In this ongoing series, FloGymnastics spotlights this year's NCAA seniors heading into their final season. Next up is Arkansas' Amanda Wellick.

Wellick is one of three seniors this season at the University of Arkansas. Unfortunately, she suffered a torn Achilles in pre-meet warms up in just the second meet of the season. In the first week of her senior season, Wellick won the vault title (9.90) and posted a strong all-around score of 39.30.

Prior to her senior season, Wellick has been a big contributor on all four events for the Razorbacks. As a junior she qualified to the NCAA National Championships as an individual qualifier in the all-around. As a freshman, Wellick earned the SEC freshman of the year title after being the top freshman of the year throughout the season. She has set stellar personal highs of 9.95 (vault), 9.90 (bars), 9.90 (beam), 9.95 (floor) and 39.60 (all-around).

We wish Wellick a speedy recovery from her injury and look forward to seeing her back on the competition floor next year!



FloGymnsatics: What is your major? When are you graduating?
Amanda Wellick: Major- Marketing, Minor- Sports Rec/Sports Management & Supply Chain Management
I will graduate May 2017

What have you learned about yourself in your time at Arkansas?
I have really grown as a person and learned to make the right choices. I have really learned to understand myself as a gymnast and how to make each turn count. I have also learned to embrace every moment.

What is your role on the team this season as a senior?
As a senior on the team I am someone who my teammates can look up to. I have had experience going to nationals and I try to bring that experience to my team. I also try to remind them to enjoy each moment.

What is your biggest accomplishment personally?
Qualifying to nationals as an individual.

What are you still looking to accomplish at Arkansas?
Coming back for a 5th year! This year I want to help my team in any way that I can. I want to help my team on the competition floor next year and be with them competing at nationals.

What are your team goals this season?
We have team goals to take one meet at a time and accomplish our mini goals. We have big goals to make night session of SEC Championships. We want to dominate at regionals as we host this year, and make it to nationals as a team!

What is your favorite part about competition day?
My favorite moment is when you stick a dismount and hear the excitement coming from your team. I also enjoy the excitement when my teammates do well.

How have your coaches at Arkansas helped you become a better gymnast?
Mark- he has been like a dad to me. He works hard to get to know us personally.
Sam- She has been a role model to me. I do not want to let her down.
Jamie- She was a great athlete herself and it is great to be able to turn to her for advice and support.
Ryan- He is a volunteer coach for us. He's always lightening the mood and cracking joke, and as an athlete, that's always great to have. He genuinely cares about us, brings an extra added knowledge through his sacrificed time and has just been great to work with.

What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to stay at Arkansas for grad school. I am still deciding on my path for grad school- marketing or sports management.

How do you like to spend your time outside of the gym?
I have a dog- so I love to spend time with him! I also like to spend time with my teammates, we like to go on hikes and go to the mall.

Tell us something about you that others might not know about you?
I like to save everything from each year as a memory in our shoe box as we get new shoes each season.

What is one word to describe your attitude/personality in the gym?
Hardworking

Why would you tell a future recruit to come to Arkansas?
The traditions here are like no other. We have a beautiful campus and our fans our amazing. With no pro sports team in Arkansas, we are the big focus. We also have first class facilities.

You experienced an injury early this season. How are you feeling? What has been the hardest part since your injury?
It happened in pre-meet warm up the second meet of the season. I had surgery right after and I am on the road to recovery. The hardest part is that I want to help my team out as much as I can, and that is hard being injured (even moving mats)! I was very emotional when it happened and immediately said sorry to my coaches. But I quickly changed my thinking to about the team and finding ways I can help them.

Do you have any plans to red-shirt this season?
Yes I plan to red-shirt this season and come back next year for my 5th year!

Anything else you would like to share with us?
This year we have a theme "The Build Up." It goes off of John Wooden's pyramid of success, which I am a big believer in. We have assigned each block of the pyramid to each meet, and our final block/meet is competition greatness.


Related:
Senior Spotlight: Michigan's Nicole Artz
Senior Spotlight: Oklahoma's Chayse Capps
Senior Spotlight: Georgia's Lauren Johnson
Senior Spotlight: LSU's Ashleigh Gnat
Senior Spotlight: Stanford's Rachel Daum
Senior Spotlight: Auburn's Kullen Hlawek
Senior Spotlight: Florida's Claire Boyce
Senior Spotlight: Utah's Baely Rowe
Senior Spotlight: Auburn's Kelsey Kopec
Senior Spotlight: Oregon State's Madeline Gardiner

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