IHSAA gymnastics: Youngsters see Bloomington North's Floyd as a real Rising Star
Jessica Floyd has felt the pressure and dealt with nerves at many big-time meets, including the IHSAA state finals the past two years.
It hadn't prepared her for performing in front of 60 screaming young fans, all clubmates of hers at Rising Star Gymnastics, who showed up for Floyd's senior night at Bloomington North.
Here they came wearing shirts in Rising Star's purple color that said, 'RSG (heart's) Jess', and many holding signs saying 'Let's go Jess!'
"It was a complete surprise to me," Floyd said. "I turned around and there's this herd of gymnasts walking toward me. And was like, 'Oh my gosh.' It was crazy.
"You don't think about the influence you have and then just seeing that, it was amazing because I didn't know I was that much of an impact to that many girls. And that really was inspiring to myself that you can really make an impact, if you make sure you put your all into it and you're constantly lifting people up and empowering people and just being there for them and being a good role model."
Floyd has been a Rising Star gymnast for 17 years.
"So I started as one of those kids and I had great role models and they showed me what it was like to be a good role model for younger kids," said Floyd, who adopted a leadership style that fit her.
"It was just making sure that I am supportive of everybody, that I can stop and take a moment to teach them how to do a skill or say, 'Hey, you're all good, we all have bad days.' Any little thing that they need I always try to make sure I'm there for them, even if it's not the easiest thing for me to do."
All of that set the stage for when she came to North and found a second family with the Cougars.
"Rising Star has been what I grew up with," Floyd said. "They have influenced me so much and made me the gymnast and person I am today. I really thank them for that because it's allowed me to flourish here at North.
"I can take all that I've learned from them and and apply it here. I have made so many friendships and bonds here. They taught me what it's like to have a positive gym environment and I've been able to come here and have that as well."
Big finish for Floyd
Floyd also had another big moment in her final season, winning a Conference Indiana title on floor and helping the Cougars win their first ever CI title. She might be the first North gymnast to win an event in CI competition, too. In any case, it ended a run of Columbus North's gymnasts taking every individual accolade since 2014.
"It has been my goal since freshman year to take a conference title, ideally floor, which I got," Floyd said. "It was so awesome. I went in with the mindset I want to do my best and hit a good routine and it ended up being enough for me to win. I was so happy."
Her next to last home meet was unforgettable thanks to her tiny but vocal fan base.
'Wow that's a lot of people,' she thought when she saw her fan club arrive. North coach Andrea Smith said a few words about each of the seniors, and Floyd remembered she noted how sometimes you don't even know the impact that you making.
"It was definitely a full-circle moment for me," Floyd said.
Then, as the meet began, the pressure was really on. Sixty girls in the stands with one of their heroes in front of them and all eyes on her.
"When I would go up on an event, it got soooo loud," Floyd said. "Everybody was screaming."
Normally at a meet like this, the only background noise is the music from the floor routine, the occasional shout of support from a few teammates and some clapping after someone else's finished routine.
"I feel like state nerves are, 'Man, I have to do this routine for my team,'" Floyd said. "And honestly, it was a different kind of nerve I haven't really experienced. 'Oh my gosh there are so many people watching me now, I need to do well. I need to hit this.' It was crazy."
She focused and made it through with a solid 34.5 all-around, placing in the top-six in every event at the four-team meet.
Doing that well, it was suggested she pack the kids into a bus and bring them with her to sectional. Maybe not a bad idea, she joked.
"I did really well that night," Floyd said. "Sixty girls screaming at me really gets you."
Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X @JimGordillo.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington North gymnast shines as role model for young Rising Stars
