Denver is heading back to the NCAA Championships for the first time in nearly 10 years, and Maddie Karr has been a significant contributor to that feat. The freshman is a mainstay in the all-around for the Pioneers and has been especially stellar on vault and balance beam all season.

Karr enters the NCAA Championships on Friday in St. Louis ranked 10th in the all-around and sixth on vault. She posted a 10.0 on her Yurchenko 1 1/2 on Feb. 18 against Minnesota. She was the fourth Pioneer to post a perfect 10 on vault.

ICYMI: Freshman Maddie Karr earned a perfect 10.0 on vault tonight! #DU1NATION #DUGameDay pic.twitter.com/xDbcC6OqJt

— Denver Gymnastics (@DU_Gymnastics) February 19, 2017

She has posted at least a 9.825 on all 14 vaults this season, including five scores of 9.900 or better. Karr has also been incredibly consistent on floor exercise, where she has not scored below a 9.850 this season. She is capable of scoring in the 9.900 range and has done so five times in 2017, including a season-best 9.950 on Feb. 11.

The Pioneers haven't qualified to nationals as a team since 2008 and will face conference foe Oklahoma and a quartet of Pac-12 teams in UCLA, Utah, Washington, and Oregon State in Friday's first semifinal session.

FloGymnastics: What is your favorite event to perform on and why?
Maddie Karr: I love performing on floor, because I just get to have a big smile and enjoy the crowd and interacting with all my teammates while performing.

What is your favorite skill to perform on any event?
I like performing my Gienger on bars. I just like flying through the air.

What is the most challenging skill that you've learned and what made it challenging for you?
Definitely my Yurchenko 1 1/2 on vault. That took me the longest time. It probably took me around four or five years to finally master it. It's challenging just because of the day-in, day-out practice of it can differ from day to day. You have to learn how to make those tiny adjustments throughout the vault.

How special was it for you to get a perfect 10 on that vault this season?
It was so exciting. The best part about it was it was just a team accomplishment. Everyone's hard work and the ability for everyone to push each other was captured in that moment.

What was the biggest thing you took away from regionals last week that you'll use heading into nationals?
I think the biggest thing is that our team is fully capable of handling the pressure and the expectations. Everyone went in and did their job and hit. We know we can hit just like in the gym, and I think that shows how ready we are to perform at nationals.

How does the adversity that your team faces during the regular season help prepare you for the postseason?
I think it just shows all the hard work that we've done in the preseason and during the season is really paying off. With those little bumps in the road that we're strong enough. We just move past it and look towards the future. We've got everyone healthy for nationals, so we're all very excited.

What has the transition been like going from club to college gymnastics?
It's definitely hard. It's a really big adjustment moving away from home, moving away from friends and family. But I think the best part is here at Denver, they made the transition so easy. They set us up with all the resources you could possibly imagine, and it really is an easy transition.

How do you bounce back from a fall?
We definitely just take a moment, take a deep breath as a team, refocus our energy, and just look forward to the next routine and going even more aggressive for the next person that's going up.

What has been the biggest challenge for you personally this season?
I think the biggest challenge for me has been just balancing school and traveling and the whole process of competing every single weekend. That's been hard, but they also just make it really easy for us to get the help that we need.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
I would definitely say passionate, persistent, and competitive.

What are you most looking forward to about competing at nationals?
Just the whole bonding experience with our team. It's so much fun to travel with all of your best friends. I'm just looking forward to seeing what we can do at semifinals and try to make it to Super Six.

This is the first time Denver has qualified to nationals as a team since 2008. What does it mean to you, especially as a freshman, to have done so well this year?
It's exciting. I think it just shows the coaches have really just tried to create a new culture, and I think that culture is showing and we're living up to our expectations. I think it's just an exciting time to be a Pioneer.