Healthy Marinez Showing Elite Beam
2/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Feb. 24, 2017
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior Lauren Marinez faced a long road to get to where she is now, contributing on three events and ranking among the nation's best on beam for the Michigan women's gymnastics team.
Coming to Ann Arbor in the fall of 2014, Marinez had high hopes for her freshman season. A two-time Nastia Cup qualifier who was coming off a second-place finish on beam at the 2014 J.O. National Championships, Marinez was excited for college gymnastics. Just prior to the team's intrasquad, her season came crashing to a halt when she injured her ankle.
"It was really hard because I did make it through preseason and it was about time to show off all the hard work but I couldn't," said Marinez. "Watching was the hardest thing ever. When we won the Big Ten Championship I was excited but sad that I wasn't physically part of it. That sat with me and I didn't want to feel like that ever again."
She recovered from the injury to compete in 2016 for the Wolverines as a beam specialist. She hit on 11 of her 13 routines with a high of 9.925 at No. 1 Oklahoma to tie for the win. It was one of three beam wins on the season. She helped the team win another Big Ten championship, this time feeling a part of it.
"Last year was so incredible," said Marinez. "I felt like I was playing catch up but it was a huge stepping stone to this year. I was just focused on not falling. This summer I really focused on my training and got stronger."
Marinez stayed on campus last summer, taking a psychology and English class while working on her leg and ankle strength with assistant strength and conditioning coach Lew Porchiazzo.
"Lauren has been on a mission since the end of last year," said head coach Bev Plocki. "She really committed this summer to getting in the weight room and improving her leg and ankle strength."
A healthy fall allowed her to not only continue work on her fantastic beam routine, but also get back to her old self again on bars and floor. She has competed on bars in all seven meets with a season-high 9.900 against Illinois. She made her floor debut with a 9.800 last weekend vs. N.C. State and has been one of the top beam performers in the nation, currently ranking 22nd in the RQS.
Before beam routines she tries to tell herself keywords to keep her focused such as "stay in longer" or "kick up and over." Mentally it is the toughest event in the sport and she credits her consistency to her training.
"I try to think of corrections I would think of in the gym," said Marinez. "In practice, I always try to do each routine at meet quality so when competing I know I have done it that way a thousand times."
She has hit all seven of her beam routines this season with victories against Illinois and at Maryland where she had a career-high 9.950. She scored a 9.900 vs. N.C. State last weekend. She has added skills to her routine and her mount is a fan favorite.
"Her artistry on beam and floor dance is beautiful to watch," said Plocki. "Her movement style and execution of skills is beautiful. She expects perfection every single repetition and every turn she takes in practice and that is what makes her so good."
Marinez is excited for this weekend when the team honors Chip Hills, who was the father of student-assistant coach Cailee Hills. Prior to last season, Chip Hills passed away from pancreatic cancer and now for the second straight year, the team will honor his passion and spirit while trying to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer research with its Flip for Chip meet against Southern Utah.
"This weekend is emotional for the people who knew her dad," said Marinez. "We understand the love and dedication he had for this team. Cailee and her family are the strongest people I know and super sweet."
Marinez and Hills have a very good friendship, coming to Michigan as freshmen together. When Marinez first started competing again after her injury, she realized how valuable everyone's role is on the team. Even those not competing are the ones keeping the team even keeled.
"You don't think about how important that stuff is in the moment, but I was that person everyone went to when they needed a distraction or needed to be calmed down," said Marinez. "Cailee is that person for me. She has been the closest to me since my injury and knows what to say and what not to say when I am freaking out."
Sunday's meet is at 1 p.m. in Crisler Center. The first 2,500 fans will receive purple LED light sticks, the color associated with pancreatic cancer awareness.
• Event Preview: Flip for Chip Meet to be Held on Sunday
Communications Contact: Ben Blevins
