GymCat Alumni TBT: Danielle Buchanan
05/25/2017 | Gymnastics
Name: Danielle Buchanan
Years competed: 2011-2016
Year graduated: 2016
What did you accomplish at Arizona and as a GymCat?
In my sophomore season, I never scored below a 9.8 on vault and was the first GymCat to do so through a whole season in over ten years. I've come in clutch when the team needed me for some solid routines, but really, if I'm being serious, my sideline dance moves were killer.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I moved to St. Louis, Missouri and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.
How do you feel Arizona helped you grow as a person?
College sports are much more beyond the wins and losses. Arizona Gymnastics taught me how to compete full throttle in the toughest of situations, enabled me to overcome adversity with grace, and helped me develop into a relentless, yet humble human being. I don't know that I will have another experience in my life that will shape me quite like Arizona Gymnastics did. It is such an energetic environment and I am so grateful for my time there and the person I became because of this program.
Are you still involved in gymnastics? What do you miss most about the University of Arizona?
If watching NCAA gymnastics compulsively throughout the season and texting the current GymCats after every awesome routine they do counts as still being involved, then yes, I am still religiously involved in gymnastics. I miss my GymCats the most, of course. I miss the comradery of the sport and I miss training, traveling, and doing everything and anything with my best friends every single day.
What about Arizona stood out to you when being recruited?
Both of my parents and grandparents went to the University of Arizona, so I was born a Wildcat. I enjoyed the 365 days of sunshine and it was my dream to compete for the Pac 12, the best conference in the country.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
Hmm.. everything! I miss the atmosphere, the people, and the energy you can feel walking the halls of McKale. Everyone in the Arizona Athletics community has so much passion for what they do it's contagious. There wasn't a day in my career that I wasn't grateful for the people around me, the constant support, and the opportunity to do what I love with my best friends by my side on a national level.
What are some of your favorite memories at Arizona and with the GymCats?
It's hard to pinpoint exact favorite memories because even in times of struggle, this program was always so amazing to me and my teammates are my best friends so nothing that happened wasn't my favorite. The senior meet every year was really special to me, and it was a great time to celebrate the class that led the team each year. Waking up for 6am lifts, although daunting, led to hilarious moments like Shelby Edwards wearing an inside out shirt, Gabrielle Laub forgetting anything and everything she was supposed to remember to bring that day, and Haylie Hendrickson always doing something crazy. Every year brings a different team, and every teammate brings a different personality and spark to our team and that made every day special.
What advice would you give to current GymCat athletes?
Enjoy every single moment, even the bad ones. Arizona Gymnastics will be the best time of your life, forever. It is where you find who you are, find your best friends for life and find the resilience to accomplish anything you set your mind to. It's a time of growth, a time of hard work and grit, and, most importantly, a time to become a part of Arizona Athletics, the best family imaginable.
Anything else you would like to share about your time at Arizona?
The time is always too short, stay in college forever, love gymnastics forever, and BEARDOWN FOREVER. Go Cats!
Years competed: 2011-2016
Year graduated: 2016
What did you accomplish at Arizona and as a GymCat?
In my sophomore season, I never scored below a 9.8 on vault and was the first GymCat to do so through a whole season in over ten years. I've come in clutch when the team needed me for some solid routines, but really, if I'm being serious, my sideline dance moves were killer.
What have you been up to since graduation?
I moved to St. Louis, Missouri and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.
How do you feel Arizona helped you grow as a person?
College sports are much more beyond the wins and losses. Arizona Gymnastics taught me how to compete full throttle in the toughest of situations, enabled me to overcome adversity with grace, and helped me develop into a relentless, yet humble human being. I don't know that I will have another experience in my life that will shape me quite like Arizona Gymnastics did. It is such an energetic environment and I am so grateful for my time there and the person I became because of this program.
Are you still involved in gymnastics? What do you miss most about the University of Arizona?
If watching NCAA gymnastics compulsively throughout the season and texting the current GymCats after every awesome routine they do counts as still being involved, then yes, I am still religiously involved in gymnastics. I miss my GymCats the most, of course. I miss the comradery of the sport and I miss training, traveling, and doing everything and anything with my best friends every single day.
What about Arizona stood out to you when being recruited?
Both of my parents and grandparents went to the University of Arizona, so I was born a Wildcat. I enjoyed the 365 days of sunshine and it was my dream to compete for the Pac 12, the best conference in the country.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
Hmm.. everything! I miss the atmosphere, the people, and the energy you can feel walking the halls of McKale. Everyone in the Arizona Athletics community has so much passion for what they do it's contagious. There wasn't a day in my career that I wasn't grateful for the people around me, the constant support, and the opportunity to do what I love with my best friends by my side on a national level.
What are some of your favorite memories at Arizona and with the GymCats?
It's hard to pinpoint exact favorite memories because even in times of struggle, this program was always so amazing to me and my teammates are my best friends so nothing that happened wasn't my favorite. The senior meet every year was really special to me, and it was a great time to celebrate the class that led the team each year. Waking up for 6am lifts, although daunting, led to hilarious moments like Shelby Edwards wearing an inside out shirt, Gabrielle Laub forgetting anything and everything she was supposed to remember to bring that day, and Haylie Hendrickson always doing something crazy. Every year brings a different team, and every teammate brings a different personality and spark to our team and that made every day special.
What advice would you give to current GymCat athletes?
Enjoy every single moment, even the bad ones. Arizona Gymnastics will be the best time of your life, forever. It is where you find who you are, find your best friends for life and find the resilience to accomplish anything you set your mind to. It's a time of growth, a time of hard work and grit, and, most importantly, a time to become a part of Arizona Athletics, the best family imaginable.
Anything else you would like to share about your time at Arizona?
The time is always too short, stay in college forever, love gymnastics forever, and BEARDOWN FOREVER. Go Cats!
Players Mentioned
Saturday, March 07
Wednesday, March 04
Monday, February 23
Saturday, February 21
