Freshman year in college can be a difficult one. Classes, the social scene and living away from home demand new routines and habits. On top of all the adjustments, joining a college sports team can add to the confusion.

Lucky for the 10 freshmen on BYU’s gymnastics team last year, they had their teammate Kaylee Gallup to lead the way.

“She took them all under her wing,” said fellow gymnast McKell Poulson-Merkley. “She would have sleepovers with them, and she was always checking on that class to make sure they’re OK. She really took it upon herself to make sure that class transitioned well into the college gymnastics team.”

Gallup, a senior from Cypress, Texas, uses her experiences with gymnastics to teach and share with those around her, both on and off campus.

Last summer, Gallup coached aspiring gymnasts at Jump Up Gym in Lehi and plans to go back this summer.

Andrea Kelly, the owner of Jump Up Gym, said even with talent on the mats it takes more talent to teach and Gallup can do both.

“It’s really hard to be a coach,” Kelly said. “Being a gymnast and teaching it are two different things.”

“When [Gallup] came into the gym, she was able to teach with basic steps for beginning kids who didn’t even know how to do a cartwheel,” Kelly said. “The kids just loved her.”
Kelly said Gallup is a unique asset to the gym.

“I always thought she brought the attitude that gymnastics is fun,” Kelly said. “She had the ability to lift the spirits of the kids. She brought out the ability in the gymnasts to want to work hard, to want to push themselves.”

Gallup’s work with kids at Jump Up Gym also carries over to her schoolwork. She is close to finishing her major in early childhood education and is involved with the major’s student teaching program.

Gallup has learned to balance the demands of school and gymnastics, even though it means she arrives at practice hours after her teammates.

“By the time I get there, everyone’s done,” Gallup said. “So I just have to practice by myself. That’s probably been harder than anything.”

Poulson-Merkley said she admires Gallup’s determination.

“The teaching program was like, ‘Hey, you can either do your gymnastics and work out with the team, or you can be a teacher,’” Poulson-Merkley said. “And she was like, ‘Well, I want both.’ It shows that she has a lot of commitment.”

Poulson-Merkley said she trusts Gallup to keep up with the team, although she practices solo.
“You depend on your team at practice,” Poulson-Merkley said. “Like when it’s a hard day, or just a hard assignment to get done. But she comes in and does the assignments, and we know she’ll be ready for the meet.”

On top of school and gymnastics, Gallup is also in the middle of planning a wedding.
Gallup’s fiancé, Aaron Stinson, proposed in January.

Stinson said Gallup’s strengths in gymnastics will carry over to their marriage.

“One thing that I’ve really liked is that she’s really dedicated,” Stinson said. “She doesn’t give up. I can see it in her gymnastics and through school. I can see it changing into being dedicated to our family and our lives together.”

With Gallup’s successes, Kelly said she is impressed with her sweetness and humility.

 “A lot of the gymnasts you meet … they kind of have an attitude at times,” Kelly said. “She brought a feeling of fun [to the gym], without being arrogant.”