Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Sammy Mills, New Trier gymnastics

Sammy Mills is a senior gymnast for the Trevians. She is a four-year varsity athlete and recently finished 12th in the all-around scoring at the sectional meet.

1. Do you have any pre-meet or pre-routine rituals?

Before a meet, I usually get a Jimmy John’s sandwich and then go back to New Trier and just get on the bus. In the events, I visualize like all of our routines. And that’s kind of it.

2. What are your plans for next year?

I just committed to the (University of Colorado) Boulder. I’m majoring in integrated physiology. My (two) sisters go there and it’s just so pretty and every time I’ve visited I’ve just loved it.

3. What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not competing?

I love hanging out with my friends, and in the summertime, I love the beach and just being outside.

4. If you could compete in another sport, what would it be?

I’d say dancing or something like that. I think I can do that. I think it’s similar to gymnastics. I would say diving, but I cannot hold my breath for very long, so that would not go well.

5. What’s been your top sports highlight so far?

Probably making it to state as a team last year was a big highlight, because two years before that we didn’t make it to state. So just feeling what that was like. And also winning the sectional this past week was a very big highlight.

6. What is your favorite event?

My favorite event is beam. It’s probably one of my better events.

7. What is your dream job?

Right now, I think I want to be some kind of physical therapist, but specifically for sports, because I know what those kind of injuries are like and I think working with athletes would be fun.

8. If you are in Walgreens and you have a couple bucks, what are you buying?

Some kind of candy. I really like SweetTarts Ropes.

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

Maybe that I’m really stubborn, I’d say.

10. What is New Trier gymnastics all about?

I’d say New Trier gymnastics is about the team dynamic, and being a member of the team is something we really value. New Trier gymnastics as a whole is a place where we can come together and bring each other up.

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Subscribe to The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a subscriber? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.