StickItMedia Exclusive Interview

Jake Dalton is a perennial top all-arounder who trains at Gymnastics Nevada (Sparks, NV) under Coach Andrew Pileggi.  Among his many accomplishments:

• 2008 – 2nd place All-Around J.O. Nationals / 3rd place All-Around VISAs
• 2007 – 5th place All-Around J.O. Nationals / 4th place All-Around VISAs

A member of the Junior National Team, Dalton was recently awarded a scholarship to attend the University of Oklahoma, starting in Fall ’09.  His signing capped off a remarkable recruiting class for the defending national champion Sooners.  Joining Dalton at OU in the fall are Chris Stehl (Cypress Academy-Houston) and Alex Naddour (Arizona Flairs).

According to Jake’s mom, Denise, he was a kid who never could sit still.  Denise, quite the baseball fan, signed-up Jake for baseball at a young age, and also became his coach.  She sent Jake to a baseball camp at age 6, where he honed his pitching skills.  It was there that one of the coaches suggested gymnastics in the off-season to strengthen Jake’s pitching arm.

Once enrolled in gymnastics, Jake refused to attend baseball practice if it meant missing gymnastics.  The suggestion by the coach from baseball camp ended up creating a monster.   Soon, Jake’s new-found gymnastics skills made him the center of attention at all the local playgrounds.  Jake’s baseball career was short-lived, and the rest is history.  Denise doesn’t regret the decision for a second.

As Denise tells it, "Jake was always jumping, swinging or hanging from something.  At least now he does it over mats."

Jake’s father, Tim, provided the amazing photo of Jake on high bar.

StickItMedia recently had the pleasure of interviewing Jake Dalton:

SiM:  What inspires you to compete?

Jake:  The pressure of competing is what makes you different than everyone else.  Skills are easier in the gym but taking them to competition and making it happen there is what inspires me.

SiM:  What is your hardest event?

Jake:  Pommel horse.

SiM:  What new skills would you like to master during the 2009 season?

Jake:  Giant double back on p-bars and double-double layed out on floor.

SiM:  What are your gymnastics goals for the 2009 season?

Jake:  My goals for 2009 are to stay on the Junior National Team and to get a National Team Assignment.

SiM:  What have been some of your major obstacles and challenges to staying highly competitive?

Jake:  Some of the major obstacles and challenges to staying highly competitive are learning new skills while competing, and keeping healthy and strong throughout the year.

SiM:  What is your favorite meet in which to compete?

Jake:  My favorite meet has been the VISA Championships.

SiM:  What is your proudest gymnastics achievement?

Jake:  My proudest gymnastics achievement was making the Junior National Team and winning Floor 2007 at VISA and Vault 2008 at VISA.  Recently, signing with OU.

SiM:  What do you think your role for OU will be next season?

Jake:  My role at OU next year will be contributing to an already outstanding team while improving my own gymnastics.

SiM:  What is the best advice you have ever received, and what advice would you give to a new young gymnast?

Jake:  The best advice I ever received is "everything happens for a reason" from Mike Heredia, and the advice I would give to a new young gymnast is to never give up!

SiM:  If gymnastics were out of the picture, in what sport would you compete?

Jake:  If gymnastics were out of the picture, I would probably compete in baseball.  My mom  was my baseball coach when I was young until I signed up for gym.

SiM:  What are your academic and gymnastics goals for the next four years?

Jake:  To help OU win another NCAA title and to aim for the 2012 Olympic Team while continuing my education.  I haven’t decided on a major at this point.

SiM:  What’s your favorite thing about walking into the gym each day?

Jake:  My favorite thing about walking into the gym every day is knowing there is always something I can learn or make better.  The challenge and promises of new skills and the feeling of determination I get everytime I work out.

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