After chalking up for nearly 15 years, senior Kristen Young has somersaulted onto Cornell University’s Division I solo gymnastics squad and committed as part of the incoming class of 2029.
Having begun her time on the mat at age three, Young started competing at a higher level around age six. By middle school, she maintained a strict four-hour practice schedule after school and ranked in the Junior Olympic tiers’ highest level (level 10). From then on, her sights were set on pursuing her collegiate career.
“As soon as I got to middle school, at that point, I figured out I could do it [pursue gymnastics],” Young said. “Before, I didn’t really understand where I was at in my level to be able to pursue it in college.”
Throughout her OA academic career, Young learned the ropes of balancing the student-athlete life. Although strenuous, maintaining a strict schedule helped keep her on pace for her academic and athletic future.
“Some days I was, like, ‘I want to quit everything. I’m done.’ But, it’s honestly just remembering what my ultimate goals are and how I’ve dedicated so much time in the past and the present,” said Young. “So, it’s definitely been something I’ve gotten used to; with a busy schedule, it keeps you timed. You go to school, you go straight to the gym, you come home, you eat dinner, and you get straight to work.”
Although her structured schedule defined most of her high school years, Young also persevered through two separate year-long injuries, tearing her Achilles tendon in her 9th grade season and tearing her labrum in her 11th. Although injuries kept her from the gym, Young overcame them through physical therapy and developed a stronger mental game.
“I think my biggest achievements would be coming back from injuries,” said Young. “Coming back not just once but twice – I had something in me that just didn’t let me quit even though at that point I wanted to. Obviously, now I’m super glad that I didn’t.”
Additionally, Young continued to contact some of her prospective college coaches. Although National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) coaches are prohibited from contacting prospective athletes until Sept. 1st of their junior year, Young remained persistent and created a list of nearly 20 coaches for two years straight. By September 2023, Young finally received emails back from collegiate coaches acknowledging her as a prospective athlete for the class of ‘29. At Cornell, coaches invited Young for a formal campus visit where she was then offered a spot on their renowned Big Red gymnastics team.
Young encourages aspiring young athletes to never give up on the process despite the pressures that come with recruitment.
“Be confident, be bold, and be yourself out there,” said Young. “If a college comes back to you and says, ‘Oh, we’re full,’ there’s more out there. The door doesn’t close until it closes.”
Following countless trials and tribulations, Young looks towards Division I gymnastics on the horizon and focuses on her athletic and academic future through her upcoming journey at Cornell during the fall of 2025.
