Betty Butler was ready to start something new, so she switched from swimming to gymnastics three years ago.
Engaging in the sport with her friends and learning new skills are two of the key reasons why Butler made the change after spending time in the swimming realm since she was little. With gymnastics in her life, it’s been a growing experience for the Mercer Island High School senior captain and she’s garnered support from her teammates along the way.
“(I like) being able to work with a lot of other girls my age. I’m so excited to see all of them at all the meets and what they work so hard for,” said Butler who captains the squad with senior Mira Vigileos and junior Maya Moncaster.
Butler competes on the floor, vault and beam during meets and favors the beam since it was the first event she tackled when gymnastics came calling. She enjoys the choreography aspect of the beam and likes expressing herself throughout her routine.
“Even though it’s hard, I still feel comfortable doing it because I practice it a lot,” she said.
In the captain’s seat, Butler likes arranging team bonding experiences such as dinners and making hair bows with the Islanders.
Come meet time, she wants to ensure “that everyone feels comfortable with what they’re learning, and they’re practicing every single day so that they are ready to compete. Just helping everyone feel confident.”
The Reporter asked Butler the following questions to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her life:
What’s the most binge-worthy TV series that you’d recommend?
They’re both kind of guilty pleasures, but I really like “The Vampire Diaries” and “Glee.” I know they’re kind of not everyone’s favorite, but I firmly believe that if everyone just gives those shows a shot and tries to watch a couple episodes at once, they’ll get into it.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
My grandma has just kind of always told me to just start a conversation with everyone and be nice to everyone. Being friendly with all different kinds of people, it can go a long way.
How do you spend your spare time?
I love hanging out with my friends. We go out to eat sometimes. I do pilates sometimes. I work — I’m a lifeguard. Especially since I’m graduating soon, I just spend a lot of time with my family.
What’s your daily motto when you get up and go each morning?
Every single day, I approach it a little bit differently based on what I’m doing. It’s just thinking like today’s a new day. Today’s a fresh start.
What would your dream vacation spot be?
Oh, I would really like to go to either French Polynesia or Austria.
What superpower would you like to have?
Teleportation. I think it would be so convenient, like I could just bop around and be where I need to be.
