University of North Carolina Athletics
Getting To Know You: Haley Watts
November 12, 2014 | Women's Gymnastics
By Zoya Johnson, GoHeels.com
GoHeels: What is your hometown and home gym?
Haley Watts: My hometown is Charlotte, N.C., and I went to Southeastern Gymnastics.
GoHeels: Tell us how you got into gymnastics, your experience in club and the lead up to your recruitment.
HW: I started when I was little because I went to a birthday party and had so much fun. Throughout club I never thought I was doing this for a scholarship or that I wanted to go to the Olympics. I just did it because it was so much fun to me and I loved competing.
GoHeels: How and why did you pick Carolina?
HW: When I got my first letter I was so excited and right away had to see if it would be possible for me to go to UNC because my first gymnastics meet ever was here. Then when I met Derek it was such an easy decision. He literally is the nicest person I've ever met. I chose UNC because on my visit everything was perfect. I loved the campus and everything seemed right. I loved how gymnastics was a priority but it was clear the girls still had fun in the gym and it wasn't all work and no play.
GoHeels: What is your favorite event and why?
HW: My favorite event differs from practice and competition. In competition it's floor because I think it's so fun to show the audience your personality. In practice it's beam because I think it's kind of relaxing which is different from the other events.
GoHeels: What about being a part of Carolina Gymnastics has been the most exciting thus far?
HW: The most exciting thing is to see the girls come in and grow and even to look back and see this in myself. It's so easy to let time pass without realizing how much you have grown by just being apart of such a great team, and it's a neat thing to stop and think about.
GoHeels: What about being a part of the Carolina athletics community makes you most proud?
HW: The thing I am most proud of about the Carolina community is the leadership program and all it's possibilities. As a freshman I did not understand it as much but each year we really learn such useful things that make our team dynamics that much better.
GoHeels: What is your favorite class and professor and why?
HW: My favorite class was COMM 260 with Marie Garlock. In this class we were required to “perform” social issues in away that brings them to others attention. This caused me to dig deep and take a stance on issues I may never have known existed. Not to mention Marie was such an amazing professor. She took the time to get to know each student, and had so many great experiences and so much wisdom to share with us.
GoHeels: What is your favorite sporting event to go to and why?
HW: I love going to the volleyball games. I had never been until I got here and usually I am not into sports, but for some reason I get really into those games.
GoHeels: What is your “Favorite” body by Biener exercise? (Eric Biener is the team's strength and conditioning coach)
HW: My favorite exercise by Beiner is the stepladder because it is so funny. Gymnasts aren't really known for their coordination outside of the gym so it serves as coordination training and comic relief during our workouts.
GoHeels: What are you looking forward to accomplishing while at Carolina?
HW: I feel like I'm building a great foundation for the start of my life after college. It is so important to me that while I'm here I find my passion so that I can be happy with what I do with my life.
In the gym I never thought I would've had a season like last year but now that I know what I'm capable of and I want to continue to push myself and my teammates. I really do believe that we have a chance to qualify to nationals as a team and that I can qualify as an individual in the all around. I think this team has amazing potential and is the most driven one I've been apart of in all of my four years. I also think we have the chance to change the way people look at UNC gymnastics as a whole.
GoHeels: What events do you think you will be competing this year?
HW: This year I hope to compete all around.
GoHeels: Tell us something about yourself you think people would be surprised to find out.
HW: I think people would be surprised that I went skydiving on my 18th birthday and it was awesome!
GoHeels: What is your favorite Carolina memory thus far?
HW: I think my favorite memories at UNC have all taken place within the athletic family and it's such a great opportunity to be apart of it.
Head coach Derek Galvin on Watts:
“Haley blossomed as a collegiate gymnast last year. She certainly worked hard during her first and second year on the team, but during her junior year she put it all together. She was our top all-around competitor and she battled hard for the team in every gymnastics meet. She is an incredibly even tempered person. Her quick smile and pleasant demeanor always make her seem like a truly happy person. But don't be fooled into thinking she is content with where she is as a student-athlete. She is a tough competitor, and she wants to win. There is no doubt she intends to make an even stronger impact this year than last year, both as an individual competitor and as a leader of the team. It's going to be fun watching Haley and her teammates compete.”
Players Mentioned
