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November 7, 2005

Getting to know...Becky Bernard!

As a two-time Ohio Level 10 State Champion in the all-around (2004, 2005), Becky Bernard could have an immediate impact on all four events for the Wolverines. However, her best event may be the uneven bars, where she is a two-time Junior Olympic National Champion (2003, 2004) and has the potential to become the fourth Michigan gymnast in three years to earn NCAA First Team All-America status on this event. Bernard hails from Stow, Ohio, where she graduated from Stow-Munroe Falls High School and was a Level 10 standout with FLYTZ Gymnastics Center.

Becky shared with us some of the initial challenges she encountered in transitioning from high school to college and from club to college gymnastics, as well as her personal goals for the upcoming season.

On what attracted her to the University of Michigan...
"How close the team was and how nice and helpful all of them were doing the recruiting process, also the coaches, the facility, and the academics at U of M."

On some of the challenges that she has encountered thus far in adjusting to college gymnastics (training-wise)...
"I was really sore the first couple weeks from the different conditioning, and I had to get used to the wider bar setting, the higher vault setting and the lower beams, which was a challenge."

On some of the challenges that she has encountered thus far in balancing both academics and gymnastics...
"My first rough week, I had papers due, tests, exams and a midterm all during the same week. It was hard to figure out what to study when along with going to gym."

On her favorite event...
"Bars is my favorite event because it has always been my best event since I first started competing in level 5. It is also the funnest event for me, I love training bars in practice as well as competing bars."

On what her new floor exercise routine will be like...
"My FX routine is very different from any of my club routines. It's fast, and it has some unique dance in it. The music has a lot of drums in it."

On whether she has a particular nickname...
"Bernie"

On what she is looking forward to the most about the upcoming season...
"I am really excited to compete in a Michigan leo in front of our fans! And I can't wait to march out at our first home meet. I'm looking forward to competing in a team atmosphere and traveling with the team."

On her personal goal for the upcoming season...
"My personal goal is to help our team win its first NCAA Championship!!!"

On the type of profession that she is interested in pursuing after graduation....
"I want to study math and science at UM and then maybe become an actuary, but I
am not sure."

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