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 youngsters do — she didn’t know what an enormous a part of her life the game would become.
Or how arduous it will be to depart it behind.
Snyder, who will likely 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 best degree she might by the point she was 13.
However stability was changing 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 robust in my tumbling. It actually helped me as a result of it’s important to be versatile in different sports activities.”
Within the seventh grade, she had a choice to make. She stop gymnastics.
“It was so arduous,” 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 so much.”
Snyder poured herself into different sports activities, particularly volleyball and softball.
This spring for the Union/A-C Valley softball workforce, 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 realized so much about herself from these experiences, each good and dangerous.
“The most effective days, after all, had been once we would win,” Snyder stated. “Additionally once I had an incredible 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 must be assured in myself. They taught me I can’t at all times have a very good day and I must 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 frontrunner. Useful. Encouraging. Good. And humorous.
Q: What have you ever realized about teamwork out of your experiences taking part in sports activities?
A: I’ve realized how vital it’s to have a very good bond along with your workforce. Having the ability to join with one another, on and off the courtroom, is a vital side of a workforce. Having every others’ backs and selecting one another up when you’re down is one thing that helps groups really succeed.
Q: What would you contemplate the best problem of being a highschool athlete right now?
A: Balancing faculty and sports activities. Coming dwelling late from a recreation and having to rise up early the following day for college isn’t simple, however I do it anyway. Having apply or video games after faculty and never understanding when you’ve got time for homework is tough, too, however in some way and someway I determine it out and full it.
Q: What’s the largest piece of recommendation you’ve obtained from a member of the family, coach, teammate, and so forth. whereas taking part in 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 folks 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 outdoors of sports activities and the way do they aid you add stability to your life?
A: I take part in Pupil Council and Promenade Committee at our faculty, and I actually take pleasure in it. I’ve at all times loved being concerned in my faculty and having the ability to plan issues like dances, fundraisers and actions for our faculty. It helps maintain me busy and had helped develop my creativity.
Q: Anything you love to do in your free time?
A: I prefer to go swimming. I’ve a ship dock out in Clarion and I prefer to go boating with my household. I prefer to go fishing and kayaking. I similar 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 folks would you prefer 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 might love to have the ability to meet him. Elvis Presley can be my second alternative as a result of I actually loved the film made about him and want to know extra about his story. My third alternative must be Adam Sandler as a result of he’s one in every of my favourite actors and I really like all his films.
Q: Elvis is an attention-grabbing alternative. Not loads of youthful folks know so much about him.
A: I watched the film and I completely cherished it. I cherished his story. I used to be simply so and I listened to his music and I cherished it. I imply, I at all times knew who he was, however I by no means actually knew his story.
Q: What does the long run maintain for you after highschool?
A: I’ve been completely different faculties and I’m planning on going to (PennWest Clarion) for radiology. I might like to play a sport in school, however i simply don’t actually assume it’ll be a match for the profession I need to go into.
Q: Does that make your upcoming senior season much more vital to you?
A: Oh, yeah. It’s very emotional, understanding that there’s going to be all these first lasts developing.
