Meet the Interns: An Introduction

We're tweeting @you, we're infiltrating your Facebook with the latest haps from the Gymnastike home front, and we're keeping you in the loop on developments in the gymnastics world. Who are we? The Gymnastike Summer Interns! 

It has been so fun highlighting and providing content for Gymnastike these past few weeks. Through the comments, tweets, and shares we feel like we have gotten to know you, so we thought it was time to give back! As we will be hanging out together for the next couple of months, it seemed only fair we introduce ourselves. 

Elizabeth Stranahan: Site Editor

Hi Gymnastike fans! My name is Elizabeth, but most people call me Lizzy. I was born and raised in Lawrenceville, GA and started taking gymnastics at the age of three. In club, I trained at Georgia Gymnastics Academy Lawrenceville under Head Coach Judy Prestigiacomo-Miller. While in club, I was a two-time JO National qualifier. In 2008, I tied for fourth place on the floor exercise. For the past four years, I competed for Iowa State University. I entered Iowa State as a walk-on, but earned a scholarship for my junior and senior seasons. I was also honored to serve as co-captain during my final two years. Despite coming to Iowa State as an event specialist, I became an all around competitor by my senior year and received the highest all around score posted by a Cyclone in 2013. In my final season with the Cyclones, I placed third all around at the Big XII Conference meet and was named to the Big XII First Team. I was also named 2013 Big XII Scholar-Athlete of the Year. As a student at Iowa State, I graduated with my bachelor's in English-literature in 2012. I am currently in my second year of master's work where I am studying English-rhetoric.

Outside of gymnastics, I love to read, watch movies, and hang with my friends. My favorite author is John Green, so DFTBA to those in the know. And I have a soft spot in my heart--and stomach--for any cheesecake dessert. Looking forward to a good summer helping out around Gymnastike and sharing my passion for gymnastics!



Brittney Emmons: Social Media

Hey ya’ll! My name is Brittney and I am from Pensacola, Florida.  I began my gymnastics career at the age of 2.5 at First City Gymnastics.  During club, I was a three-time all-around winner of the AAU Junior Olympic Games, a qualifier to 4 time qualifier to Level 10 JO Nationals, the 2004 JO National Floor Champion, and trained in the Elite program from 2001-2005.  I received a scholarship to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where I competed in the all-around.   I received the nickname “Brit House” during my freshman season while at Kent State when the song Brick House played right before I competed my floor routine.  From then on, that is what my teammates and coaches referred to me as.  During my first three years at Ball State, I was able to make it to the NCAA Regionals on vault and floor my freshman season, and then in the all-around my sophomore and junior season.  During the preseason of my senior year, I tore my achilles causing my season to be over.  I made the decision to take my 5th year this past season and was named MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year, named to the All-MAC First team, Academic All-MAC team, as well as making to the NCAA Regionals in the all-around position. 

During my 5th year, I worked on my Master’s Degree in Sport Administration; where I will be graduating on July 20th. I graduated with my undergraduate degree in May, 2013 in Biology.  I am hoping to pursue a career in college coaching.  My favorite color is lime green and my favorite event to compete was floor, as you can see in the video! I am very excited to be interning with Gymnastike this summer to help build my knowledge of not only the social media world, but the gymnastics world as well!