Q: What got you into gymnastics initially?

PIEDRAHITA: My sister. My mom and I would watch her in the lobby when she took her classes. I would always be flipping around, and one of the coaches came into the lobby and said I should join the class or I’d get hurt. I ended up sticking with it and loving it, and my sister ended up deviating to cheerleading (laughs).

 

Q: What is your favorite and least favorite event in the all-around?

PIEDRAHITA: My favorite would definitely be bars. It’s just something about it; it’s not nerve-wracking to me. I have a lot of fun doing bars, and it’s also my favorite event to train. My least favorite would be (balance) beam, which I feel is pretty common. I think it’s because of the nerves, and the potential to make mistakes is much higher than any other event.

 

Q: What is your best moment as a Penn State gymnast so far?

PIEDRAHITA: Probably the end of last season when we beat Michigan and made it to the second round of NCAA regionals. The second day of regionals, it was so much fun competing because we pretty much had nothing to lose and just put it all out on the floor and got an amazing score as a team (197.050, a school record for regionals).

 

Q: What’s the most common question you get about gymnastics from the average fan?

PIEDRAHITA: If I’m going to the Olympics.

 

Q: And what do you tell them?

PIEDRAHITA: I tell them most likely, no, because that wasn’t really my goal. My goal was mainly college athletics. Olympics wasn’t in the picture for me.

 

Q: Why is scoring in gymnastics so subjective, and what could make it better?

PIEDRAHITA: Honestly, I feel like scores are subjective because different judges will score in all different ways. They can choose what to deduct and what not to deduct. One judge may deduct for one thing, and another may disregard it. To make it better … I’m honestly not sure if I see that in the foreseeable future, because that would take a lot of brainstorming for the judges to figure out.

 

Q: Do you ever switch up parts of your routines based on the preferences of a particular judge?

PIEDRAHITA: Personally, I’ve never done that. I don’t know if I ever would, because I truly don’t know what judges would prefer.

 

Q: Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

PIEDRAHITA: At away meets I always have to have a good amount of bacon, if there is bacon in the hotel breakfast.

 

Q: Love it. What’s your favorite sport other than gymnastics?

PIEDRAHITA: I think I’m growing into football and soccer more. One of my roommates is obsessed with football and has been teaching me all about it, and I’m starting to learn and get into it more. For soccer, we started going to the games recently, and they’re just interesting to me.

 

Q: What’s your favorite Penn State tradition?

PIEDRAHITA: What examples are there of Penn State traditions?

 

Q: Fight songs, guarding the shrine, We Are, anything along those lines …

PIEDRAHITA: I actually like how most sports teams link arms and sing the Alma Mater at the end of their games. We’re going to try to do that more often this year.

 

Q: Favorite TV show at the moment.

PIEDRAHITA: The Flash. I’ve been on a DC (Comics) kick.

 

Q: Favorite class?

PIEDRAHITA: Sorry. I’m blanking on what classes I’m taking. … I’m taking chemistry right now. It’s a bit frustrating, but it’s challenging, and I like the challenge.

 

Q: What do you hope to do with that after Penn State?

PIEDRAHITA: I think I’m going to go to the University of Maryland for graduate school, and nursing school perhaps.

 

Q: Favorite spot on campus?

PIEDRAHITA: I would say either the Arboretum, or the rooftop at The Maxxen (apartment complex) has an amazing view for sunsets.

 

Q: Any pet peeves?

PIEDRAHITA: I would say slow walkers around campus.