University Park, Pa.- Gianna LaGuardia kept her eyes open as she visualized her vault routine during practice, focusing on her breathing and the vault table that stood in front of her.
LaGuardia keeps her eyes open when she is visualizing her vault routine to stop her mind from wandering. Then, she closes her eyes and pictures the arena she'll be competing in over the weekend.
If Penn State is competing at home, she'll picture the vault table in Rec Hall, where she's competed for the past four years.
"I'll picture Rec because I know exactly what it looks like," LaGuardia said. "I know what the entry feels like. I picture my stick and finish and saluting and then the celebration," LaGuardia said.
The way LaGuardia visualizes her routine in practice is different for each event. Unlike vault, she sometimes touches the balance beam and holds onto it before competing in the event.
The one thing that remains the same for LaGuardia in each event is the act of performing the routine over and over again in practice.
Throughout her final year at Penn State, LaGuardia has tried to take in every moment and have fun while competing for the team. But as the season has gone on, she has been reminded why she started doing gymnastics and her love of the sport.
The senior has not done this by herself, as her family, teammates and coaches supported her along the way. While she has received support during the season, she has also reminded herself that each turn she takes competing is another opportunity to represent Penn State and do what she loves.
At the same time, LaGuardia's time at Penn State is quickly coming to an end.
"I feel like the past four years have gone by so fast," LaGuardia said. "They tell you that the moment you come here, but I didn't know how fast it would go. I can't actually wrap my mind around it to be honest."
As Penn State nears the end of its regular season schedule, the homestretch can be tiring for student-athletes. Communication between LaGuardia and her coaches about how she is doing helps her push through this tough part of the season.
"I think this is when we hit our stride really but I think the communication with the coaches has been really nice, being able to express how we're feeling each day, each week before each meet and just keeping the communication open," LaGuardia said.
When Penn State head coach Sarah Brown needs an honest answer or wants to get an idea about how the team is doing she'll often go to LaGuardia.
"She will give me an honest answer about 'Hey, everybody is really good' or 'I think we're all a little tired', she just provides really good insight into how the team is feeling," Brown said.
If LaGuardia is struggling in practice, the student-coach relationship is strong enough that she will let Brown know that she is not feeling it that day, but she still keeps a positive attitude in practice.
"Gigi has come in every single day this year with the right attitude and the right mindset to have a good day," Brown said. "Even when she's struggling she'll be honest with you, but she will promise to bring it the next day and she always does."
The sport of gymnastics is more mental than physical for LaGuardia at this point in her career. She not only prepares to compete in meets but also stays on top of her school work heading into a meet weekend. This semester LaGuardia is taking 18 credits while competing for the gymnastics team. Earlier this season when Penn State traveled to the Big Five Meet in Toledo, Ohio on a Thursday for the weekend meet, the road trip made it tougher for her to stay on top of her school work.
"On roads trips, it's the hardest when I'm super frazzled," LaGuardia said. "Staying organized is my biggest thing right now."
LaGuardia only has a few more opportunities left to compete for Penn State as the season starts to wind down. She is looking to make the most of her time in the Blue and White, both in and out of Rec Hall.
