A native of Newport News, Va., senior Beka Conrad competes on beam and floor for the Gym Devils. In the 2016 season, Conrad tied her career high of 9.825 on beam four times. She also boasts a 9.850 career high on floor.
If you could have dinner with anyone from any era, who would it be and why?
Amelia Earhart because she is one of my idols and probably the coolest woman ever!
One word to describe your feeling when you put on your ASU uniform for the first time.
Honored
If you had the chance to pick the brain of any coach in any sport, who would it be?
Muhammad Ali because not only was he amazing at his sport, but also because he had such compassion, integrity, humility, and respect. Anyone who can coach the best in the world and their athlete and still have those attributes deserves the most admiration
If you had the chance to watch one past sporting event, which one would you go to?
I would go back all the way to the very first ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. That is where it all started and it would be really awesome to see what sports/hobbies occurred at the Games
What did you like best about your hometown?
I can drive 10 minutes and be at the beach or I could drive 5 minutes and be in the woods; you get the best of both worlds. Also there are so many good trees to climb with my sisters and later tell the story to my parents.
What is the last book you read?
Besides textbooks for classes… the last book I read is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Which past Sun Devil (any sport) do you wish you could have watched play?
Pat Tillman because he is the face of this school and has left an amazing legacy not only with ASU, but around our country. Both of my parents are in the military so I have great respect for what he did and for his family.
What's your favorite song from your favorite artist?
Since I am a music addict, I do not have one favorite song, but my favorite genre with a lot of songs I love is country.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
I love all inspirational quotes and videos so I cannot choose just one, but there is a video I often watch that is called the underdog speech 2012.
What is a movie that you can watch over and over again?
Pineapple Express. I used to watch that movie about once a week with my two sisters.
What is the best advice your parents ever gave you?
Have respect for everyone even if they do not respect you and Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning.
If you could be on any game show which would you choose?
Family Feud. That is my favorite game show because it looks so fun, you can do it with family, and Steve Harvey's reactions are priceless.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My family has had the biggest influence on my career. Whenever I stopped believing in myself, they believed in me for me and kept pushing me to be better.
If you could learn to do anything what would it be?
It would be to teleport so I could see my family whenever I wanted in a split second.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Weird, funny, honorable
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
I actually like cleaning and doing work around the house, but I would say the one I always try to make someone else do is clean the toilets.
What is your best childhood memory?
My oldest sister had a horse so while she would ride it and clean the stalls, my middle sister would play out in the woods with the biggest imaginations ever!
What's your favorite TV show and why?
It would probably be one tree hill because there is so much excitement, passion, but most importantly a lot of quotes about life lessons. Plus, all the characters are gorgeous and handsome.
What is your favorite road trip destination?
I have only been on road trips to or from home [Virginia] and to or from Arizona, but while driving my favorite place that we stopped at was Tennessee.
What is one place you really want to visit?
My top place right now is Ireland because of the beautiful environment and to learn more about my roots.
If someone wrote a book about your life what would they title it?
Expect the unexpected.
If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be?
Amelia Earhart because as I stated previously, she is one of my idols.
What is one thing most people don't know about you?
I have more than one birthmark
Who is your favorite athlete of all time?
Probably Muhammad Ali because not only was he the best at what he did, he always had such dignity and respect.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in the sport?
My family has been my biggest inspiration.
What is your favorite gymnastics moment?
My gym was selected to represent the USA at a meet in Puerto Rico and I helped represent. After two days of competition my team and I won and at the awards they played the National Anthem while we were standing on the first place podium. It was a spectacular feeling.
Competition where you learned the most from.
When I was younger I was competing at the Classic and was 1st place going into the last event, bars. I tried extremely hard to hit every single one of my handstands to insure that 1st place, but my last cast I tried too hard and went over. I ended up falling and getting 3rd. I learned that you should always compete how you train and never try too hard or less because it usually never works out in your favor.
What is the hardest thing about gymnastics?
The hardest thing about gymnastics is having to miss out on things in your non-athletic life. I missed my Ring dance in high school, but that's the price you pay if you want to achieve big things in gymnastics.
What is your favorite event to compete?
Bars
What is the most exciting competition you have ever been apart of?
Probably a home meet here at ASU my freshman year when we went against UofA. We were neck and neck the whole meet, but when we got to floor we were scoring higher than them and won the meet. Throughout the whole meet the energy of everyone was another level and just empowered every single person in that arena. It was amazing.
What is the hardest injury you have ever overcome?
My shoulder surgery from 2015. I am still trying to recover from it to this day.
What is your favorite part about being a Sun Devil?
My favorite part about being a Sun Devil is gaining a whole new family. All the student athletes are close with each other, which is amazing because everywhere you go on campus you see one of your friends.
Do you have any goals for this season?
