Amanda Hall reaches end of NCAA gymnastics career on top

CORVALLIS, Ore. - It took a few tries, but Amanda Hall is finally there.

A 2002 Central Kitsap High School graduate and current University of New Hampshire senior, Hall has earned the right to represent the Wildcats at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics National Championships, this Thursday through today at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Ore.

But it hasn’t come easy.

In collegiate women’s gymnastics, unlike other individual sports, athletes must qualify for the national meet out of the regional meet, rather than via a series of qualifiers from throughout the season.

“Two years ago I was an alternate,” Hall said. “Last year, I fell in my first event. If you fall, you’re pretty much done.”

But at this year’s NCAA Northeast Regional at the University of Michigan almost two weeks ago, Hall shined, carrying her New Hampshire team to a fourth-place finish and earning an all-around invite. Michigan won the meet.

Had Hall not been invited in the all-around competition, she would have still qualified as the NCAA Northeast Champion in the floor exercise with the top score of 9.9. Hall also scored 9.725 on the bars, 9.75 on the beam and 9,875 on the vault, good for second place overall.

“I was very excited,” she said of learning she’d been selected to the all-around competition. “It would have been amazing in one event, but to do all four is just awesome.”

In gymnastics since the age of 7, Hall started competitively locally with the Olympic Gymnastics Center. When she reached CK her sophomore year, she began training and competing with Grace Gymnastics of Tacoma. She said her early experiences taught her the most important traits she could have learned.

“Just being dedicated and working hard is all that it really takes,” Hall said. “It takes a lot to become a college athlete.”

While coming close the past two seasons, Hall said she’s just glad to have made it once before her college career ends.

“With each event, I knew as long as I hit, I’d have to be in,” she recalled from regionals.

She said the key for her this season was not only remaining consistent, but also being confident.

“It all comes down to being ready, being confident,” she said. “Before, I was looking at it like, ‘I can’t mess up.’ This year, I’ve come in more confident. That’s helped me out this year.”

Graduating this year from UNH with a degree in psychology, Hall also is a pre-med student. She said making nationals also will help her look good to prospective medical schools.

“Qualifying for nationals shows a lot of dedication,” Hall said. “I think the school will look at that.”

While she said she had no specific preference on where to go, she said the ocean has to be nearby. In fact, Hall made that clear shortly after arriving in Corvallis.

“It’s amazing,” Hall said. “And I’m just really excited because I’m here on the West Coast.”

Since none of her UNH teammates qualified, Hall will perform with the University of Arkansas. Although not her Wildcats, Hall said it will be reassuring to have someone there with her.

“It’ll be nice to be with a team rather than separated by myself,” she said. “It’s fun to have people cheering for you still.”

Hall won’t change up any of her routines, she said. Instead, she’ll focus on doing the things that got her this far.

“I’ve been practicing pretty much the same,” Hall said. “I’m not changing my routine or anything. And I don’t have any pressure. It’s just a great experience.”

Rather than even competing, Hall said she looks forward to seeing some of the other competition.

“I’m excited to see the competition,” she said. “A lot of the girls have been at the Olympics.”

Ultimately, she’s just glad to go out with a bang.

“I had high expectations in making it this year,” she said. “I think it’s a great way to finish up.”

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