University of Georgia Athletics
Q&A With Mary Beth Box
July 24, 2015 | Gymnastics
ATHENS-----GeorgiaDogs.com recently had a chance to catch up with senior Gymdog Mary Beth Box to discuss her summer and the upcoming season. She offered the following comments:
GeorgiaDogs.com: What does a typical week look like for you in the gym this time of the year?
Mary Beth Box: We do strength and conditioning three days a week, so we come in for about an hour at 7:30 a.m., and that varies depending on what Josh Rucci (strength coach) wants us to work on. A lot of it is geared toward conditioning testing we have at the beginning of the school year. Then we have practice from about 8:30-11:30. We always have Fridays off, so a lot of times the team will decide what time to come in on Friday, and we'll have a workout with Josh, and some people might do extra conditioning or just stretch because we don't have coaches here. That's a typical summer week for me.
GeorgiaDogs.com: You have been one the most successful walk-ons in the history of the Georgia gymnastics program and were recently awarded a scholarship. How did you find out about it, and what was your reaction?
Mary Beth Box: Danna (Durante) told be one day that she needed to talk to me, so I went to her office, and Phil (Ogletree) and Jay (Hogue) were there and Brandie Jay was actually there for something else. Danna said it's been a long time coming, but you earned it and we wish this could've happened sooner. I was very excited and it didn't really sink in at first, but it's an honor. I feel so blessed, and it shows that if you have a dream and work hard, you can get rewarded.
GeorgiaDogs.com: What are your impressions of the three freshmen?
Mary Beth Box: I love them. They are a fun class. I think they'll contribute not just in terms of gymnastics, but also with their personalities. Gracie is walking sunshine and brightens your day. Caroline is super sweet and she's fun too. Sydney - sometimes she's a little more reserved, but when she opens up she is silly. So they're going to be a fun class, and they're talented too.
GeorgiaDogs.com: Is it hard to believe that you're already a senior?
Mary Beth Box: Yes because time has gone by so fast and it seems like so much has happened in a short amount of time, but no because I think I've learned so much and experienced so much and grown so much as a person. So I do feel like I'm a senior in that sense with everything I've learned in the gym and about myself.
GeorgiaDogs.com: What are some of the things you've been doing this summer?
Mary Beth Box: For the most part I've been working camps. So I'll be here in Athens for a week, then I'll go and work camp for a week. That's pretty much been my whole summer. I've been down to south Georgia, Colorado and worked another one in Atlanta, and the two Gymdog camps, so it's been a summer full of camps. I went to Colorado with Beth (Roberts), and it was a blast.
GeorgiaDogs.com: What's been the general feeling of the team this summer?
Mary Beth Box: I feel like the past couple of days in the gym, the team has been doing really well. There's been a different tone in the gym, and it feels more competitive. If we keep this up, I think we'll have a great year.
GeorgiaDogs.com: Will we still see the moonwalk in your beam routine?
Mary Beth Box: Yes. I might add something else to the routine. I'm working on adding a little more Michael Jackson pizazz to my routine.
