WILLIAMSBURG — When talking to Ava Siegfeldt, there is passion and determination in her voice. That passion and determination have taken her to new heights, competing alongside some of USA Gymnastics’ best. Now in college at the University of Oklahoma, she’s hoping to add NCAA National Champion to her list of accolades.
Starting gymnastics at the age of seven, Siegfeldt was sold on the sport from the beginning. A 2022 graduate of Warhill High School, Siegfeldt recalled the moment that she signed her National Letter of Intent to compete for head women’s gymnastics coach K.J. Kindler and the University of Oklahoma.
“I knew I wanted to compete and I knew I wanted to go to a school that checked all my boxes on my list. Oklahoma checked all my boxes from the first phone call I had with K.J. I knew as soon as I talked to her that this was where I wanted to be,” Siegfeldt said.
While attending Warhill, Siegfeldt was also a full-time competitor for USA gymnastics. She had to balance school with an international travel schedule while also training many hours throughout the week. But according to her, the sacrifice was all worth it.
“It was so hard but it’s all been worth it. I wouldn’t change anything,” Siegfeldt says.
As a Sooner gymnast, Siegfeldt has been raking in accolades. Siegfeldt brought home Big 12 weekly honors as event specialist of the week early on in the season. She’s also helped contribute to OU’s number one in the nation ranking. Almost a perfect season, OU suffered one loss against Big 10 Michigan.
In 2021, Siegfeldt competed for a spot on the four-woman roster for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. She recalled the special feeling of competing alongside the best of the best in the sport.
“It was an incredible experience. Anytime you get to compete with people that you’ve looked up to it’s such a unique opportunity and something you don’t take for granted. Every time I was at those competitions, it was so cool to just watch them train. It was really exciting,” Siegfeldt says.
While she wasn’t chosen as an Olympian, she knew gymnastics would continue to be a part of her life thanks to the University of Oklahoma. OU is currently ranked number one in the nation as it begins its postseason run. First stop is the regional competition, taking place in Norman, Oklahoma at the OU’s Lloyd Noble Center.
“It’s been incredible and it’s all I hoped it would be. This team has so much talent. Everybody works so hard to earn their spots in the lineup. It’s a great team and we all love and support each other,” Siegfeldt said.
Siegfeldt, a freshman competitor on uneven bars and beam, looks to bring home another national championship for Sooner gymnastics fans.
“I’m super excited and I can’t wait to get out there on the floor with my team,” Siegfeldt says.
The Oklahoma Sooners will compete at the regional competition on March 30. If successful, the team will advance to the NCAA semifinals in Dallas on April 13.