One of my biggest goals for this year is to beat UofA my senior year and to place top three at regionals.
If you could have dinner with anyone from any era, who would it be and why?
Amelia Earhart because she is one of my idols and probably the coolest woman ever!
One word to describe your feeling when you put on your ASU uniform for the first time.
Honored
If you had the chance to pick the brain of any coach in any sport, who would it be?
Muhammad Ali because not only was he amazing at his sport, but also because he had such compassion, integrity, humility, and respect. Anyone who can coach the best in the world and their athlete and still have those attributes deserves the most admiration
If you had the chance to watch one past sporting event, which one would you go to?
I would go back all the way to the very first ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. That is where it all started and it would be really awesome to see what sports/hobbies occurred at the Games
What did you like best about your hometown?
I can drive 10 minutes and be at the beach or I could drive 5 minutes and be in the woods; you get the best of both worlds. Also there are so many good trees to climb with my sisters and later tell the story to my parents.
What is the last book you read?
Besides textbooks for classes… the last book I read is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Which past Sun Devil (any sport) do you wish you could have watched play?
Pat Tillman because he is the face of this school and has left an amazing legacy not only with ASU, but around our country. Both of my parents are in the military so I have great respect for what he did and for his family.
What's your favorite song from your favorite artist?
Since I am a music addict, I do not have one favorite song, but my favorite genre with a lot of songs I love is country.
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
I love all inspirational quotes and videos so I cannot choose just one, but there is a video I often watch that is called the underdog speech 2012.
What is a movie that you can watch over and over again?
Pineapple Express. I used to watch that movie about once a week with my two sisters.
What is the best advice your parents ever gave you?
Have respect for everyone even if they do not respect you and Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning.
If you could be on any game show which would you choose?
Family Feud. That is my favorite game show because it looks so fun, you can do it with family, and Steve Harvey's reactions are priceless.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
My family has had the biggest influence on my career. Whenever I stopped believing in myself, they believed in me for me and kept pushing me to be better.
If you could learn to do anything what would it be?
It would be to teleport so I could see my family whenever I wanted in a split second.
What three words would you use to describe yourself?
Weird, funny, honorable
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
I actually like cleaning and doing work around the house, but I would say the one I always try to make someone else do is clean the toilets.
What is your best childhood memory?
My oldest sister had a horse so while she would ride it and clean the stalls, my middle sister would play out in the woods with the biggest imaginations ever!
What's your favorite TV show and why?
It would probably be one tree hill because there is so much excitement, passion, but most importantly a lot of quotes about life lessons. Plus, all the characters are gorgeous and handsome.
What is your favorite road trip destination?
I have only been on road trips to or from home [Virginia] and to or from Arizona, but while driving my favorite place that we stopped at was Tennessee.
What is one place you really want to visit?
My top place right now is Ireland because of the beautiful environment and to learn more about my roots.
If someone wrote a book about your life what would they title it?
Expect the unexpected.
If you could meet anyone, past or present, who would it be?
Amelia Earhart because as I stated previously, she is one of my idols.
What is one thing most people don't know about you?
I have more than one birthmark
Who is your favorite athlete of all time?
Probably Muhammad Ali because not only was he the best at what he did, he always had such dignity and respect.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in the sport?
My family has been my biggest inspiration.
What is your favorite gymnastics moment?
My gym was selected to represent the USA at a meet in Puerto Rico and I helped represent. After two days of competition my team and I won and at the awards they played the National Anthem while we were standing on the first place podium. It was a spectacular feeling.
Competition where you learned the most from.
When I was younger I was competing at the Classic and was 1st place going into the last event, bars. I tried extremely hard to hit every single one of my handstands to insure that 1st place, but my last cast I tried too hard and went over. I ended up falling and getting 3rd. I learned that you should always compete how you train and never try too hard or less because it usually never works out in your favor.
What is the hardest thing about gymnastics?
The hardest thing about gymnastics is having to miss out on things in your non-athletic life. I missed my Ring dance in high school, but that's the price you pay if you want to achieve big things in gymnastics.
What is your favorite event to compete?
Bars
What is the most exciting competition you have ever been apart of?
Probably a home meet here at ASU my freshman year when we went against UofA. We were neck and neck the whole meet, but when we got to floor we were scoring higher than them and won the meet. Throughout the whole meet the energy of everyone was another level and just empowered every single person in that arena. It was amazing.
What is the hardest injury you have ever overcome?
My shoulder surgery from 2015. I am still trying to recover from it to this day.
What is your favorite part about being a Sun Devil?
My favorite part about being a Sun Devil is gaining a whole new family. All the student athletes are close with each other, which is amazing because everywhere you go on campus you see one of your friends.
Do you have any goals for this season?
One of my biggest goals for this year is to beat UofA my senior year and to place top three at regionals.