Every month, Arizona Gymnastics will present an interview with a GymCat alumna. This week, Kara Fry-Meyer (’01), is featured and discusses her time with the GymCats, how Arizona impacted her life, and what she’s been up to since graduation.
Meyer currently works as an Assistant Director in CATS Medical Services oversees the paper work, insurance, billing and payroll in the training office. Meyer married former Arizona baseball player, Mike Meyer, and they have two children, Saylor and Benjamin.
What did you accomplish at Arizona and as a GymCat?
I think the major thing I accomplished as a GymCat was being able to work as a team. Club gymnastics is much more about you as an individual, so when you get to college it becomes more of a team sport. It’s a big transition, so I think that was my biggest takeaway.
As far as what I accomplished at Arizona, it was learning what it meant to be a part of a big family. I learned that this athletic department is a family, and now that I work here, I feel like I came home. I sometimes still feel like a student-athlete because I see people who worked here while I was a student!
What have you been up to since graduation?
I spent time after graduation working in the training room here in McKale. After, I took a job as an office manager at an aquatics rehabilitation center in Tucson that focuses on physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Mike and I started our family shortly after, and I left to work at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon for about seven and a half years!
I am from Pennsylvania originally, so I love being where the sun is. I’m still not used to the heat though! I love Tucson, and I’m so glad to be here. My husband is from here, my parents are now retired here, so Tucson is my home.
How do you feel Arizona helped you grow as a person?
Traveling to school so far from home gave me a sense of independence and definitely helped me grow up. At Arizona, student-athletes learn how to support each other and how we are all part of the same family. I was able to develop friendships with athletes on all the other sports teams, and we had such a strong sense of camaraderie. We were all competing for the same school, the same purpose, and we were all so proud to wear the “A” on our chest.
Leaving college and entering the real world, people usually have to work as a team. Being a student-athlete is beneficial because you already understand how to work on a team. Not many people have that experience, so it’s one of the biggest benefits I saw after college.
Are you still involved in gymnastics? What do you miss most about the University of Arizona?
I’m not currently coaching, but I did coach for a while after graduation. I am still involved with Arizona gymnastics as an alumna! My daughter has taken some classes here and there, and I also volunteer at Arizona GymCat alum, Mary (Reiss) Farias’ gym sometimes.
What about Arizona stood out to you when being recruited?
I love the weather! The cold in Pennsylvania made practicing tough, so the sunshine here is great. I love the campus here too – there is no other campus like Arizona. Everything that Arizona Athletics offers student-athletes was very enticing to me. I felt a strong connection with the coaching staff, especially Bill Ryden. The focus was not only on producing great athletes, but caring about us as people outside of the sport as well. As soon as I came here, I felt like I was home. Stepping off the plane I knew I had chosen the right place.
What do you miss most about being a student-athlete?
I miss the camaraderie we had as a team, but I have run into so many former student-athletes while traveling! I love when people come back to town because it takes you back in time, and I do miss being part of a team. I miss my teammates, going to practice with them every day, and how supportive we were of each other. I miss competing too! There truly is no other feeling like being on the floor and performing in front of so many people.
I miss walking around our beautiful campus, and I miss being a student, as well. I don't feel I appreciated that experience as much as I should have. I'm truly grateful that I am able to experience this University and Athletic Department from the 'other side'. I have a new found respect and appreciation for what it takes to make this Athletic Department one of the best in the country.
What are some of your favorite memories at Arizona and with the GymCats?
We always enjoyed going to the football and baseball games, but my favorite memories are from the road trips we went on as a team. On away trips, our coaches made sure we had something to do while we were there – it wasn’t just business and competition. Being able to explore and have fun helped us bond and brought us a lot closer.
Los Angeles was always a highlight for us because we would go to Six Flags! It was fun enjoying each other’s company and riding rollercoasters. I also loved going on trips to the Bay Area. We would often visit the pier to see the seals and explore the area.
What advice would you give to current GymCat athletes?
1. Soak everything in!
2. Don’t take anything for granted and take advantage of all the resources that Arizona Athletics has to offer.
3. Work hard and train hard, but also enjoy what you’re doing.
4. Take advantage of your experience as an athlete, but more importantly as a student. Sit in the front of your classes and talk to your professors.
5. Give 100% in the gym because you will look back and wish you would have done a little bit more.
6. Support all the other teams and student-athletes on campus.
You will look back on these years and cherish them forever. Leave knowing you did everything you could and took advantage of every opportunity presented to you.
Anything else you would like to share about your time at Arizona?
I love being a part of the Arizona Gymnastics program. I feel like I have little sisters, and I love going into the gym and seeing how they’re doing. I love watching practice and rooting for them because I know what they’re going through and love being there for them. It’s cool knowing that I have GymCat sisters all over the country. We have such a unique bond and still stay very close. I feel so lucky to be part of this sisterhood and program.
