Meet The Freshmen
3/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 28, 2005
Amy MacDonald (Fowlerville, Mich.) participated in Gedderts Twistars USA for her prep gymnastics career as a Level 10 gymnast. She garnered national championships as a Level 9 both for all-around and for her beam routine.
Christine Kurtz (Homewood, Ill.) competed for Gym-Kinetics Gymnastics in Mokena, Ill., where she earned multiple state championships and was the Level 9 National Champion in 2002.
Q: How are you adjusting to college life at Michigan State?
Amy MacDonald: I'm from Fowlerville, which isn't far away, so there wasn't too much of an adjustment. I'm so glad that I'm here because I can't imagine being anywhere else.
Christine Kurtz: Homewood, where I'm from, is about 20 minutes from Chicago, so not having a large city around is a huge adjustment. There's more countryside around this area, but it is kind of nice to see something new.
Q: What have you learned from the upperclassmen on your team?
CK: Time goes by quickly. They keep telling us that before you blink, you are a senior. They all lead by example, and that has shown me that you have to work your hardest all the way through, so you get your time to compete and support your team.
AM: They told us that once we hit Thanksgiving, everything flies right by. It was hard to believe at first, but it was so true.
Q: What team bonding activities did the team participate in to help make your transition to college go smoothly?
CK: The first day we were here, the seniors brought us cookies, and they were really good! Not to mention that it was such a nice gesture.
AM: The real team bonding occurred over winter break when we had to stay with another girl on the team. We actually got to know each other a lot better and got to spend more time with each other.
Q: Does that bond your team shares help you support each other in competition?
CK: Encouraging one another and getting to know each other helps a lot.
AM: It helps because you feel more comfortable in the gym with the people, especially as a freshman, it becomes less intimidating.
Q: What is the biggest difference between prep gymnastics and gymnastics in college?
CK: It's so much better knowing that you have all these other girls that are rooting for you and supporting you, and that you're not by yourself out there.
AM: The two are so different. Before, it was so much more tense, everything is based on the individual. When you get to college, it's all for your team. It's great. I love Michigan State.