The Clarion spoke with junior gymnast Maggie Laughin.

Q: Where are you from?

A: Scottsdale, Arizona. I’ve lived in the same house my entire life!

Q: When and how did you get started in gymnastics?

A: My sister was in gymnastics. I was very young and I always wanted to be exactly like my sister. I was 5 years old and my parents took me to this recreational gym close to my house and it just kind of blossomed from there.

Q: How long have you been competing?

A: I’ve been competing since I was six. I did a lot of competitions before high school. I did two seasons every year until probably second or third grade, and then I did one season a year until college.

Q: How did you come to DU?

A: I knew that [Coach] Melissa [Kutcher-Rinehart] was interested in me the first time I went to Nationals as a freshman in high school. Also, my brother came to college in Colorado and I wanted to be close to him.
Q: What was the biggest highlight from last season?

A: Last year winning conference was a huge highlight of the season.

Q: What are you looking forward to most in this upcoming season?

A: Hosting conference this season is a huge deal. I’m just looking forward to traveling with the team and doing the best we can and doing what we are capable of. This year we can do it; our top goal is to be top 10 in the country and go to nationals and I think we have a good chance of doing that.

Q: Have you set personal goals for yourself?

A: For me, taking it day by day and taking it one turn at a time and one event at a time is more important. If I do that, I am capable of doing what I know I can do. That’s what I want for me. The cards will fall where they will and if I work hard everyday, I’m going to do what I’m capable of and be successful!
Q: What is your post college plan?

A: I don’t think people go professionally after college for gymnastics because I don’t think they have the opportunities for that. Career-wise, I’m not sure; I … want to be a teacher (kindergarten or first grade), a high school english teacher or maybe a professor for poetry and creative writing at a university. I also want to write short stories and children’s books on the side.