Beth Miller (Benevente)
Wisconsin - Gymnastics - 1986-1989

My best memories were competing at the Big Ten Championships. Of course it was usually the biggest competition of the season and always filled with lots of drama. I guess my favorite championship was my freshman year up in Minnesota. We competed in a big arena and it was very exciting for me, being a freshman.

Everything was so new to me. I went on to tie for the gold on the Uneven Bars, an event that was in the past always my weakest. I was in shock over my success on that event. My best event had always been vault. The day before the competition there was a workout in the arena and I vaulted so big in practice that I did a backward roll right off the arena floor and fell down into the bleachers. Because of that the next day the vault was moved forward so there would be more room for landing. I will never forget that day and I tell that story to all my gymnasts that I coach now. My very best competition however was my senior year at a home meet when I broke the school All Around record and got my first ever 38.00. I was so proud of that day.

My college days were really some of my best days as a student-athlete. I enjoyed it so much more than my high school days. So many good times. I only wish that the University of Wisconsin-Madison would bring back Women's Gymnastics. They told everyone they were cutting it from the sports program for the following year in 1991 on the day of the Big Ten Championships.