University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
All-Around with Hannah WIllmarth
5/1/2019 2:39:00 PM | Gymnastics
GopherSports.com caught up with a few of the gymnasts on the University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team to give fans a chance to get to know the personalities behind the incredible student-athletes who Love The Battle every day as they train at the U, continuing this week with sophomore Hannah Willmarth
The Boulder, Colo. native has competed as an event specialist on the uneven bars during her first season as a Gophers gymnast. She began her collegiate career at the University of Washington, but transferred to Minnesota prior to the 2018-19 season. She boasts a career-high of 9.875 on the apparatus, which she earned on at the Big Five meet on Feb. 23.
During her time representing the Gophers, she has contributed to the two best team uneven bars scores in program history. Willmarth notched a 9.850 on Feb. 15 vs Maryland and on Mar. 2 vs Pittsburgh, helping the Gophers to record-breaking scores of 49.525 and 49.475 respectively. In addition, she contributed to the team's posting of the second-highest team score in program history (197.500) earlier this season.
After ending the season ranked No. 13 in the nation and losing only two gymnasts to graduation, Willmarth and the Gophers will prove a force to be reckoned with when they return to the competition floor in 2020.
GS: "What do you love about competing on bars and what are the biggest challenges of the event?"
HW: "I love the feeling of flying through the air on my release and sticking a dismount. The biggest challenge for me is quickly adjusting to different bars at different meets."
GS: "Do you have any rituals or routines you go through before/while you compete?"
HW: "Before a meet I always listen to music while I am getting ready, and during every meet I do the same exact thing in the time between our 4 minute touch and when I compete."
GS: "Who in the gymnastics world do you admire most and why?"
HW: "One of the many people I admire in the gymnastics community is Miss Val, the former UCLA coach. I think her philosophy on coaching and just life in general is so cool and something we need more of in competitive sports."
GS: "What has been your biggest setback as an athlete/gymnast and how did you move past it?"
HW: "I have had a few issues with my knee, but I try to use every setback as an opportunity to get stronger and come back better than before. There is always a positive way to look at a situation."
GS: "What is your favorite gymnastics moment, either in your own career or in your time as a gymnastics fan?"
HW: "One of my favorite gymnastics moments was this season, after my first competitive bar routine in the Pav. I stuck my dismount and the entire team ran over and tackled me. It was such a cool moment and really shows how special this team is."
GS: "What influenced your decision to transfer to Minnesota rather than another University?"
HW: "The super welcoming staff and team. Everyone was so nice when I came to visit and made Minnesota feel like home from the beginning."
GS: "What expectations do you have for yourself heading into your junior season?"
HW: "I hope to build off of my experiences this year and continue to improve. Now that I have a full college season under my belt, I hope to clean up my routines and maybe add a few new skills."
GS: "Who would you say is your best bud on the team?"
HW: "I love all of the girls on the team! One person that can always make me laugh during practice is Becca Taylor, she makes practice much more fun."
GS: "What does Loving The Battle mean to you?"
HW: "To me, Loving the Battle means enjoying the journey and appreciating the good and bad days because they're both part of the process. You don't get better from doing what is easy for you, it's the hard days that make you stronger."
GS: "What is something you're really passionate about outside of gymnastics?"
HW: "I love taking pictures and doing other creative/crafty things."
GS: "To where would you most like to travel and why?"
HW: "I would love to travel to New Zealand because it looks beautiful and there are lots of super cool hikes and other outdoor activities to do."
GS: "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
HW: "Invisibility!"
GS: "What is one thing on your bucket list?"
HW: "Ride an elephant!"
GS: "What music do you listen to when you're getting ready to compete?"
HW: "Any good pump-up jams. Throwback music is usually a good "go to" before a meet."
GS: "If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?"
HW: "I would be a shoe designer at Nike because that seems like a super cool job and I could maybe get some free shoes as well."
GS: "Do you have any plans for this summer other than training?"
HW: "I am going home for a little bit and then taking a class. I am also hoping to go to a few concerts!"
GS: "What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?"
HW: "I binge watched both seasons of Stranger Things!"
GS: "If you weren't a gymnast, what sport would you compete and why?"
HW: "I would either play hockey or do rock climbing! I love how fast paced hockey is, and have always loved climbing for fun!"
