When the last score came in after round one of the Tempe regional, the Sun Devils cheered alongside an arena filled with their fans. Junior Reese Grolla could feel the energy the home crowd brought combined with the energy of competing in an NCAA regional for the first time. After an exhilarating competition, Grolla reflects on her journey from Canada to Illinois to sunny Arizona, the place she now calls home.
Grolla is originally from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and when she was first looking to compete in the NCAA, she committed to Illinois State. In the first two years of her collegiate career, Grolla was a staple in the Redbirds’ lineups on both bars and beam, but after those two years, she knew that she wanted to do something more with her college career. She wanted to be a part of something bigger than what she could get at Illinois State.
When Grolla decided to transfer, she was looking for a team with better coaching and support staff. Her visit to Arizona State sealed the deal, and she knew that she would make Tempe, Arizona her new home. She already had a friend from Calgary on the team in Jenna Timmons, who she had known her whole life and who had just finished her first season at Arizona State. Timmons told Grolla what to expect so that she could begin her new journey feeling prepared to take on all of the ins and outs of being a Sun Devil.
Since then, Grolla has become a key contributor for the Sun Devils, with this season seeing her as a staple on both bars and beam. As her first season in Tempe came to a close, Grolla reflected on how she has grown not just as a gymnast but as a person.
“I feel like I mentally have grown a bunch. Sometimes, I find myself always in my head and like I have to do this, but I’ve really learned that I get to do this, and that this is such an enjoyable experience, and that no one really gets to experience this, and [I’m] taking it all in,” she said.
Grolla wishes she could share that message with her freshman self—the message to take in every moment because not everyone gets the special experience of being a part of a team and competing in collegiate gymnastics.
Grolla had the opportunity this year to compete in the postseason for the first time. Arizona State does its best gymnastics when it is having fun, and what better way to have fun than competing against an in-state rival in the postseason while at home with the support of your home fans. When Grolla landed her leadoff bar routine with the team support and home crowd behind her, she described the feeling as “incredible.”
That incredible feeling carried over to floor, and after some stumbles from Arizona on beam, Arizona State came out on top. Now, Grolla is focused on recovering and getting ready for round two tomorrow evening. The quad meet tomorrow against Florida, California, and Penn State will be yet another opportunity for Drolla to continue to take it all in.
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Article by Alyssa Van Auker
