Midknight Robin and Remi Marvin talks with the Worley sisters, 2007 World Team Champion Shayla, 2007 MAC all-around champion Jolene, and nine-time All-American Melanie Sinclair about their experiences as elite gymnasts, performing with the circus, how to deal with setbacks in sports.
Shayla Worley
2007 World Team Champion
Career Bio/Stats: Via Georgiadogs
2013 (SENIOR): Earned NCAA second team All-America honors on beam … Named first team All-America on beam by the NACGC/W … Voted Southeast Region Gymnast of the Year … Competed on bars and beam in all 16 meets and performed 14 floor routines … Won seven beam titles and finished first on floor three times … Placed first on beam (9.925) and floor (9.95) at the NCAA Corvallis Regional … Won the SEC beam title with a 9.95 … Tied her career-high for the second consecutive week with a 9.95 on beam at NC State; added a 9.875 on bars … Tied her career-high on floor with a 9.95 vs. No. 7 Utah to finish first … Placed first on beam with a 9.9 at No. 5 LSU … Tied her career-high with a 9.95 on beam at Missouri … Scored a season-high 9.9 on bars vs. No. 1 Florida … Scored a then-season-best 9.9 as the floor anchor vs. No. 10 Stanford to give Georgia a 197 team total … Posted the team’s highest score on beam in 11 meets … Placed first on beam with a 9.9 at No. 12 Arkansas … Won beam with a 9.9 vs. No. 4 Oklahoma … Named Terry College of Business “Who’s Who” Among American Universities and Colleges … UGA’s female nominee for the H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship … Named a Ramsey Scholar for Academic and Athletic Excellence … Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll … Named gymnastics team recipient of Scholar-Athlete Award … Recipient of the Suzanne Yoculan Award.
2012 (JUNIOR): Placed fifth on beam with a 9.95 in the NCAA Prelims, earning second team All-America honors … Second on the team with eight event titles, including seven on beam and one on bars … Recipient of team’s Scholar-Athlete Award … Tied for third on beam with a team-high 9.85 in the SEC Championship … Won the beam title against No. 21 NC State with a career-high tying 9.95 … Tied for first on beam with a 9.925 against No. 3 UCLA … Placed first on beam with a 9.9 vs. No. 3 Arkansas … Led the team with a 9.9 on beam and added a 9.825 on bars at No. 1 Utah … Had a team-high 9.85 on bars at No. 20 Auburn … Has posted the second-highest balance beam score in the nation so far this year with a career-high 9.95 at No. 2 Alabama … Also scored a 9.875 on bars against the Crimson Tide to tie for first and a 9.825 on floor … Led the team with a 9.875 in the anchor position on beam against No. 20 Denver … SEC Academic Honor RollNamed Scholastic All-America by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W).
2011 (SOPHOMORE) … Won the balance beam title with a 9.850 in the season-opener at No. 16 Denver … Won the beam title with a 9.85 vs. No. 3 Utah; also scored a 9.825 on bars … Posted a pair of 9.825s on bars and beam vs. Auburn … Tied for first on beam with a 9.875 at Kentucky … Tied for first on beam and floor with a pair of 9.875s at No. 11 Arkansas … Scored a career-high 9.925 on bars vs. No. 1 Florida … Scored a season-high 9.9 on beam vs. No. 5 Alabama … Tied her season-high with a 9.9 on beam for the second straight week at No. 8 UCLA … Scored a 9.85 on bars vs. No. 9 Michigan … Scored a 9.85 on beam at the SEC Championship … Scored a 9.85 in the leadoff position on floor in the NCAA Athens Regional… Named Scholastic All-America by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W).
2010 (FRESHMAN): … Competed in eight meets including the all-around twice … Won three titles including two in the all-around and one on floor … Was twice named SEC Freshman of the Week … Suffered an ankle injury vs. LSU and missed the final five meets of the season … Scored a season-best 9.850 on vault vs. No. 10 LSU … Scored a 9.900 on beam and a 9.825 on bars at No. 4 Florida … Claimed her second straight all-around title with a 39.375 vs. No. 3 Arkansas; scored 9.900 on floor and 9.875 on beam and was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the second straight week … In her first-career all-around, won the title with a 39.500 including season-high scores on beam (9.925) and floor (9.950) in addition to a 9.775 on vault and a 9.850 on bars vs. No. 11 Kentucky; was a late addition to the vault lineup. Was subsequently named SEC Freshman of the Week … Posted the meet’s fourth-highest bars score with a 9.825 and also competed on floor at No. 6 Utah … Scored a 9.825 on bars at No. 4 Alabama … Posted a 9.825 on beam vs. No. 7 Stanford … Named to SEC Freshman Honor Roll…Named Scholastic All-America by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W).
