A-C Valley senior Ava Snyder started her athletic profession in gymnastics and excelled at it earlier than leaving it behind for volleyball and softball./Submitted photograph
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FOXBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — When Ava Snyder began gymnastics on the age of six — like most rambunctious and fearless children do — she didn’t know what an enormous a part of her life the game would grow to be.
Or how exhausting it might be to go away it behind.
Snyder, who shall be a senior at A-C Valley Excessive Faculty within the fall, excelled at it from the beginning.
Tumbling was her specialty and she or he reached the very best degree she may by the point she was 13.
However steadiness was turning into a problem — not whereas performing, however when it got here to time. Her rising curiosity in different sports activities started to intrude with gymnastics.
“I used to be actually good at it,” Snyder stated. “I used to be actually versatile and actually sturdy in my tumbling. It actually helped me as a result of you need to be versatile in different sports activities.”
Within the seventh grade, she had a call to make. She stop gymnastics.
“It was so exhausting,” Snyder stated. “I used to be in junior excessive sports activities and it simply turned an excessive amount of and I didn’t need to proceed it. I do miss it rather a lot.”
Snyder poured herself into different sports activities, specifically volleyball and softball.
This spring for the Union/A-C Valley softball staff, she had a standout season. She batted .388 with a house run, 4 doubles, two triples and drove in 12. She additionally scored 17 runs.
It wasn’t all clean, nonetheless. Union/A-C Valley simply missed qualifying for the postseason and Snyder had each distinctive days and disappointing ones on the diamond.
However she discovered rather a lot about herself from these experiences, each good and unhealthy.
“The very best days, after all, had been once we would win,” Snyder stated. “Additionally once I had a fantastic efficiency. My worst days had been once I felt I underperformed and made errors. They taught me I do have the power to play properly and ought to be assured in myself. They taught me I can’t at all times have day and I have to have extra perception in my talents.
THE SNYDER FILE
Identify: Ava Snyder
Faculty: A-C Valley
12 months: Senior
Sports activities: Volleyball and softball
Q: How would your coaches and teammates describe you?
A: A pacesetter. Useful. Encouraging. Good. And humorous.
Q: What have you ever discovered about teamwork out of your experiences enjoying sports activities?
A: I’ve discovered how essential it’s to have bond along with your staff. Having the ability to join with one another, on and off the courtroom, is a vital side of a staff. Having every others’ backs and choosing one another up if you end up down is one thing that helps groups actually succeed.
Q: What would you think about the best problem of being a highschool athlete as we speak?
A: Balancing college and sports activities. Coming house late from a sport and having to stand up early the following day for college isn’t simple, however I do it anyway. Having apply or video games after college and never realizing in case you have time for homework is tough, too, however someway and someway I determine it out and full it.
Q: What’s the largest piece of recommendation you’ve acquired from a member of the family, coach, teammate, and so on. whereas enjoying sports activities?
A: One thing my softball coach, Lauren (Forrest), stated to me earlier than I used to be as much as bat was, “I’ve confidence in you and that’s why you’re one of many 9 individuals within the batting lineup.” Having a coach who has confidence in me actually helps construct my perception in myself. The encouragement and power I obtain helps me succeed and play properly.
Q: What are your different pursuits exterior of sports activities and the way do they make it easier to add steadiness to your life?
A: I take part in Scholar Council and Promenade Committee at our faculty, and I actually take pleasure in it. I’ve at all times loved being concerned in my college and having the ability to plan issues like dances, fundraisers and actions for our faculty. It helps hold me busy and had helped develop my creativity.
Q: The rest you love to do in your free time?
A: I wish to go swimming. I’ve a ship dock out in Clarion and I wish to go boating with my household. I wish to go fishing and kayaking. I identical to hanging out with my family and friends and simply sit out on the river all day.
Q: Full this sentence: In my fridge you’ll at all times discover …
A: An Alani, my absolute favourite power drink. Particularly the pink slush taste.
Q: What three well-known individuals would you wish to have dinner with and why?
A: My first can be Zach Bryan as a result of he’s my favourite music artist, and I’d love to have the ability to meet him. Elvis Presley can be my second selection as a result of I actually loved the film made about him and wish to know extra about his story. My third selection must be Adam Sandler as a result of he’s one in all my favourite actors and I like all his motion pictures.
Q: Elvis is an fascinating selection. Not numerous youthful individuals know rather a lot about him.
A: I watched the film and I completely beloved it. I beloved his story. I used to be simply so and I listened to his music and I beloved it. I imply, I at all times knew who he was, however I by no means actually knew his story.
Q: What does the longer term maintain for you after highschool?
A: I’ve been completely different faculties and I’m planning on going to (PennWest Clarion) for radiology. I’d like to play a sport in school, however i simply don’t actually suppose it’ll be a match for the profession I need to go into.
Q: Does that make your upcoming senior season much more essential to you?
A: Oh, yeah. It’s very emotional, realizing that there’s going to be all these first lasts developing.
