University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
/ Gymnastics
Photo by: Christopher Mitchell
All-Around with Tiarre Sales
5/15/2019 2:25:00 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 freshman Tiarre Sales.
The Henderson, Nev. native has competed on vault, uneven bars and balance beam during her first season as a Gophers gymnast. She boasts career highs of 9.900 on vault, 9.900 on bars and 9.950 on beam, all of which she achieved at the Mizzou. Her 9.950 won her the first event title of her collegiate career when she was crowned the beam champion at the Mar. 15 meet.
During her time representing the Gophers, she has contributed to the two best team uneven bars scores in program history. Sales notched a 9.875 on Feb. 15 vs Maryland and a 9.900 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, Sales and the Gophers will prove a force to be reckoned with when they return to the competition floor in 2020.
GS: "What was your favorite moment from this past season?"
TS: "My favorite moment from this past season was senior night. It was the first time we competed in our new gorgeous leos, scored our first 197 of the season, and had a special night for our seniors. The meet was a roller coaster ride of emotions. It was so fun with everyone, because we just had so much energy, but it was also a little sad, because it was the last meet at home with our seniors."
GS: "What has been the biggest change from competing club gymnastics to competing collegiate gymnastics?"
TS: "I think the biggest change from competing club gymnastics to competing in collegiate gymnastics is the team aspect. In club I had a pretty big team, so it was similar to a collegiate team, but you don't get the exact same feeling running back to your team after finishing a routine. I feel like in club you compete more for yourself, but in college you do it more for your team."
GS: "Do you have any rituals or routines you go through before/while you compete?"
TS: "Before a competition I almost ALWAYS have to take a nap. Even if I can just close my eyes for five minutes before starting warm ups. Right before I salute for my routine, I normally try to relax myself by shaking it out or dancing."
GS: "What song/music do you listen to when you're getting ready to compete?"
TS: "I usually listen to anything that hypes me up, ranging from Cardi B. to BTS."
GS: "Who in the gymnastics world do you admire most and why?"
TS: "I really admire Kyla Ross. I loved watching her in the 2012 Olympics, and her collegiate career took off just as amazing. She is a stunning gymnast to watch, and she seems like such a great person too! Seeing Kyla transition from elite gymnastics to collegiate gymnastics was pretty inspiring considering her growth spurt. Her determination and drive is something that I really admire."
GS: "What are you studying at the U and why does it interest you?"
TS: "I am currently undecided, and I have so many interests that I can't decide what I want to pursue."
GS: "What is your favorite event to compete and why?"
TS: "My favorite event to compete is floor, although I didn't compete it this season. I love floor, because you can have fun showing off while dancing and tumbling is also really fun."
GS: "What expectations do you have for yourself heading into your sophomore season?"
TS: "Heading into sophomore season, I expect to be as consistent as I was on beam, and be more consistent on bars and vault. I also hope to make a floor comeback this season!"
GS: "What has been your biggest setback as an athlete/gymnast and how did you move past it?"
TS: "My biggest setback has been having a double knee surgery. I tore my patella tendons in both of my knees and had two surgeries my senior year. I hadn't competed an entire season since 2016, and I felt like I didn't have a lot of experience coming into college. The two years before coming, I spent rehabbing and trying to keep the skills that I was able to do. I really relied on the support from my teammates, family, and friends."
GS: "Who would you say is your best bud on the team?"
TS: "It's so hard to pick just one, but I'm really close to Ivy, Carson, and Ali! I am always laughing whenever I hangout with any of them!"
GS: "What does Loving The Battle mean to you?"
TS: "Loving the Battle to me is doing things even when you don't want to do them and pushing through when the going gets tough. For me, loving the battle is waking up early, because I am not a morning person whatsoever!"
GS: "To where would you most like to travel and why?"
TS: "I would enjoy traveling anywhere, but I think I most want to travel to New Zealand for all the beaches, hikes, and photo ops!"
GS: "What is one thing on your bucket list?"
TS: "One thing on my bucket list is bungee jumping."
GS: "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
TS: "If I could have one superpower it would be to speak every language in the world, so I could travel with ease, and it's just so cool."
GS: "What is something you're really passionate about outside of gymnastics?"
TS: "Outside of gymnastics, I'm really passionate about music! I love finding new songs and artists to listen to!"
GS: "If you could do one thing to improve the world, what would it be?"
TS: "I would clean our oceans and atmosphere."
GS: "If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?"
TS: "I would want to be Dua Lipa, because she is gorgeous, super talented, successful, young and seems like she's always having fun!"
GS: "Do you have any plans for this summer other than training?"
TS: "I plan on going to Portland to visit one of my best friends and then Seattle to visit my sister and her 2nd grade classroom. In August, I plan on going to Hawaii to visit my grandparents, but that's still up in the air."
GS: "What is one of your dreams or life goals?"
TS: "One of the life goals I have is to fill up my passport with as many different countries as I can."
GS: "What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?"
The Netflix show You was my favorite show to binge. It was just so creepy, but so entertaining that I couldn't stop watching!
GS: "If you weren't a gymnast, what sport would you compete and why?"
TS: "I think I would try diving, because it is so cool."
GS: "What would you like Gopher fans to know about you that they could never find out just by
watching you compete?"
