University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Freshman Spotlight: Jake Sawyer
12/12/2018 5:40:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics
Next up in our Freshman Spotlight is Jake Sawyer. Sawyer is a graduate of Mountain Vista High School and competed with 5280 Gymnastics. He was a five-time national qualifier and took 12th place in the all-around at the 2017 nationals and fourth on pommel horse. He was also a USA Gymnastics Academic All-American.
Previous Freshman Spotlights: Ben Eyles | Matt Sullivan | David Pochinka | Tyler Davis
Gopher Sports: How has your time on campus and the team been so far?
Jake Sawyer: It's been absolutely amazing. I think that campus is beautiful as well as having some great opportunities academically.
GS: What are you most looking forward to in your first school year and season?
JS: I'm looking forward to making some great memories with my team. I was here this summer and if the times we had inside and outside of the gym are anything to go off of, we are going to have an unforgettable year.
GS: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?
JS: To put it simply, I felt at home here. It sounds cliché but every team member welcomed me and made me want to be a part of what they had.
GS: How did you get into gymnastics?
JS: My parents were tired of my excessive amounts of energy and decided sports would be a good outlet. I tried nearly everything such as baseball, football, swimming, golf, tennis, and more, but gymnastics was the only thing I enjoyed.
GS: What is your favorite gymnastics memory?
JS: Looking back, I don't think I realized it'd be my favorite memory, but it would definitely be my first talk with Head Coach Mike Burns when he offered me a spot on the team.
GS: What are your hobbies outside of gymnastics?
JS: I enjoy playing video games and have recently gotten into long boarding.
GS: What is one thing Gopher fans should know about you?
JS: I'm an average height of 5'10" but I'm still one of the tallest on the team!