Girls athlete of the week
The Post-Gazette’s top female performer of the past seven days
The past week: Rexrode won the all-around Advanced Division at the WPIAL gymnastics championships Saturday at Moon.
Check this out: Rexrode, a sophomore, scored 38.225 and just slipped past Freedom junior Daisy Lewis by 0.125 points. It was her second consecutive title — both times Lewis finished second — and with the win joined Baldwin alums Kim Calderone (198384) and Mary DeFrancesco (1997-98) on the school’s list of two-time champions.
What is it like to now be a two-time champion?
It feels really great because the scores ended up being really close. I just feel like it’s a great accomplishment.
How was this one different than last year?
For me, I had an injury [fractured ankle] in December and I came back in January after missing a competition and I didn’t know if I would have all of my tricks back. I ended up having good routines and bringing most of them back.
With an ankle fracture, were you cognizant of it in
competition and trying not to land heavily?
Yeah. Right when I came back, I had a competition that week, so I just had to lower my skills a lot. I also have an ankle brace now that I have to wear and be careful with.
Even with the injury, your score went up a little from last year. How do you think you’ve improved?
On my bar routine, I’ve been getting cleaner on my tricks and I’ve been more consistent. Just with that, overall, that has upped my scores.
Do you play any other sports?
I don’t. I used to play soccer and volleyball and I did dance, but I had to quit all that because I’m on two gymnastics teams now. I have the high school team and I’m on a club team, UCG.
Do you plan on pursuing gymnastics in college? Yeah, I hope to.
You’re a sophomore now and recruiting starts next year. Is the recruiting process something you’re anticipating? I’m honestly looking forward to it because I want to see who is looking at me and what I can do with college.
What do you think will most impress college coaches?
I feel like, for me, if I have one bad event or if one thing goes wrong, that I can come back from it and not let it ruin my whole meet.
What are you streaming on Netflix?
I watch “Outer Banks” and “All-American,” shows like that.
How does that relax you? “All-American” is football and it’s about a kid who’s great at it and going to college for it. That’s like what I’m trying to do right now.
What’s one food you have to have, even when you’re training? Chicken fingers.