TS: "I am lowkey a geek and I love watching movies, especially superhero and rom-com movies."
The Henderson, Nev. native has competed on vault, uneven bars and balance beam during her first season as a Gophers gymnast. She boasts career highs of 9.900 on vault, 9.900 on bars and 9.950 on beam, all of which she achieved at the Mizzou. Her 9.950 won her the first event title of her collegiate career when she was crowned the beam champion at the Mar. 15 meet.
During her time representing the Gophers, she has contributed to the two best team uneven bars scores in program history. Sales notched a 9.875 on Feb. 15 vs Maryland and a 9.900 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, Sales and the Gophers will prove a force to be reckoned with when they return to the competition floor in 2020.
GS: "What was your favorite moment from this past season?"
TS: "My favorite moment from this past season was senior night. It was the first time we competed in our new gorgeous leos, scored our first 197 of the season, and had a special night for our seniors. The meet was a roller coaster ride of emotions. It was so fun with everyone, because we just had so much energy, but it was also a little sad, because it was the last meet at home with our seniors."
GS: "What has been the biggest change from competing club gymnastics to competing collegiate gymnastics?"
TS: "I think the biggest change from competing club gymnastics to competing in collegiate gymnastics is the team aspect. In club I had a pretty big team, so it was similar to a collegiate team, but you don't get the exact same feeling running back to your team after finishing a routine. I feel like in club you compete more for yourself, but in college you do it more for your team."
GS: "Do you have any rituals or routines you go through before/while you compete?"
TS: "Before a competition I almost ALWAYS have to take a nap. Even if I can just close my eyes for five minutes before starting warm ups. Right before I salute for my routine, I normally try to relax myself by shaking it out or dancing."
GS: "What song/music do you listen to when you're getting ready to compete?"
TS: "I usually listen to anything that hypes me up, ranging from Cardi B. to BTS."
GS: "Who in the gymnastics world do you admire most and why?"
TS: "I really admire Kyla Ross. I loved watching her in the 2012 Olympics, and her collegiate career took off just as amazing. She is a stunning gymnast to watch, and she seems like such a great person too! Seeing Kyla transition from elite gymnastics to collegiate gymnastics was pretty inspiring considering her growth spurt. Her determination and drive is something that I really admire."
GS: "What are you studying at the U and why does it interest you?"
TS: "I am currently undecided, and I have so many interests that I can't decide what I want to pursue."
GS: "What is your favorite event to compete and why?"
TS: "My favorite event to compete is floor, although I didn't compete it this season. I love floor, because you can have fun showing off while dancing and tumbling is also really fun."
GS: "What expectations do you have for yourself heading into your sophomore season?"
TS: "Heading into sophomore season, I expect to be as consistent as I was on beam, and be more consistent on bars and vault. I also hope to make a floor comeback this season!"
GS: "What has been your biggest setback as an athlete/gymnast and how did you move past it?"
TS: "My biggest setback has been having a double knee surgery. I tore my patella tendons in both of my knees and had two surgeries my senior year. I hadn't competed an entire season since 2016, and I felt like I didn't have a lot of experience coming into college. The two years before coming, I spent rehabbing and trying to keep the skills that I was able to do. I really relied on the support from my teammates, family, and friends."
GS: "Who would you say is your best bud on the team?"
TS: "It's so hard to pick just one, but I'm really close to Ivy, Carson, and Ali! I am always laughing whenever I hangout with any of them!"
GS: "What does Loving The Battle mean to you?"
TS: "Loving the Battle to me is doing things even when you don't want to do them and pushing through when the going gets tough. For me, loving the battle is waking up early, because I am not a morning person whatsoever!"
GS: "To where would you most like to travel and why?"
TS: "I would enjoy traveling anywhere, but I think I most want to travel to New Zealand for all the beaches, hikes, and photo ops!"
GS: "What is one thing on your bucket list?"
TS: "One thing on my bucket list is bungee jumping."
GS: "If you could have one superpower, what would it be?"
TS: "If I could have one superpower it would be to speak every language in the world, so I could travel with ease, and it's just so cool."
GS: "What is something you're really passionate about outside of gymnastics?"
TS: "Outside of gymnastics, I'm really passionate about music! I love finding new songs and artists to listen to!"
GS: "If you could do one thing to improve the world, what would it be?"
TS: "I would clean our oceans and atmosphere."
GS: "If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be and why?"
TS: "I would want to be Dua Lipa, because she is gorgeous, super talented, successful, young and seems like she's always having fun!"
GS: "Do you have any plans for this summer other than training?"
TS: "I plan on going to Portland to visit one of my best friends and then Seattle to visit my sister and her 2nd grade classroom. In August, I plan on going to Hawaii to visit my grandparents, but that's still up in the air."
GS: "What is one of your dreams or life goals?"
TS: "One of the life goals I have is to fill up my passport with as many different countries as I can."
GS: "What is your favorite TV show to binge watch?"
The Netflix show You was my favorite show to binge. It was just so creepy, but so entertaining that I couldn't stop watching!
GS: "If you weren't a gymnast, what sport would you compete and why?"
TS: "I think I would try diving, because it is so cool."
GS: "What would you like Gopher fans to know about you that they could never find out just by
watching you compete?"
TS: "I am lowkey a geek and I love watching movies, especially superhero and rom-com movies."
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