Name: Allie Flores

Years competed: 4

Year graduated: 2015

What did you accomplish at Arizona and as a GymCat?
Contributing to the team all four years of my career was extremely special. I was All-Conference 2013 and 2014 and a Pac 12 Co-Vault Champion with my teammate Shelby Edwards. Although, my biggest collegiate accomplishment would have to be earning my degree.

 

What have you been up to since graduation?
I have been working in the behavioral health field and currently work in a behavioral health clinic in Tucson. I primarily work with high needs youth and adolescents and am working towards my masters in Clinical Psychology. My goal is to work with at-risk youth in the hospital setting. Of course being a retired athlete I have to keep myself busy and active, I love boxing, pure barre, and yoga! 

 

How do you feel Arizona helped you grow as a person?
Being a student athlete at Arizona has definitely shaped the person I am today. Through my amazing teammates and coaches, I really found my self confidence and voice. In highschool, I was so shy and reserved. I really feel like being on this team helped me to become more outcoming and resilient. I take with me the lessons of hard work and perseverance that I learned as an student athlete here and apply that to my current profession and graduate school classes.

 

Are you still involved in gymnastics? What do you miss most about the University of Arizona?

I was a liaison for FloSports for the 2017 season, it was amazing to be able to follow the girls and interview them about the competitions. Before that, I would try and attend as many Arizona competitions as I could. What I miss about the university of Arizona (besides all of my gymnastics memories) is all of the non-athlete friends that I made. I still keep in touch with them! I also love how there is so much school pride. A few moths back I was in Prague and i came across a guy who had a U of A hat on, we ended up chatting for a little bit and figured out that he had been an athlete with form coach/gymnast Randi Acosta, it was amazing!
 

What about Arizona stood out to you when being recruited?
As a kid coming from Chicago, I was excited to be around weather that wasn't below freezing half the year as well as the amazing team and coaches. John recruited me and really made Arizona feel like family. Arizona also has an amazing gymnastics facility and is totally top notch when it comes to equipment. It was a no brainer.  
 

What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
I miss always having someone available to help you. Having tutors and life skills facilitators  on hand is so essential to transitioning out in the real world. I also miss BDK and being able to show up to class/public places in spandex or sweat pants and having it be acceptable.

 

What are some of your favorite memories at Arizona and with the GymCats?
My all time favorite memory would have to be 2013 regional where we had placed first in our session. The team dynamic at that time was amazing and I go back to that moment for my happy place. I also have so many amazing memories from my senior year, I remember really being in the moment and appreciating everything because I knew I would never experience that again. I kept a journal of my senior season and read it back to sometimes when I feel like reminiscing.

 

What advice would you give to current GymCat athletes?
My biggest advice would be to LIVE IN THE MOMENT. It goes by so fast and its so important to soak up every ounce of it before you graduate. Keep grinding and love every second of it.
 

Anything else you would like to share about your time at Arizona?
I loved being a student-athelte here and wouldn't trade the memories or even the hardships for anything.