JEFF FIELDER Editor
MINATARE – Avery Pedotto, a freshman at Minatare High School, is this week’s Nspire Today! Female Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Pedotto is a talented gymnast. She’s been competing in gymnastics since she was 2 years old. She spent six years working with DSG gymnastics in Arvada, Colorado, and then began working out at Aerial Gymnastics in Scottsbluff in 2019. She will compete in the Simone Biles Invitational Feb. 14-16 at the NRG Arena in Houston, Texas. Other local gymnasts attending the meet include Ayva Sinner and Madi Samuelson. Pedotto will compete in four more gymnastics meets this year. In addition to gymnastics, she participates in color guard, cheerleading, One Act, art club, and track & field for MHS. She’s an honor roll student. Her parents are Rachael Langner and Matthew Pedotto.
Q: How excited are you to compete at the national event in Houston?
PEDOTTO: “I’m a little nervous, but I’m pretty excited about it. I haven’t been to a big gymnastics meet like this before.”
Q: What are your goals for the invitational?
PEDOTTO: “My goal is to make it through each event without getting hurt or falling apart and having a mental breakdown. I just really want to get through everything with a smile on my face.”
Q: How cool will this experience be for you?
PEDOTTO: “I think it’s going to be a pretty fun experience because it’s a really big event.”
Q: How pleased are you with your gymnastics skills right now?
PEDOTTO: “I’m not where I want to be right now, but I feel like my skills have been getting better.”
Q: What gymnastics events do you compete in?
PEDOTTO: “I’m doing all four events – floor, beam, bars and vault.”
Q: Which event do you like the most?
PEDOTTO: “Probably floor because it’s kind of like doing a dance recital. It’s fun.”
Q: Is competing in gymnastics ever stressful for you?
PEDOTTO: “I get a little stressed out about it sometimes, but I just focus on giving my best effort and having fun with it.”
Q: How passionate are you about gymnastics?
PEDOTTO: “I’m pretty passionate about it. It’s a good sport. It’s a good strengthening sport. You have to be strong.”
Q: How did you get involved in gymnastics?
PEDOTTO: “My mom was in gymnastics, and she coached gymnastics, so that’s kind of how I got involved.”
Q: What’s the toughest gymnastics event?
PEDOTTO: “Probably vaults. You’re running at a stationary object, so you have to jump off the springboard and do something off it onto the mat. If you fail, you could end up hurting yourself.”
Q: For the invitational in Houston, are you seeking donations to help pay for the trip?
PEDOTTO: “Yes, we’re selling 50/50 raffle tickets right now to help pay for the expenses of the trip.” Editor’s note: Anyone wanting to buy a raffle ticket can call Aerial Gymnastics in Scottsbluff.
Q: How much have you enjoyed being a cheerleader and being part of the color guard team at Minatare High School?
PEDOTTO: “Cheerleading is pretty fun. It’s been a fun experience. Color guard is pretty fun, too. I enjoy being part of the band and participating in parades.”
Q: How impressed are you with Minatare’s marching band?
PEDOTTO: “It’s a pretty good band. Everyone has fun.”
Q: Talk about the time it takes to be part of the cheerleading and color guard teams.
PEDOTTO: “We practice cheer a lot, and when we were doing color guard, we put quite a bit of time into that.”
Q: How many years have you participated in the color guard and cheerleading?
PEDOTTO: “I’ve been involved in the color guard the last three years, and this is my first year in cheerleading.”
Q: How much do you enjoy going to school in Minatare?
PEDOTTO: “It’s fun. Everyone is really supportive in Minatare, and everyone is friendly.”
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
PEDOTTO: “Probably Spanish.”
Q: Outside of your activities, what do you like to do for fun?
PEDOTTO: “I like to draw.”
Q: How’s your freshman year of school going?
PEDOTTO: “It’s fun, but it can be stressful at times.”
Q: Have you thought about what you would like to do for a career?
PEDOTTO: “I want to get signed by a big producer and make TV shows or animation movies.”
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
PEDOTTO: “Subway or Burger King.”
Q: What’s your favorite type of music?
PEDOTTO: “I don’t really have a favorite type of music. I just like certain songs.”
Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
PEDOTTO: “I like Friends.”
Q: Who do you think is one of the kindest students at Minatare High School?
PEDOTTO: “I’d say my best friend, Ania Zamarripa. We have a lot in common, and she’s really supportive and is really nice.”
Q: Who are your siblings?
PEDOTTO: “Tayson (12), Zoe (10), and Jenessa (8).”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in January to Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy.
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
