Bothell’s Sarah Nagashima, a member of the University of Arkansas No. 6-ranked gymnastics team, recently led the Razorbacks to a school-record score of 197.025 in a win against Auburn.
Nagashima is ranked 13th nationally on the balance beam, on which she’s scored 9.850 three times this season.
The team will compete locally at the University of Washington at 7 p.m. Feb. 26.
The Reporter caught up with Nagashima via e-mail from Arkansas Feb. 19.
Q: How are things going with the team this season?
A: This season has been truly amazing thus far. We’ve progressed so much since the start of the season and weeks have just flown by. Our workouts between meets have been super efficient and it’s been awesome to watch the girls get better and better with every practice. Our goal going into competition is always to just compete like we train. This team is big on having fun, staying relaxed and just focusing on our team alone. We act as if we’re the only team on the floor and it gives us that extra edge of positivity and unity.
Q: What were the keys to that great score?
A: That record-breaking score was all about us working at our potential as one. I didn’t tell anyone before the meet, but I remember having this inkling in my mind that we were going to score a 197 that night. I don’t like to “jinx” things, so I kept it to myself, but I think that belief in my team that we are a top-scoring program is what makes the difference. We’ve always been the underdog and as the youngest program in the NCAA, we don’t exactly have the reputation or the expectation from anyone of things like 197s to happen. I was so proud of our team for reaching that, especially in an SEC (Southeastern Conference) match up.
Q: What will the Seattle folks have in store for them when you guys make it out here?
A: Seattle should expect to see some impressive gymnastics. UW has grown so much as a program in the past few seasons, so I’m excited to see what happens. It will be fun to compete in an arena I remember going to as a kid. I don’t think the northwest is used to seeing what the SEC can do, so we’re going to come in strong with talented athletes and a fierce attitude. Like I said before, we’re all about having fun. We’ve got three girls from the northwest (Casey Jo Magee from Oregon, Stacy Bartlett from Oregon and me), so we will have a huge cheering section wearing red, black and white just for us!
We will also be wearing the leotards and warm-up suits that I designed that night! So I will get to show off my design work to my friends and family!
