Q&A with Memorial High School Gymnast Alexa Shields

While Memorial High School offers various on-campus and club sports, there are also students who participate in off-campus athletics. I sat down with Alexa Shields, a junior at Memorial High School and a Level 10 gymnast to ask her the top 10 most frequently asked questions she gets as a Level 10 gymnast. 

How did she get interested in gymnastics?
Shields started gymnastics at age three when her mother signed her up for classes. She fell in love with the sport and began competing when she was in the first grade.

Where does she train?
Shields trained at Stars Gymnastics in the Memorial area up until 8th grade. Stars then opened up a larger facility in Katy and that is where she currently trains. 

What does an average practice day look like?
Shields leaves school at 1:15 p.m. to head to Stars. Once she arrives, she finishes some homework until she starts practice at 2:30 p.m. She and her teammates warm up for 30 minutes by doing a workout video, which is then followed by another 30 minutes of stretching. Next, the team does a quick 15 minutes of conditioning. The main part of practice consists of 45 minutes spent on each of the four events: vault, bars, beam, and floor. Finally, the girls do 45 minutes more of extra conditioning until practice ends at 7:30 p.m.

What is her favorite event?
Of the four events, Shields says that floor is her favorite.

"It’s a power event but I still get to express myself through dance,” said Alexa. 

What is her favorite skill on each event?
Shields’ favorite vault is the one she will be competing this year: a Yurchenko full. To do this vault a gymnast does a round-off back handspring onto the table then does a back layout with a full twist off of the table.

On bars, Shield’s favorite skill as her dismount is a double Arabian: a back flip with a half turn into two front flips.

On beam, Shields enjoys her mount which involves her jump backwards and catching the beam in an upside down position. Lastly, Shields’ favorite floor skill is a double back tuck. 

Does she have any pre-meet rituals?
Before meets, Shields likes to listen to country music.

“It relaxes me and keeps my mind off of the competition ahead,” she said.

What is her favorite memory of her gymnastics career?
Shields says her favorite memory of her gymnastics career was at the Level 9 Western Championships in 2019 because she got to compete and meet with other impressive gymnasts from all over Texas.

What moment in her gymnastics career is she most proud of?
Shields is proudest of her performance at a competition in Atlantic City, New Jersey where she won 1st in the Individual All-Around Competition. 

What is her favorite college gymnastics team?
Shields’ loves the Louisiana State University gymnastics team because of the fun team atmosphere. Alexa also enjoys watching the team compete because two of her former teammates, Lexi Nibbs along with Maddie Rau, are on the team. 

What is the biggest lesson gymnastics has taught her?
Alexa says that the biggest lesson that gymnastics has taught her is perseverance and determination, which gets her through the hardest moments.