Our next 20 Questions Feature athlete is Bay Valley Academy Senior Brianna Sting. Brianna, who is recently coming back from an elbow injury, is about to finish up her senior season with Bay Valley and Region 5 Gymnastics. Brianna who has been in the sport since she was very young has represented Region 5 both at the Level 9 and Level 10 National competitions. Brianna, who goes by B-Sting, has a love for the Floor Exercise but also excels on the balance beam. Brianna is a lovely athlete to watch on the competition floor. It has been great to see her back on the floor this season returning from her elbow injury and doing some great gymnastics. Let’s get to know Brianna a little bit better as she continues her senior season and begins to prepare for post season and post JO Gymnastics.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you?  When I was two and a half years old, I was put in a dance class and at three and a half added a tumbling class. My mom saw how advanced I was compared to the other girls in the class so she wanted to get me in gymnastics so I did a year of recreational gymnastics. They wanted me to join the team right away, but my mom wanted me to wait a year. Thus, starting my gymnastics career at four and a half years old.

What is your favorite event?  My favorite event is floor because I love being able to show off my routine by flying through the air during my tumbling and my passion for dance throughout my performance.

Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train/compete would be my continued progress on my upgrade on vault this year, Yurchenko tuck full.

Dream Skill? My dream skill is to get my bale to handstand on bars.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is having the opportunity to travel to different places around the country, competing with other athletes and making connections/friendships with other gymnasts.

What college do you plan on attending? I am currently undecided where i want to go to college, however I have a few in mind that I am looking into.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why?My favorite meet to compete at is Chicago Style because every year my family experiences something different each trip that makes this meet so memorable. In the past years we have experienced getting locked out of their hotel room and they had to replace the whole locking mechanism on the door, and getting flat tire and being stuck right in front of a toll booth. Another thing that has happened is that my coach constantly had to redo my hair because it kept falling out. I also received my first ever first place medal (specifically on beam).

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far?  My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is coming back from my Tommy John surgery that I had done back in May of 2017 because I tore my UCL in my right elbow. The rehabilitation was a long process, but I’m glad to be back doing what I love. A close second is winning level 9 Regionals and getting 4th at Eastern Nationals in 2014 and a year later being a first alternate for level 10 JO Nationals.

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics?  I admire Alexandra Raisman because she worked hard to balance her school work and her passion for gymnastics. I desire how she balanced her school work and found a some time to keep in touch with her friends and her social life. Being able to go to her senior prom, graduating with her friends, and still being able to train for the Olympics is a big accomplishment.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Insider feature is the recap video of meets because it motivates me to be better and be the best I can be.

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What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go to playlist before meets involves any music that is very energetic and upbeat to get me pumped up.

3 Things you could not live without? I could not live without the support that I have from my family, coaches, and friends, my phone, and the love and assurance of God’s Word.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal, I would be a sea otter because I could eat up to 25% of my body weight without a problem to support my high metabolism. Sea otters are also super smart. They also can swim. I could explore the sea and float in the water.

5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? 5 items I have to have in my gym bag are extra tape/pre-wrap, ponytails/clips, my “special” latex free bandaids, my USAG card, and a water bottle.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Before every meet I always eat a banana.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I enjoy camping, watching Netflix (series in particular), solving Rubik’s cubes, jamming in the car to and from school and practice, playing Just Dance on the wii, hanging out with friends, and simply just laughing and enjoying every moment/opportunity of life.

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? The most embarrassing meet moment was when I face planted my double pike on floor this year at the Sand Dollar Invitational.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast, I would try volleyball and/or soccer.

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect the disability sports the most because I admire those who have a disability and still have the drive to do a sport to try to live their lives to the fullest and do great things.

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most valuable piece of advice my coach has given me is to trust in my training and to not get too comfortable with what I am doing.

Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I lead the whole school at the homecoming dance last fall in the wobble and I chipped my knee cap when I was 10 years old.