Athlete Profile: Gymnast Maria Opsahl

This is the second in a series of question & answer stories with the members of the Golden Gopher women’s gymnastics team. A different gymnast will be featured each week, so check back soon to learn more about the Gopher gymnastics team!

The basics:

Name: Maria Opsahl
Year: Will be a senior in 2005-06
Hometown: Forest Lake, Minn.
Events: Competed on vault, bars, and floor as a junior in the 2005 season, hopes to return to competition on beam in her senior season

Q&A with Maria:

What’s your favorite food? Lasagna

Favorite movie? The Notebook

Favorite musical group/band? MercyMe

Favorite summer activity in the Twin Cities? Rollerblading around Lake Calhoun

Favorite winter activity in the Twin Cities? Sledding

Favorite sport other than gymnastics? Baseball

Favorite event to compete in? My favorite to compete in is floor, but it’s not my favorite to practice

What is one word your teammates would use to describe you? Happy

If you could be on the cover of any magazine, what would it be? People, because that would mean that I did something cool

If you could be on any reality TV show, which one would you want to be on? The Bachelor

If you won a million dollars, what is the first thing you would buy? A car, any kind. I don’t have a car now, so I would take anything. I would also buy an air conditioner for my house.

When you were growing up, who was your hero? My dad

Before a competition, what do you do to prepare yourself for the meet? I eat a lot. I put on a lot of glitter, and try to keep the spirit light.

What is something you always pack to take with you on a road trip? Make up

How did you choose your major? I’ve known since I was growing up that I wanted to be a teacher. I hope to teach kindergarten or first grade.

What has been the most challenging thing about your college experience? Keeping my energy level up during the season. College gymnastics is different than club gymnastics because at the club level, you had time to come down between meets. But, in college gymnastics, you compete every weekend, so the energy level has to stay consistently high for the whole season.

What is the best bit of advice that you’ve received from the coaches? You know you have it in you, even if your mind tells you that you can’t do it. Sometimes your body is stronger than your mind.

What advice would you give to the incoming freshmen? Don’t be too hard on yourself, the first year is harder than you think it will be. Work your butt off, but make sure you enjoy the experience.

What are you working on over the summer to get ready for the 2006 season? I’m working to get my skills back on beam after having to take five months off after a back injury. I hope to be competing on the beam this year.

What are your goals for the upcoming season? I want to keep the team motivated, make sure every gymnast is on the same page and that they all see the goal of qualifying the team for nationals.

What do you see yourself doing in 10 years? Married, maybe have a few kids, working as a teacher, and living in South Carolina. I’m sick of Minnesota winters, so I want to move somewhere warm, but I can see myself missing Minnesota and coming back after a few years.

Click on any of the names below to read athlete profiles on other Golden Gopher gymnasts.

Andy Cornelius

Stephanie Funk

Kelly Ganchan

Laura Johnson

Amanda Miles

Ashley Mutchler

Rehana Russell

Ashley Stanton

Kelly Stout

Angela Walker

Kim Womack This is the second in a series of question & answer stories with the members of the Golden Gopher women’s gymnastics team. A different gymnast will be featured each week, so check back soon to learn more about the Gopher gymnastics team!