Jan. 17, 2002
When Adriann Garland's parents watched their daughter practice gymnastics moves in their house when she was 10-years-old, they realized their daughter had a special talent. They enrolled Adriann in a gymnastics class near their house in Warrenton, Mo. After moving from Warrenton to Columbia at the age of 10, Adriann pursued her gymnastics career with Jefferson City Gymnastics.
From high school, Adriann ventured to compete for the University of Iowa before her collegiate career was jilted by a shoulder injury. After having surgery, Adriann's desire to be closer to her family during her recovery helped in her decision to she return to Columbia, Mo., where she became a walk-on member of the Tigers' gymnastics team as a junior this season.
Adriann said she knew as soon as she visited Mizzou's gymnastics team, she wanted to get involved. "The team is so together in the gym. It is everything that I want in a college team," she said.
While establishing herself as an active team member at the University of Missouri, Adriann is studying English and psychology. She has high hopes after graduation to attend law school somewhere on the East Coast, preferably Boston College.
"I'm very excited for a change," she said. "I've lived in the Midwest my entire life and I just want to try something a little different. I love Boston and I think it would be very exciting to live there."
Ambitions to follow law not only stem from Adriann's desire to experience new and thrilling venues, but also derive from deep-rooted desire to debate. "Law interests me because I am a great arguer!" Adriann said. "I like people to see things my way and I figure if I'm going to argue, I may as well get paid for it," she joked.
As an undergraduate prepping to advance to the next educational level, the junior feels that gymnastics has not only built her physical strengths, but has also taught her the value of managing time effectively, the importance of hard work and the important life lesson of pursuing goals. As a competitor, Adriann feels her athletic experience has helped her recognize the people that have influenced her life and helped her make the right decisions.
"My dad has influenced how I see life," she said. "We have a very similar athletic background. We haven't been the biggest success story, but that isn't the point, it's all about living the dream and enjoying each day of trying to be better than the day before."
In the spirit of following her dream, Adriann appreciates the opportunity of being involved with gymnastics for so many years because she feels it has taught her to become a more open-minded and laid back person. She says she still maintains her competitive edge, but somehow finds contentment in the arena and is at peace when in the gym.
Even with the mellow demeanor she's found during training, Adriann has added her own element of superstition to gymnastics. Before every meet she has the same ritual, no matter what time the meet is held, she begins to get ready when she wakes up in the morning. To prepare for the big day, she usually relaxes by listening to her favorite band, Tool. An admitted "head-banger", Adriann has been to eight of their shows within the past year.
Throughout her career in gymnastics, Adriann admits there have been some embarrassing events. One moment that predominantly sticks out in her mind occurred when she was in high school. Adriann was so competitive and stubborn, she was determined to perform a vault she had been working on in the gym. The vault was not perfected yet, but Adriann insisted on competing. On the vault, if your feet are not the first elements of your body to land on the mat, you receive an automatic zero for the vault. Adriann successfully landed both vaults bottom first. In this particular meet, Adriann received a zero both times!
"I decided that I was just going to do it," she said. "I had never worked so hard on a skill in my life. I practiced it over and over again, but never landed it in practice. But, I knew that after all the hard work I'd put into it, if I didn't compete it I would regret it. I didn't even care that I got a zero, I worked hard!"
The junior's ambitious attitude has helped her overcome the few mortifying moments and focus on the many positive ones. Adriann believes her shining moment in gymnastics was the summer of her senior year when she began working out at Jefferson City Gymnastics. That summer she realized all her hard work had finally paid off. She felt a sense of relief as she found herself able to complete the big skills she had always tried before.
The love of the gymnastics is what kept Adriann involved throughout her college years. She says gymnastics is different from other sports, "Most gymnasts compete because they enjoy the high of competition, but I love everything about the sport. I couldn't do it for any other reason. I'd rather practice everyday than compete," she said.