Brittany Vontz: A scholar and an athlete
From gymnastics I’ve gained a lot of dedication and perseverance. I’ve been hurt quite a few times over my career, and just trying to get back from that is really the real reason that I’m driven to be a physical therapist.
My name is Brittany Vontz. I’m from Lincoln, Nebraska. And I’m a senior in biological sciences. I chose N.C. State because I was being recruited for gymnastics, but when I got here I really fell in love with all of my teammates and coaches, and I love the weather and the campus here. And I’ve made so many friends and basically sisters for me, because I am an only child.
When I was little my parents used to make me get straight As to participate in gymnastics, but as I got older it was kind of a self-fulfilling thing – I had to do it for myself.
I recently won the ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Award. It’s given to student-athletes who have performed with distinction in the classroom, community and within their sport.
It’s really hard to be a student-athlete sometimes, and not everybody realizes that. But the resources that we are given as student athletes are really helpful in succeeding within the classroom and within our sports.
My favorite event is actually floor. I like the dance aspect of it, and you get to show your personality within it. I would have to say that my best event is probably bars. It’s probably due to the fact that when I tore my Achilles the first time, I wasn’t allowed to do any of the other events, and so I practiced bars so much that I just got a lot better at it.
In the future I plan on going to physical therapy school in Washington University in St. Louis. Physical therapists have really helped me get back into my sport when I’ve been down. And I really just want to help others overcome their injuries and get back to the things they love to do in life.
