University Park, Pa.- Imagine doing flips on a 10-centimeter beam, four feet in the air. It seems crazy to even think about.
Now put yourself in the lead-off position for your team in your first season of collegiate gymnastics. No pressure, right? For freshman Bella Romagnano, she has taken on all of this at a time when most of her peers are worrying about the high school prom.
On top of being in the starting position for beam, Romagnano is also a year younger than her other freshmen teammates. She graduated a year early from high school and just recently turned 18 this past November.
"I don't know, I feel like I used to say, 'It's not that deep,'" Romagnano said. "I have to do the routine anyway. So, if going first helps the team and most likely sets the tone — I feel like if they trust me in that spot, I want to be in that spot."
Originally, graduating early was not the plan for Romagnano. Halfway through her high school years, the opportunity to graduate ahead of her intended year presented itself, and it was an opportunity she had to think about.
"It was probably the beginning of my sophomore year when it was kind of like this could happen," Romagnano said. "It was becoming more of a trend where people were graduating early, more and more. I had enough credits to do it, so I went and talked to my academic advisor at my high school before I said anything to colleges, and she said you can do it if you take like one or two classes in the summer."
The transition from high school to college did not put any extra stress to her. The timing for how everything worked out made Romagnano excited for the next chapter of her life.
"I felt like I had known enough in advance that I was going to graduate early that it would seem weird to graduate on time," Romagnano said. "I'm thinking it would be weird for me to still be in high school. I wasn't really that nervous to come here because I knew the coaches and the girls on the team were all so inclusive and everything. I was just excited."
Changes to lineups began as the season got underway. While assessing the beam lineup, head coach Sarah Brown remembered how Romagnano is ready the second she completes with her mental sets.
"When she came up to prepare for her routine, everything she kept saying was, 'I'm ready. I got this. I'm ready to go. I just want to do it.' Just really confident and ready to get things started." Brown said.
Before moving Romagnano to the starting position for beam, Brown discussed the possible change in the lineup to her eager freshman and Ava Verdeflor, who was originally first in the lineup. Once Brown got the approval from Verdeflor for the change, she asked if that change would be okay with Romagnano, who was immediately up for the change.
"Bella walked up to me and I was like hey, very gently, like I was thinking about maybe moving you to first and I said it gently because I wasn't sure how she would respond," Brown said. "She instantly was like, 'Yep, I'm ready. I'll do it. No problem. I'll go first.' You could just tell like right away, that was where it was going to fit."
Since the recent change in the lineup two weeks ago, Romagnano has been excelling on the beam in that position, continuing to stay a step ahead. With the possible stress of starting in the first position her rookie year, Romagnano stays calm by being positive.
"I do better when I smile," Romagnano said. "I just keep thinking smile and smiling at the judges, and just think that I'm in practice.
"Bring myself back to just the beam and I."
With that mindset, and no matter her age or experience, Romagnano will be ready to go.
