University of Minnesota Athletics
Meet the Freshmen: Alissa Fuelling
9/21/2021 10:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MINNEAPOLIS- The Gophers women's gymnastics team welcomes five incoming freshmen to the team for the 2020-21 season and it is time to get to know our newcomers!
Alissa Fuelling is a native of Rapid City, S.D. She competed for Just Jymnastics and attended Stevens High School. She took the bars title at the 2018 All-American Invitational and qualified for regionals where she finished second on bars. Fuelling had the top score of 9.525 on bars at the 2019 State Championships. Fuelling is an active student at Stevens High School, serving on the National Honor Society during her junior and senior years.
GopherSports: What was it like to compete at the 2019 State Championships?Â
Alissa Fuelling: It was a great experience! South Dakota is a small state, so everyone knows each other. It's always nice to see everyone get together at that meet.
GS: How old were you when you started to compete competitively?Â
AF: I started competing when I was 6 years old. I fell in love with gymnastics because it taught me so many things and I loved the feeling of learning a new skill.
GS: Which gymnast did you admire while growing up?Â
AF: I admired Nastia Luikin because she reminded me of myself. I remember watching her at the 2008 Olympics and when she won I wanted to be just like her.
GS: What is your earliest gymnastics memory?Â
AF: My first memory is working a round off backhandspring with my coach. I remember all of the girls in my group could do it without a spot and I couldn't do it yet. I thought I was really bad.
GS: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?Â
AF: I chose the U for so many reasons. My number one reason was because I loved the campus and the great coaching staff. They also have an incredible team atmosphere which made the decision so easy.
GS: What makes this program so special?Â
AF: The coaching staff and the team are special. I've watched them improve each year and strive for more. Now, I get to contribute which is so exciting.
GS: How have the upperclassmen helped welcome you to the team?Â
AF: The upperclassmen have been so helpful. Not only have they helped me when I arrived on campus, they also texted me before and answered any questions I had which was so nice and they have made this transition so much easier.
Quick Hits:
Dream Job: Physicians Assistant
Best pizza topping: Pepperoni
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?: Shapeshifting
Favorite music genre: Pop
Favorite movie: The parent trap
Alissa Fuelling is a native of Rapid City, S.D. She competed for Just Jymnastics and attended Stevens High School. She took the bars title at the 2018 All-American Invitational and qualified for regionals where she finished second on bars. Fuelling had the top score of 9.525 on bars at the 2019 State Championships. Fuelling is an active student at Stevens High School, serving on the National Honor Society during her junior and senior years.
GopherSports: What was it like to compete at the 2019 State Championships?Â
Alissa Fuelling: It was a great experience! South Dakota is a small state, so everyone knows each other. It's always nice to see everyone get together at that meet.
GS: How old were you when you started to compete competitively?Â
AF: I started competing when I was 6 years old. I fell in love with gymnastics because it taught me so many things and I loved the feeling of learning a new skill.
GS: Which gymnast did you admire while growing up?Â
AF: I admired Nastia Luikin because she reminded me of myself. I remember watching her at the 2008 Olympics and when she won I wanted to be just like her.
GS: What is your earliest gymnastics memory?Â
AF: My first memory is working a round off backhandspring with my coach. I remember all of the girls in my group could do it without a spot and I couldn't do it yet. I thought I was really bad.
GS: Why did you choose the University of Minnesota?Â
AF: I chose the U for so many reasons. My number one reason was because I loved the campus and the great coaching staff. They also have an incredible team atmosphere which made the decision so easy.
GS: What makes this program so special?Â
AF: The coaching staff and the team are special. I've watched them improve each year and strive for more. Now, I get to contribute which is so exciting.
GS: How have the upperclassmen helped welcome you to the team?Â
AF: The upperclassmen have been so helpful. Not only have they helped me when I arrived on campus, they also texted me before and answered any questions I had which was so nice and they have made this transition so much easier.
Quick Hits:
Dream Job: Physicians Assistant
Best pizza topping: Pepperoni
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?: Shapeshifting
Favorite music genre: Pop
Favorite movie: The parent trap
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