Amanda Wellick

By Lauren Ely

Amanda Wellick plans to follow in her sister’s footsteps and compete at a Division I university.

Wellick, 18, is going the University of Arkansas next year. Her sister, Jessica, is a swimmer at Michigan State University.

“My dream school was Oklahoma,” Wellick said. “I’m extremely happy that it didn’t work out because I’m looking forward so much to going to Arkansas.”

Wellick began gymnastics when she was 4-years-old after her parents decided to put her in a class so she wouldn’t be bored. The part-time hobby quickly became a full-time passion, and Wellick moved to six different gyms before landing at Legacy Elite Gymnastics with coach Jiani Wu.

Although Wellick practices four hours each day, she still attends public school. Her high school allows her to leave early to make her training schedule possible. Her days consist of going to school, practicing and coming home to eat and do homework.

Wellick says she has missed out on some things that normal teenagers get to experience. She isn’t sure if she’ll go to her senior prom, but she doesn’t mind.

“If I wanted the true high school experience, I would regret it,” Wellick said. “Looking back on it, I don’t regret it at all because I’ve had so many more experiences from gymnastics.”

Wellick isn’t sure what she wants to study in college, perhaps something in the medical or business field. However, she would like to stay involved in gymnastics.

“It’s a really great sport,” Wellick said. “I think it would be really cool to be a college coach.”