GS: "What would you like Gopher fans to know about you that they could never find out just by watching you compete?"
HW: "I love listening to music and have my headphones in 24-7."
The Boulder, Colo. native has competed as an event specialist on the uneven bars during her first season as a Gophers gymnast. She began her collegiate career at the University of Washington, but transferred to Minnesota prior to the 2018-19 season. She boasts a career-high of 9.875 on the apparatus, which she earned on at the Big Five meet on Feb. 23.
During her time representing the Gophers, she has contributed to the two best team uneven bars scores in program history. Willmarth notched a 9.850 on Feb. 15 vs Maryland and on Mar. 2 vs Pittsburgh, helping the Gophers to record-breaking scores of 49.525 and 49.475 respectively. In addition, she contributed to the team's posting of the second-highest team score in program history (197.500) earlier this season.
After ending the season ranked No. 13 in the nation and losing only two gymnasts to graduation, Willmarth and the Gophers will prove a force to be reckoned with when they return to the competition floor in 2020.
GS: "What do you love about competing on bars and what are the biggest challenges of the event?"
HW: "I love the feeling of flying through the air on my release and sticking a dismount. The biggest challenge for me is quickly adjusting to different bars at different meets."
GS: "Do you have any rituals or routines you go through before/while you compete?"
HW: "Before a meet I always listen to music while I am getting ready, and during every meet I do the same exact thing in the time between our 4 minute touch and when I compete."
GS: "Who in the gymnastics world do you admire most and why?"
HW: "One of the many people I admire in the gymnastics community is Miss Val, the former UCLA coach. I think her philosophy on coaching and just life in general is so cool and something we need more of in competitive sports."
GS: "What has been your biggest setback as an athlete/gymnast and how did you move past it?"
HW: "I have had a few issues with my knee, but I try to use every setback as an opportunity to get stronger and come back better than before. There is always a positive way to look at a situation."
GS: "What is your favorite gymnastics moment, either in your own career or in your time as a gymnastics fan?"
HW: "One of my favorite gymnastics moments was this season, after my first competitive bar routine in the Pav. I stuck my dismount and the entire team ran over and tackled me. It was such a cool moment and really shows how special this team is."
GS: "What influenced your decision to transfer to Minnesota rather than another University?"
HW: "The super welcoming staff and team. Everyone was so nice when I came to visit and made Minnesota feel like home from the beginning."
GS: "What expectations do you have for yourself heading into your junior season?"
HW: "I hope to build off of my experiences this year and continue to improve. Now that I have a full college season under my belt, I hope to clean up my routines and maybe add a few new skills."
GS: "Who would you say is your best bud on the team?"
HW: "I love all of the girls on the team! One person that can always make me laugh during practice is Becca Taylor, she makes practice much more fun."
GS: "What does Loving The Battle mean to you?"
HW: "To me, Loving the Battle means enjoying the journey and appreciating the good and bad days because they're both part of the process. You don't get better from doing what is easy for you, it's the hard days that make you stronger."
GS: "What is something you're really passionate about outside of gymnastics?"
HW: "I love taking pictures and doing other creative/crafty things."
GS: "To where would you most like to travel and why?"
HW: "I would love to travel to New Zealand because it looks beautiful and there are lots of super cool hikes and other outdoor activities to do."
GS: "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
HW: "Invisibility!"
GS: "What is one thing on your bucket list?"
HW: "Ride an elephant!"
GS: "What music do you listen to when you're getting ready to compete?"
HW: "Any good pump-up jams. Throwback music is usually a good "go to" before a meet."
GS: "If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?"
HW: "I would be a shoe designer at Nike because that seems like a super cool job and I could maybe get some free shoes as well."
GS: "Do you have any plans for this summer other than training?"
HW: "I am going home for a little bit and then taking a class. I am also hoping to go to a few concerts!"
GS: "What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?"
HW: "I binge watched both seasons of Stranger Things!"
GS: "If you weren't a gymnast, what sport would you compete and why?"
HW: "I would either play hockey or do rock climbing! I love how fast paced hockey is, and have always loved climbing for fun!"
GS: "What would you like Gopher fans to know about you that they could never find out just by watching you compete?"
HW: "I love listening to music and have my headphones in 24-7."
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