Bobby Martinez – Sports Writer
The chemistry between junior gymnastics star Nicole Pruchnik and her parents, is like no other. Pruchnik said her parents have played a major role in her gymnastics career since the age of four, from coaching her to traveling to her meets, Pruchnik said she can always rely on them to be there for her no matter what.
“They were my biggest supporters growing up,” said Pruchnik. “ My mother especially. She put so much time and effort into my gymnastics career. She was the coach at my gym (Kaleidoscope of Dance & Gymnastics in Wareham Mass.), so that we can afford it. She will go everywhere I went. She was with me everywhere I went when I competed in club.”
Pruchnik added, “Every time I compete, if she’s there, I would look up in the stands and she will always give me a thumbs up.”
Prior to coming to Southern, Pruchnik already had made a name for herself as a gymnast. While attending Old Rochester Regional (Mass.) High School, finished first on the vault and beam at 2010 Eastern Championships. Pruchnik also placed fourth in the All-Around in 2011 Level 10 state championships and was club captain.
As time went on, schools such as: University of New Hampshire, Towson University, Rutgers University, Springfield University, University of Georgia and Southern Connecticut State University. She said it was a close decision between Southern and Springfield because both have a very good athletic training program which is her major.
“My time here at Southern has been really great,” said Pruchnik. “I love going to practice. I love going to classes and I love my professors. Everything has been great so far. I can’t really complain about anything.”
But just like any other athlete or human being, having free time is something one looks forward to. It’s a time where you can relax and reflect about life, and in Pruchnik’s case, gymnastics and school. With the “little” free time Pruchnik has, she said she likes to sit back with her best friend and watch Disney princess movies.
Gymnastics wasn’t the only sport Pruchnik tried. In fact, she gave basketball and baseball a shot she said.
“I tried basketball,” said Pruchnik with a smile. “It was fine until I realized I was too short and everyone was getting the ball over me. I also tried baseball and soccer. Soccer didn’t last long for me because I didn’t want to be on an all-girls team. I also ran track but always wanted to play football but my father always told me no.”
Fast forward to today, Pruchnik’s goal is to one day become an athletic trainer she said. Despite Pruchnik’s father not letting her play football, she hopes to one day work for a football team, particularly the National Football League (NFL).
“I want to work at a college as an athletic trainer,” she said, “primarily with a football team or a gymnastics team because I understand the sport so well so I can understand their injuries and all of that because I gone through it.”
She continued saying, “I really like football and I like working with football and I done it here with clinical rotations, that my biggest goal. I would love to one day work for a NFL team.”
After making an appearance in lasts year’s United States of America Gymnastics (USAG) Nationals where she competed in the vault, beam and floor exercise, she said this year’s teams is has really been working real hard so far to make it to Nationals as a team this year.
“They’re all like my sisters,” she said. “Everyone has the same goal and that is our biggest and strongest attribute this year. The fact we all want to get nationals as team and prove to everyone that we belong there. And we really do.”
Pruchnik currently hold the school record in floor vault and beam with a score of 9.9 out of 10.
