastics routine was your favorite to perform in this season?
My favorite routine was the bar routine I performed at the second to last home meet when the team scored its highest score of the season. It was my career high and it felt great to contribute to the effort put forth that day.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of gymnastics?
Outside gymnastics I love going to the beach with my friends and family
What is something interesting that most people don't know about you?
Something interesting that most people don't know about me is that after I graduate from law school I would like to work for the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees.
Give one word to explain the 2009 Rutgers Gymnastics season.
Unforgettable.
Maddie Zwiebel
What has been the highlight of the 2009 season for you?
Getting a 9.775 on beam as my career high at the same meet that we scored a 192.05. As dumb as it may sound, it was probably the most exciting day of my life.
How was the experience at the EAGL championships?
It's a very long meet, but it's fun to see all the EAGL teams compete, and there is some really good gymnastics in our conference. And this year was definitely a lot better for me than last year, because I got hurt a week before it and had to sit out.
How did it feel to be invited to the USA Nationals?
It was very exciting, and I feel like I am getting a great reward for the hard work I've put in this season. I also feel very lucky because there were a few girls with higher scores than me, but they were already competing in the all around, leaving an open spot for me on beam.
How do you feel this years gymnastics team has differed from those of the
past?
This team is a great group of very individual girls who fit together in a great way. I think every year's team does that, but it often takes some effort. We are lucky this year in that most of us are on the same page about everything, and everyone is easy to talk to, no matter what the issue is.
What are you expectations for the Rutgers Gymnastics team going into next
year?
I think that this year's team has an incredible amount of talent, but has had a little trouble pulling together in competition situations. We proved with our season high that we are just as good as teams that qualify to the regional meet, and I think that if we continue on the path we are on with our hard work, we will able to achieve scores above a 192 with regularity next year. We are also getting some more talented freshmen, so it's going to be exciting to see what they can do.
Do you see your role differing around the gymnastics team next year?
As I become an upperclassmen, I see my role becoming more centered around leadership. After having two years of experience with the team, I can see myself being a role model to the underclassmen, both for the freshmen who will be sophomores, and for the incoming freshmen. I hope that my teammates can see me as someone they can talk to when they have a problem, and as someone who can be encouraging for them both inside and outside of the gym.
What Rutgers gymnasts routine was your favorite to perform in this season?
Of course I love performing my own routines, but I also love to stand on the side of the floor and dance to other people's floor routines when they compete. My two favorites would have to be Kiah and Danae
What is your favorite thing to do outside of gymnastics?
I love just being outside when the weather starts to get nice. As soon as it gets warm out you can find me in the park or at the beach with a book. I also love to have lazy evenings at home with my parents. Oh, and I love to cook too.
What is something interesting that most people don't know about you?
Most people don't know that I really like to knit. I find it relaxing, and it gives me something to do with my hands when I get restless or bored. Also, I get some really great winter scarves out of it.
Give one word to explain the 2009 Rutgers Gymnastics season.
"Whirlwind"
