Next up in our 20 Questions Series is Mickayla Stuckey of CGA. Mickayla is one of my favorite athletes to watch especially on the floor exercise, which is one of Mickayla’s favorite events as well, because she certainly knows how to draw the audience in with her captivating dance and her skill high tumbling. Mickayla, who won the 2017 Yahtzee Award for “Best Floor Choreography”, credits her floor performance abilities to her many years as a competitive dancer. Stuckey, who hails from Indiana, is a multiple time JO Nationals Qualifier, All-Star Team Member and former Hopes/Elite. Lucky for us here in Region 5 Mickayla has two more years to bless us with her exquisite and entertaining floor performances, however after her time in JO Gymnastics is finished she is not going far for college and we will be able to watch her as she attends a University in the boundaries of Region 5. However, until then let’s get to know Mickayla a little better as she gets ready to begin her Junior season with her longtime club, Cincinnati Gymnastics.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I started in gymnastics because my mom was teaching at a gym and I was always there with her. I was about 16 months when I took my first Mommy and Me class, but it wasn’t with my mom. (she was teaching the class) I took the class with another person on staff at the gym.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is beam or floor. It really depends on the day.
Check Out Mickayla competing her favorite event the Floor Exercise at the 2017 Region 5 Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to currently train is my 
double layout on floor! I’m really wanting to get it in my routine this year. My favorite skill to compete is probably my back hand lay on beam.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a double layout off bars. I’ve done it before, but I had a pretty terrifying fall training it. I would like to be able to overcome the issues around this skill and compete it again!
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is the life lessons that I am learning and making new friends around the country/world.
What college do you plan on attending? Eastern Michigan University
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Buckeye Classic
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishments so far have been obtaining a college scholarship and making the Region 5 All-Star team last year.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? Lexie Priessman. I have looked up to her since I was a little girl. She has been through so many ups and downs with this sport, and she continues to push through and work for her dreams.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I really like 
watching the All Access series.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? If I need to calm down, I listen to country music. If I need pumped up, I listen to today’s hip hop and R&B.
If you were trapped on a deserted island what 3 things would you take and why? If I were trapped on a deserted island, I would take food and water because I have to eat and drink. I would also take Darby Nelson. She is probably one of the smartest people I know and she would figure out how to get us off the island.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would probably be a dog. Who doesn’t love a cute dog?
Who is your favorite superhero? Superwoman
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I eat steak the night before a meet and I have to have a clip in my hair.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Dance and hanging out with my friends.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Luckily I haven’t had too many. Probably starting my floor routine to someone else’s music when I was in level 7.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? In addition to gymnastics, I am also a competitive dancer. I’ve been competing since I was 4. I’ve actually won several national solo and group titles. But if I were to try something totally different, it would probably be cross country.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I have a lot of respect for wrestlers. It’s an individual and team sport, kind of like gymnastics. I feel like their work ethic, discipline, and mental challenges are similar to gymnastics. And they can cut weight really fast!
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? You should always do gymnastics for yourself and not for anyone else. –Whitney Snowden Gymnastics is only a small part of what you do, it does not define who you are as a person.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I live 1hr45min away from the gym. I started coming to CGA when I was 4 years old. We never moved because we like living on a farm in rural Indiana and my parents did not want to move just for asport. They never wanted to make me feel like I had to do gymnastics.
