Photo by: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks
New Role, Same Attitude
April 02, 2019 05:06 PM | Gymnastics
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Without hesitation, Julia Merwin can describe herself in one word – optimistic.
The junior from Frederick, Maryland, knows her West Virginia University gymnastics teammates rely on her easy, happy, bright disposition, even if they also jab her for it from time-to-time.
"I've been made fun of for being overly positive and optimistic," she laughed. "I've always been this way. It was a mindset in my household. I try to not be negative because that attitude can make everything worse."
Merwin has been forced to heavily lean on her optimistic outlook since late February, as a leg injury abruptly halted the vault and uneven bars specialist's season on Feb. 24.
"I did not want to be injured," Merwin said of her immediate reaction. "I was really mad. But, I've been through this before during my junior year of high school, and I know I can bounce back. I feel like I'm stronger after setbacks – the comeback makes you stronger."
Prior to her injury, Merwin had come into her own as a collegiate gymnast this season. A staple in the vault lineup since 2017, she was moved to the leadoff position this year following the graduation of Robyn Bernard. Owning a career-best score of 9.875, Merwin tallied a season-high 9.8 on Jan. 12 and had scored 9.775 or better three times for a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.735.
Merwin also made her career debut on uneven bars this year, appearing in the lineup five times, including three consecutive appearances in the meets prior to her injury. In fact, Merwin earned her first bars podium finish on Jan. 19, placing third at Air Force with a 9.725 score, and earned a career a career high of 9.825 at Penn on Feb. 10.
The sport and exercise psychology major attributes her emergence on uneven bars to her focus in Cary Gym during the 2018 summer.
"I always wanted to be in more lineups, and I liked competing on bars a lot, but I never thought I would make a lineup," she explained. "Once I learned my double-layout dismount last year, it really became clear to me that I could be in the lineup. I knew I had to step-up at the beginning of this season because I was one of the few gymnasts who had a routine. I really focused on cleaning my routine and finding a way to be consistent.
"I never thought I would be on the podium for bars. I was really happy; I did not think I was capable of that. I always thought vault was my thing."
Though Merwin may be missing from the Mountaineer lineups as WVU prepares for the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships this weekend, the two-time NACGC/W Scholastic All-American will make her presence known, screaming for her teammates and encouraging them to focus and to do their best.
"Meet days are tough because it's hard to see my teammates out there doing what I love most, but it's also so great seeing them succeed, too," Merwin said. "I've had to accept that my temporary role is that of a cheerleader because that's what my teammates need of me. I'm becoming a more vocal leader, and my team knows I will always be there for them.
"At the end of the meet, if my voice isn't gone, I have not done my job. On our team, everyone has a role, and while this role isn't what I had imagined for the backend of my junior season, I have to stay positive and trust that I'll come out of this challenge even stronger for next season. All I can do right now is be there for my team, practice patience and learn from this experience."
Merwin's attitude toward her new role within the WVU gymnastics team mirrors her optimistic outlook on life, as well as her teammates' motivation for the regional championships.
"This meet is near the end of our season, and we need to give everything we have to the competition and leave without regrets," she added. "We don't want to walk out of the gym thinking we could have done something better or shown up a little more. We want to give 110 percent."
The Mountaineers compete in the second session of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships Second Round on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m., at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The junior from Frederick, Maryland, knows her West Virginia University gymnastics teammates rely on her easy, happy, bright disposition, even if they also jab her for it from time-to-time.
"I've been made fun of for being overly positive and optimistic," she laughed. "I've always been this way. It was a mindset in my household. I try to not be negative because that attitude can make everything worse."
Merwin has been forced to heavily lean on her optimistic outlook since late February, as a leg injury abruptly halted the vault and uneven bars specialist's season on Feb. 24.
"I did not want to be injured," Merwin said of her immediate reaction. "I was really mad. But, I've been through this before during my junior year of high school, and I know I can bounce back. I feel like I'm stronger after setbacks – the comeback makes you stronger."
Prior to her injury, Merwin had come into her own as a collegiate gymnast this season. A staple in the vault lineup since 2017, she was moved to the leadoff position this year following the graduation of Robyn Bernard. Owning a career-best score of 9.875, Merwin tallied a season-high 9.8 on Jan. 12 and had scored 9.775 or better three times for a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 9.735.
Merwin also made her career debut on uneven bars this year, appearing in the lineup five times, including three consecutive appearances in the meets prior to her injury. In fact, Merwin earned her first bars podium finish on Jan. 19, placing third at Air Force with a 9.725 score, and earned a career a career high of 9.825 at Penn on Feb. 10.
The sport and exercise psychology major attributes her emergence on uneven bars to her focus in Cary Gym during the 2018 summer.
"I always wanted to be in more lineups, and I liked competing on bars a lot, but I never thought I would make a lineup," she explained. "Once I learned my double-layout dismount last year, it really became clear to me that I could be in the lineup. I knew I had to step-up at the beginning of this season because I was one of the few gymnasts who had a routine. I really focused on cleaning my routine and finding a way to be consistent.
"I never thought I would be on the podium for bars. I was really happy; I did not think I was capable of that. I always thought vault was my thing."
Though Merwin may be missing from the Mountaineer lineups as WVU prepares for the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships this weekend, the two-time NACGC/W Scholastic All-American will make her presence known, screaming for her teammates and encouraging them to focus and to do their best.
"Meet days are tough because it's hard to see my teammates out there doing what I love most, but it's also so great seeing them succeed, too," Merwin said. "I've had to accept that my temporary role is that of a cheerleader because that's what my teammates need of me. I'm becoming a more vocal leader, and my team knows I will always be there for them.
"At the end of the meet, if my voice isn't gone, I have not done my job. On our team, everyone has a role, and while this role isn't what I had imagined for the backend of my junior season, I have to stay positive and trust that I'll come out of this challenge even stronger for next season. All I can do right now is be there for my team, practice patience and learn from this experience."
Merwin's attitude toward her new role within the WVU gymnastics team mirrors her optimistic outlook on life, as well as her teammates' motivation for the regional championships.
"This meet is near the end of our season, and we need to give everything we have to the competition and leave without regrets," she added. "We don't want to walk out of the gym thinking we could have done something better or shown up a little more. We want to give 110 percent."
The Mountaineers compete in the second session of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships Second Round on Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m., at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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