1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - What might the future hold for Makayla: May 23rd, 10:25am

Episode Date: May 23, 2022

Off to be a GA for a D3 Womens Gymnastics team in IllinoisAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You're listening to One-on-One with DP. Sponsored by Beatrice Bakery. On 93-7 The Ticket and The Ticket FM.com. We want to thank the guys from Husker Baseball for stopping in. They're going to sign some baseball sports. And we will give away signed baseball if you can answer this question. And the first one on the Sardhamming Tech line that can answer this. I need to know how many career home runs for Cam Chick.

The first correct answer gets to sign baseball, and we'll do something else as well. We need trivia for you. Give me something. Does it have to be gymnastics? No, it could be whatever question you want to ask about you. You want answered. Good, because I don't know gymnastics stats. Yeah.

Like, you know how many events you want, right? One. Yeah, like how many events did you win ever in your career at Nebraska? I do. Do you finish first? I think one, it was a three-way tie between me. Actually, Kenzie Robey and one of my other seniors. So that's a win, though.

Like, what, two years ago or something like that, at Penn State. That's a win. But my next one, I don't know. I've come really close, I know. One that I actually did have, like, was just me, which was actually, like, pretty heartfelt moment, I suppose, was this year. It was the breast cancer meet that we had, which I, do in memory of my dad and I won floor

and I remember because so you would know. So you have one. Yeah. I mean that's the only one that I can like think of though but yeah for sure. Well no we can't ask that question. Yeah well. Well and then there was this one time when I got a

a 995 on Beam and I was like oh I got it and then a girl went up I remember it was us versus Iowa and a girl Like we went to Beam first. They went to Florida. Then we swapped. And I got 9.95 on Beam. This was our senior meet, my supposed to be my senior year.

And then I took my fifth year. And probably best beam routine I've done. And I was like, ah, I got it. Yep. And then a girl from Iowa got 9975 and beat me. And I was like, awesome. Horse hockey. Then I will, here's the trivia question for Michaela.

And you guys again, you can answer it as best you can. Who was her first collegiate? competition against. Oh, I think I know. I hope you know. I think I know. Hey, I've been here for five years and you lose the memory sometimes. Wait, my first ever mean? Yeah, so, and then you can put that into the Sard of Hammond text line as well.

We do not have a correct answer yet for Camchick's career home runs. And the other one to consider is Jack Style also career home runs how many So you'll have to text and tell me which player You're talking about which trivia question And with that we will put together And we've got signed baseballs from them as well So am I right in the saying that your first

The first competition was not conference No it was It was not in conference It was It was in conference Your first competition. Okay. That's what.

Okay. Careful. Careful. There's a camera. Yeah, it was. Mm-hmm. Oh. Oh.

Look at you. Oh. Okay. Curtis. We could have asked them what your hometown was. I think that's too easy. You got to let them search a little. We'll make them work.

Make them work. Not bad. Talk to me about this journey of yours. from from from from the beginnings of from the beginnings of of of having all all of your questions answered in one place right that you choose to come to Nebraska talk about without naming the school let's talk about the first meet and what that was like for you I don't know I kind of I don't want to say I blocked out freshman year but freshman and sophomore year were kind of hard for me because when you come in I mean obviously I'm not speaking for everybody I'm going to speak for myself when you come when I came in I had a very hard time because the gym that I came from in where I'm from we didn't have people that went to college it was very small like when I tell you the building my mom when she was in high

school did gymnastics at this building still there obviously new ownership and stuff like that So it's more of like an actual gym now. But we had me and another girl. And then there was a girl older than us. And she ended up going to the Air Force. And then I think she got done maybe after two years. But other than that, we're the only two, well, three from that gym, I think still to this day, to go to college gymnastics. So we didn't know much.

So if people listening, if they have people that they know or daughters who do, gymnastics you know that you're typically, I'm going to use quotations required to do all four events in club gymnastics and that's how you qualify to, you know, state and that's how you qualify to regional and how you have to get to nationals. I mean, you can be a specialist and stuff, but it's harder because you have to win and stuff like that. And I think my mindset coming in, my very naive mindset is oh i'm going to get there yeah i'll work my butt off and do what i need to but i'm going to i'm going to compete little did i know that there's 16 people in six spots so freshman and sophomore year were not the best time for me because i had a very hard time realizing that

i don't get what i want i have to work for what i want and i can't just walk in there and oh give it to me not i that's not the mindset i have i have i i don't get what i want i have to i i i don't get what i i But that's the common thing. Yeah. Right? And people miss that. That everybody walking into a new collegiate situation, whether it's as a freshman or a transfer portal, you believe that this is the best thing for me, I'm going to get what I want. And then you realize, no, this requires work.

