Morgan Porter has had a simply remarkable rookie season in which she helped lead Missouri to one of its best years to date. She combines huge power with finesse and style--not to mention a very impressive level of consistency.

Porter achieved a career-high 39.675 in the all-around at Arkansas on March 4th and went on to place third in the all-around at the Minneapolis regional with a 39.30, which qualified her to NCAA Championships as an individual. 

Hear from Porter on her exciting accomplishments as a young Tiger...

FloGymnastics: How would you describe your freshman year with the team? 
Morgan Porter: Absolutely incredible! The feeling of being out there on the competition floor with my 14 teammates who love and support me endlessly while representing my school is just irreplaceable. I loved every second of it. 


Talk about the Regionals experience a bit. Were you nervous, excited, etc.?
I'll never forget it -- the arena echoed with the screams and cheers from our amped-up fans and teammates. I was a little bit nervous, but not much more than I was for any of the other meets this season. With the massive amount of energy our team had at Regionals, it was impossible to not get excited. I want to say that it was by far the most fun and exciting meet of the season. 




How does it feel to have qualified for NCAA Nationals?
It leaves me completely speechless. I was not really expecting it at all. It completely slipped my mind that individuals could qualify to Nationals, so when I found out that I did, I was just overwhelmed with excitement and could not believe it.


What are you most looking forward to for Nationals? Do you have specific goals you want to achieve?
I am really just looking forward to competing with some of the best teams in the country. My goals for this meet are not really different than what they have been for all of the previous meets leading up to this one. I have been focusing on more minor details in practice this past week, so I am looking to transfer that into competition. Other than that, I am going out there to have fun, enjoy the experience, and do what I have been doing all season.




What is your favorite part about college gymnastics?
Without a doubt, the team. There is no bond that compares to the one I have with my teammates. We spend so much time together and they just became my family instantly. Being able to share this experience with all of them is the greatest feeling in the world. 


What has been the highlight of the year so far?
We have had many special moments this season, but I think that the highlight of the year would be our meet against Georgia, because it was our first-ever SEC win. It got us all pumped up, but more importantly, I think it helped us realize how great of a team we are. Being a part of that moment was indescribable.


Watch Porter in action at the NCAA Championships this weekend! Stay tuned for videos, interviews, and more from Ft. Worth, TX.


Related:
Minneapolis Regional Results
NCAA Championships Coverage
NCAA Championships Full List Of Qualifiers