2017 Women's NCAA ChampionshipsApr 6, 2017 by Lauren Green
The Road To NCAAs: Q&A With Michigan Sophomore Emma McLean
The Road To NCAAs: Q&A With Michigan Sophomore Emma McLean
Michigan sophomore Emma McLean chats about her Michigan's team energy at regionals and what she expects at her first NCAA championships.
Michigan sophomore Emma McLean had one of the highlights of the Big Ten Championships this past month with a near-perfect vault. She has contributed on vault and floor in all 12 meets this season and has brought huge scores to the Wolverines lineup.
McLean has hit a 9.800 or better in all but one routine on vault or floor this season. She has scored a 9.975 twice on vault, including at the Big Ten Championships. She's also posted a 9.900 or better in nine of her past 10 routines on floor exercise. She is a reliable, consistent performer and is heading to the NCAA Championships for the first time, following UM's win at the Morgantown, WV, regional this past Saturday.
Michigan, which is returning to the national stage after missing out last season, will compete in the second semifinal session at the NCAA Championships on April 14 and faces LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Nebraska. Look for McLean to challenge for the national title on the vault.
FloGymnastics: What is your favorite event to perform on and why?
Emma McLean: I love competing floor because I just go out there and have fun and I tell myself I'm going to have a party. When I'm out there, I pretend I'm having a party and just have lots of fun and smiling a lot and my team's doing my routine with me so it makes it even more fun.
What is your favorite skill to perform on any event?
I like doing my one and a half on vault, because it's new.
What is the most challenging skill you've learned and what made it challenging for you?
I would say bars in general is one of the most challenging for me just because I tend to overthink things. When I'm just swinging and going with it, I do a lot better. For some reason on bars I always overthink it. When I'm not [overthinking] it, I can actually do bars.
Is there anything you tell yourself to try to avoid overthinking it?
I tell myself to just be in the moment and go with the flow.
What is the biggest thing that you took away from regionals that you'll use going into nationals?
I think as a whole, our team energy was very high and very positive. We just took one thing at a time and kept going. I think that really worked for us. I think going into nationals we're going to bring that with us, and I think that will help us a lot.
How does the adversity that your team faced during the regular season help prepare you for the postseason?
The adversity only makes us stronger so I think that it actually goes in our favor, and going into postseason we are a lot stronger because of what we had to go through and the ups and the downs that we put ourselves through. We are stronger now and confident, and that's all that matters.
How do you bounce back from a fall?
I tell myself that it's not necessarily about the fall; it's about how you respond to the fall. I think that's what keeps me going, and it also makes me want to work harder.
How do you handle any added pressure if there is a mistake ahead of you in the lineup?
Generally, I just tell myself to do what I would normally do in practice, and it usually works out. I don't really think about the routine that was before me, because I like to focus on what I need to do in that moment.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
I would say bubbly, hardworking, and fun. I like to have fun. Usually when I'm having fun, that's when I do my best.
What are you most looking forward to at nationals?
I've never been to nationals, so I'm looking forward to just being with my team. I know that we're capable of some really big things. I'm so proud of how far this team has come and everything that we've been doing these past couple of weeks. I'm really excited to see what we can do.
McLean has hit a 9.800 or better in all but one routine on vault or floor this season. She has scored a 9.975 twice on vault, including at the Big Ten Championships. She's also posted a 9.900 or better in nine of her past 10 routines on floor exercise. She is a reliable, consistent performer and is heading to the NCAA Championships for the first time, following UM's win at the Morgantown, WV, regional this past Saturday.
The biggest performance from yesterday's Big Ten Championship was this 9.975 vault by Emma McLean. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/8LaUW3YxHj
— Michigan Womens Gymnastics (@UMichWGym) March 19, 2017
Michigan, which is returning to the national stage after missing out last season, will compete in the second semifinal session at the NCAA Championships on April 14 and faces LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Nebraska. Look for McLean to challenge for the national title on the vault.
FloGymnastics: What is your favorite event to perform on and why?
Emma McLean: I love competing floor because I just go out there and have fun and I tell myself I'm going to have a party. When I'm out there, I pretend I'm having a party and just have lots of fun and smiling a lot and my team's doing my routine with me so it makes it even more fun.
What is your favorite skill to perform on any event?
I like doing my one and a half on vault, because it's new.
What is the most challenging skill you've learned and what made it challenging for you?
I would say bars in general is one of the most challenging for me just because I tend to overthink things. When I'm just swinging and going with it, I do a lot better. For some reason on bars I always overthink it. When I'm not [overthinking] it, I can actually do bars.
Is there anything you tell yourself to try to avoid overthinking it?
I tell myself to just be in the moment and go with the flow.
What is the biggest thing that you took away from regionals that you'll use going into nationals?
I think as a whole, our team energy was very high and very positive. We just took one thing at a time and kept going. I think that really worked for us. I think going into nationals we're going to bring that with us, and I think that will help us a lot.
How does the adversity that your team faced during the regular season help prepare you for the postseason?
The adversity only makes us stronger so I think that it actually goes in our favor, and going into postseason we are a lot stronger because of what we had to go through and the ups and the downs that we put ourselves through. We are stronger now and confident, and that's all that matters.
How do you bounce back from a fall?
I tell myself that it's not necessarily about the fall; it's about how you respond to the fall. I think that's what keeps me going, and it also makes me want to work harder.
How do you handle any added pressure if there is a mistake ahead of you in the lineup?
Generally, I just tell myself to do what I would normally do in practice, and it usually works out. I don't really think about the routine that was before me, because I like to focus on what I need to do in that moment.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
I would say bubbly, hardworking, and fun. I like to have fun. Usually when I'm having fun, that's when I do my best.
What are you most looking forward to at nationals?
I've never been to nationals, so I'm looking forward to just being with my team. I know that we're capable of some really big things. I'm so proud of how far this team has come and everything that we've been doing these past couple of weeks. I'm really excited to see what we can do.