I do remember I competed vault. And it was cool for me because I was like, oh, I get to wear the sparkly leotard. I get to do this. Not that I beat anybody out because I wasn't the best by any. means they kind of stuck me in towards the end which is in in most cases if you're towards the end which is the most strategic way it's the best way or the best person you put them last um a lot of times I was put last just to kind of be hidden in there just because we needed another score just in case um or exhibition because exhibition doesn't count um but I just remember like I'm doing it

So that was really cool for me. I think the one thing I do regret, which obviously if I could go back and tell myself, I wish I wouldn't have competed freshman year because I was used as the exhibition a lot, which by me competing that first meet ever, my first freshman competition, I exhausted that year of eligibility when I could have carried it over. And I think that once I really, realized I should. Not that that was solely on me because obviously like the coaches kind of put me in as like a filter person kind of like what I was telling you, which I was completely fine because

I think like obviously everything happens for a reason and I'm not not meant to continue this journey and I'm meant to kind of go on and carry on in the coaching way now. But I wish that I would have known that. I think that's my one takeaway from freshman and sophomore year is because I didn't get that, I didn't get to compete as much as other people. Is that the, I was going to ask, what's the message that you want future gymnasts to know the answer to? I think one thing that I carry very close and dear to my heart, because I've seen both sides, is a lot of times you get more of everything, effort, passion, everything you can think of out of one. walk-ons. And I didn't realize when I've been talking to people and they were like, this was before I had earned a scholarship. And they were like, oh, what are you here for? And I would explain to them.

And I'm like, yeah, I'm a walk-on for the gymnastics team. They're all, oh, you're a walk-on. That's great. And I never really realized the, like, why they were reacting that way. And obviously, every sport is different. And I get that. I've talked to my boyfriend a little bit. He used to play football here. and he played football at Iowa Western, and he would kind of explain to me how football was with the walk-ons and how they were kind of separated, weren't treated the same. I don't know if that's everywhere. I only know of this experience.

So me coming in and seeing that, I was like, wow, for, and like I said, I can only speak for Nebraska, but I'm assuming it's everywhere else. Walk-ons are treated the same. They get the same. They are valuing. you the same we are not seen any different and I want people to know that you know take the gamble on on on walk-ons because a lot of times you get more out of them and on you won't they want to earn they

get more to fight for yeah well and that's kind of I think that's why I appreciate my journey a little more because my freshman and sophomore year and junior year I was a walk-on and then I ended up earning a scholarship for you know the senior year and the COVID year Yeah, yeah. Well, COVID year was a little different just because I got that through the NCAA, not through Nebraska. But I appreciate my journey a little more just because it showed me I actually, and I'm not saying that people don't work for it because obviously in order to get a scholarship, you have to work for it. But I didn't get that earned right out of high school. So I literally had to bust my butt harder than not anybody because we had quite. a few scholarship or walk-on kids,

but I was competing probably the most out of the walk-on kids. So are you saying that had you arrived on campus as a scholarship athlete, that they would have gotten less from you than they did as a walk-up? No. I just think that for my journey, it was probably the best thing that I could have done. Yeah. I wanted you to specify that because some people will go,

well, yeah, that's why, I mean, when it comes to football, 65 walk-ons in the course of program. That's a lot of bodies. That's a lot of, but it's a lot of opportunity. Basketball, the same thing applies only in shorter numbers and trying to get your space on the floor. Depends on the sport. But I'll ask you this.

How much of that is missed? How much do fans know about the life of a gymnast at the University of Nebraska? I feel like... Because you guys work hard. Yeah. I don't know. I feel like gymnastics is a little bit... I mean, I've kind of explained this to you a few times.

Like, that's my main purpose. Not my sole purpose, but a good purpose of why I'm here is because I want to shine light on the sport. I think that there is not enough attention. I think it's one of the most... Not unique, but like gymnastics is so insanely hard and kind of crazy. Unique is the right way to put it. And I think that... that it needs more attention.

I think that it's, I don't know, it's one of those things that when people are like, oh, I love gymnastics, it's so cool. But then, I mean, obviously I don't know people's schedules and stuff like that, but they're like, I love it. I love to watch it. And I'm such a supporter, but like don't show up to the meets. That's one thing that is kind of like, okay, like that's great. But we need, okay, one or two more bodies.

Yeah, it doesn't look like it makes a difference when you're standing an arena full of 3,000 people or whatever. but one or two can lead to, hey guys, I'm going to the gymnastics meet. Do you want to come with me? Four or five and then ultimately, like, build up. And I mean, the one thing I think that is a little hard for me, not to understand, but like our tickets are very cheap compared to,

I mean, I think they're like $7 to $10. Like they're super cheap. So I don't see an excuse not to come. But it has to be said. Yeah. That and every analytic shows, the more exposure a sport gets, the more people buy into it. The more you show it, the more people know it. And that's a necessity.

And I remember when I approached some people in the media side of it about doing a gymnastics show, they're like, why? And I'm like, well, that very statement, because you asked why. Every marketing and branding analytics says, the more exposure you give people to a thing, the more They're involved in it. And I just think that with the year that Nebraska athletics has had, and it's not to slight the men's programs, but look, the women's programs are showing up. It took a while before softball got the crowd.