CLUB/INTERNATIONAL: Trained at Orlando Metro Gymnastics in Orlando, Fla., under Jeff Wood and Christi Barneau … Qualified for USA National Team at age 12 … National team member for 7 years … 2004 USA vs. Japan; placed first in the All-Around, Bar, Beam and Floor events … 2006 Pacific Alliance in Hawaii: first place team and second in the All-Around and Bars … Competed in four consecutive American Cups … 2007 USA vs. Great Britain in Ireland: first in Bars, second All-Around … 2007 U.S. Classic beam champion … 2007 U.S. Championships 2nd All-Around … 2007 World Champion team in Germany … 2008 Olympic Trials in Philadelphia.
Melanie Sinclair
Career Bio/Stats: Via Florida Gators
Nine-time All-American
2007, 2008 & 2009 All-SEC
AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR (2009) – Three-time All-American (all-around, uneven bars, floor exercise)… All-America first-team in uneven bars for third consecutive year, advancing to NCAA bar final (T7th/9.8625)… tied for sixth in both all-around (39.30) and floor exercise (9.85) in NCAA Championships Session I team qualifying competition to earn All-America second-team honors… earned third consecutive All-Southeastern Conference honor after taking fifth in league all-around competition (39.45)… also tied for second in SEC bar competition (9.95)… earned third career 10.0 for the uneven bars versus Kentucky…one of two gymnasts in the nation to earn a 10.0 on bars in 2009… also collected all-around (39.45) and floor exercise (9.875) titles versus the Wildcats…won three events versus then-No. 8 Alabama – all-around (39.55), bars (9.95) and shared vault title (9.90)… named SEC Gymnast of the Week following performance versus the Crimson Tide… led UF in 2009 with 14 event titles (six bars, three all-around and vault, two floor)…shared second at Georgia with season-high all-around (39.575) and floor (9.925) scores… shared second in NCAA North Central Regional bar competition (9.85)… opened 2009 season with four consecutive bar wins… won three event titles versus Michigan – vault (9.925), bars (9.90) and floor (9.925)… competed as an all-arounder in every meet, scoring 39.40 or above seven times… named a Gator tri-captain in the fall of 2008..named Most Consistent for second consecutive year, as she “hit” 56 of the 57 routines competed in 2009.
AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (2008) – Four-time All-American (all-around, vault, uneven bars, balance beam)… All-America first-team in all-around after leading Session I and tying for third overall in NCAA Championships team qualifying competition (39.525)… finished behind two former U.S. Senior National team members (Tasha Schwikert, UCLA/2000 & 2004 U.S. Olympian and Ashley Postell, Utah/2002 World balance beam champion) in NCAA team qualifying all-around competition… earned All-America first-team honors by advancing to NCAA bar (T8th/9.85) and beam (9th/9.825) finals… tied for fifth (9.85) in NCAA Championships Session I team qualifying vault competition to earn All-America second-team honors… Florida’s top all-arounder in NCAA Championship, NCAA Regional and Southeastern Conference competition… claimed at least a share of four NCAA Southeast Region event titles, which includes taking all-around win with a collegiate-best total of 39.65… also shared vault and bars region titles – each with season-best 9.95s… shared region floor crown at 9.90… SEC uneven bars co-champion after equaling Florida season-best of 9.95… earned a spot on the All-SEC team for the second consecutive year, earning first-team honors in 2008… Florida’s top all-arounder in SEC Championships competition, tying for fourth (39.525)… opened season by equaling then collegiate-best total of 39.525 to win Illinois-Chicago dual all-around title… named the SEC Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 15) following season-opening all-around win… raised collegiate-best all-around three times in 2008… used a then-collegiate-best 39.55 to take second in all-around versus LSU… upped all-around best to then best of 39.575 to take second versus Utah… won 16 event titles in 2008 (eight bar, three beam, two all-around and vault, one floor)… season-best bar mark of 9.95 shared LSU meet title with teammates Nicola Willis and Amanda Castillo… upped vault best in consecutive meets – won at Pittsburgh with 9.90 and shared second versus LSU with a 9.95… competed as an all-arounder nine times, finishing first or second in six outings… 2008 all-around totals were all 39.375 or above… team’s Most Outstanding Gymnast of 2008 season… also named Most Consistent, as she “hit” each of the 51 routines competed in 2008.
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2007) – All-America first team member for both events competed at the NCAA Championships… earned All-America first-team honors by advancing to NCAA uneven bars (T5th/9.8875) and balance beam (12th/ 9.6875) finals… All-SEC second-team member after tying for second in the league championships’ uneven bars competition (9.90)… matched Florida uneven bars record with 10.0 marks in Kentucky and NC State dual meets… first Gator to earn multiple 10.0 uneven bars marks in school history and only gymnast in the nation to earn duplicate 10.0 bar marks in 2007… SEC Gymnast of the Week (March 20) after winning two event titles versus Michigan State with marks of 9.95 (bar and floor) – floor mark stands as a collegiate best and was also her first floor win… claimed Super Six Challenge all-around title in collegiate debut (39.275) and shared the uneven bars title (9.975 – equaling meet record)… shared second in NCAA Northeast Region beam competition at 9.90… turned in a 9.925 or above for eight bar performances… earned 11 event titles (eight bar, one beam, floor, all-around) in 2007… turned in season-best all-around of 39.525 to take second at Georgia… SEC Good Works Team member… SEC Academic Honor Roll member.
AS A FRESHMAN (2006) – Sat out 2006 season recovering from surgery to repair a torn right anterior cruciate ligament suffered in October at the 2005 Massilia Gym Cup in Marseilles, France… enrolled at UF in spring of 2006.
PRIOR TO FLORIDA – Five-time member of the U.S. Senior National Team (1999-00, 2001-05)… runner-up on vault and floor exercise in 2004 Pan American Event Specialist Championships… at 2005 America Cup, took second on vault and eighth in floor… second on bars and fourth on vault at 2004 World Cup in Ghent, Belgium… third on vault and beam plus fourth on bars at 2004 DTB World Cup in Cottbus, Germany… led U.S. to 2002 Junior Pan American Games gold medal, winning both bars and beam… competed in four continents as she represented the U.S. in several international competitions as a member of the national team… 12th in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials all-around… fifth in uneven bars at 2005 U.S. Classic… sixth in all-around, third on bars and eighth on beam in 2002 U.S. Gymnastics Junior Division Championships… competed for Orlando Metro Gymnastics and coached by Jeff Wood and Christi Barineau
Jolene Worley
Career Bio/Stats:Via emueagles
2007 (Junior): Had a career year during the 2007 campaign…Won 13 individual event titles in the ’07 season (four on the floor, three on the beam and one on the bars) …Finished second or better in seven of the nine meets where she competed in the all-around, including five first place honors…Posted five of the top six scores on the floor exercise…Collected five top five finishes against Kent State, scoring a 9.750 on the vault and bars, a 9.725 on the beam, a 9.800 on the floor exercise, and a 39.025 in the all-around competition…Placed in the top five in every routine against Northern Illinois, scoring a 9.700 on the vault, a 9.750 on the bars and beam, a 9.825 on the floor and a 39.025 in the all-around…Picked up four top five finishes against Bowling Green in the bars, beam, floor and all-around…Finished first overall on the beam and in the all-around competition at the Missouri Cat Classic…Tied for third on the beam with a 9.750 and fourth on the floor exercise with a 9.800 at the Eagle Invitational…Had four top three finishes at the MAC Championships, placing third on the beam with a 9.825, second on the bars with a 9.800, second on the floor exercise with a 9.800 and first in the all-around with a season-high and career-tying mark of 39.175…First all-around MAC Champion at EMU since 1993…Qualified for NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama…
2006 (SOPHOMORE): She competed in all of the 2006 meets and in the all around in all but one…Finished second or better in the all round in seven of the nine meets, including three all-around championships…Won eight individual event titles in the ‘06 season (four on the bars, two on the beam and two on the floor)…Named the MAC Gymnast of the Week for the period ending March 5, after leading the Eagles to a tri-meet victory over Rutgers and Cornell, as well as a dual meet victory over Ursinus… Posted a career high 39.175 en route to second place finish in the all around at Kent State, the score is the third best in the school’s history…Turned in a 9.775 on the vault at Kent State , a 9.800 on the bars at Cornell, a 9.825 on the balance beam at Kent State and a 9.825 on the floor exercise against Western Michigan…
2005 (FRESHMAN): Competed in all 11 meets and qualified for the NCAA Regional at the University of Alabama…The lone EMU gymnast to compete in the all-around in all 11 meets…Named Co-MAC Gymnast of the Week after winning the all-around at MIT with a score of 38.600…She also garnered first-place honors on the bars with a 9.750, a second-place finish on the vault with a 9.550, a third-place finish on the floor with a 9.700, and a fourth-place finish on the beam with a 9.600…Finished first in the all-around at Bowling Green with a 38.875…She finished second in the all-around at the Rutgers Quad meet with a 38.300…Finished in a tie for second on the bars with a 9.675 and a second on the floor with a 9.850 at the Rutgers Quad…Tied for first on the beam at Central Michigan with a 9.750…Tied for sixth on the bars at the Michigan Classic with a 9.800…Finished second in the all-around at Western Michigan with a 37.575…
Prior To EMU: Competed for Orlando Metro Gymnastics… Was the level nine National floor champion her sophomore year… Was a member of the two-time level ten state championship team…Was the Level 10 state floor champion her junior year as well as a three-time National qualifier…Member of the Team State championship in Level 10 in 2004…Attended William R. Boone High School, Was on the honor roll all four years and a member of the class council and Latin Club…
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