Volleyball hasn't had problems. It's built it. But the rest of the sports, like I can't imagine the number of people who go to a women's soccer game. Like, it just, it doesn't, it's there. It needs to change. and I think shows you making appearances,

you sharing your life, you sharing your personality, your passion for it will help people cross the bridge and to get to know it. And like I said, next year, you know,

wherever you're going to be, and I refuse to name it because if I name it, it makes it real. Well, it makes it real when I'm driving there next week. Well, next week until next week.

Like, you know, you're a husker until... She's just going like down the street or something. Honestly, though, like it's not too bad. Like I keep thinking about it. I'm like, it's only a seven hour drive.

It's not too bad. Only. My home is like 19. Seven hours isn't terrible. No, but I can make that in one day. Yeah. So, I mean, I'm trying to like keep my mind open. Well, has your experience been such as you would come back?

Like you plan on coming back for gymnastics meets? Well, the reason why I sound hesitant is because when they're in season, I'm going to be in season. Yeah, but you're not going to compete on the same nights always, right? It kind of depends because college gymnastics is a little bit different than, like, club. Like, club, I think, was a little more sporadic. Like, it just kind of depended. But college gymnastics is very much like there was a few times when you would compete on Thursdays or Mondays, but a lot of times it's Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

Will you be doing much recruiting where you're headed? I don't know about me. yet just because I am new. But I did talk to my boss. I hate, it's so weird saying boss. I did talk to him, well, this past weekend. And he was like, yeah, so I'm going to need you to kind of, he said the next year, well, he said 23, so I don't know if I haven't,

don't have specifics on it yet. But he was like, I want you to kind of rate them on to see who the top six would be. So to me, that's like super cool because I'm like, here you go. here are your keys. Do you have any, do you have any fear that all the things you put, coach bring through will now come in full return to you? Ah, well. Because, because, because I know some of the stories.

And I'm like, oh, she is so going to catch. Yes and no, because, like, I think that, like, as Roby has kind of explained to you a little bit, I can be very hardheaded. What? What? I don't believe it. I think that I can also, like, especially being fresh out of the sport, being fresh out of an athlete, I suppose.

I know the language and I know the mindset and I know what's going on. So here's the thing. So you have a choreography here and you talk about the different routines. Are you going to like get into? I hope not. I hope that I don't have to create anybody's routine because my routine, I know when to start, When to end. I know everything in between.

But if you have me try to make one up, it's going to look like somebody. Well, I wanted you to make one up for Rico before you leave. Well, see, okay, the thing is, my end card has officially been shut off. So I'm not allowed. You know, not alone. But you know people who are. I do, yeah. Who's, who's.

You have a week. I do. Have a week. You just got to tell them what time. Like, you just. You tell me when and I'll be there. Okay. I just need to.

I just. need the time and the date and whatever. Okay. Yeah, he's even going to wear clean socks. So, you have to dig to the bottom of my droid to get the socks I've worn it a lot. The ones that don't have holes in them. I'll even look for my track, uh, my track, uh, my track singlet. Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Got to look, got to look the part. I might have to do like a million crunches between now and five o'clock. That's what we need for this to have. We need for this to happen.

It's been five years since I've been an athlete. It's so funny. I'll see what strings I can pull. Yeah, yeah. I have to ask the question because we're not going to end our relationship with Husker gymnastics. Who's taking over for you? Here. I know we gave your card to Kenzie Davis.

So I haven't really been able to talk to her too much. she kind of skiddled right after finals. But I know she had a really good time. This is very much her comfort zone. It was really easy for her. So I'm hoping that I can kind of nudge her. I don't know. She hasn't really said much to me.

And Kinsey Roby, I'm rolling my eyes. It's already at home. So she's gone. Yeah, I'm a little disappointed. I didn't know all the time that Roby had a boyfriend, No, she never shared that. I was like, what is going? Oh, so that, okay.

Surprise. That explains. I was like, okay. I hope you guys saw it with Kayla's face when she said that. It's all us. No, no, because you're trying to figure, okay, you know, the journey, right? And they tell you about all the things good and all things bad. And I'm like, wait a minute, please tell me that is new because otherwise.

I think I was the first person that heard. about it after our radio show last week. Yeah, I wanted to know. I'm like, what is going on? Wait a minute. Wait a minute. She didn't share it. Okay, so we'll close out one-on-one, which will be a difficult segment, but it'll be one of my favorites.

Because she's leaving it. Not my choice. Kind of my choice. I don't think you realize if I could talk to Trev Albers and tell him to give me more, I would be like, so ten more years? I would. To never leave. We will tell the folks what you're doing next.

And then we will allow you to give a message to them and party. We'll do that next here on one-on-one. Watch live on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch. You're listening to One-on-One with DP on 93-7. the ticket and the ticketfm.com.