Auburndale Gymnast Signs With Maryland

Thu. November 15, 2012 at 12:48 a.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

Auburndale senior Emily Brauckmuller, 17, shows off the form that earned her a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Maryland. (Photo by LISA COFFEY | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS )

AUBURNDALE | Gymnastics aren't offered at Polk County high schools as FHSAA sports.

However, Auburndale's Emily Brauckmuller, 17, signed a full scholarship Wednesday to flip, vault, tumble and strut for the University of Maryland next season. Brauckmuller signed her letter-of-intent at the Auburndale High School cafeteria in front of 15 or so family members and friends as part of the NCAA early signing period.

"I'm excited and honored to be able to go to a great institution like Maryland and do the thing I love," Brauckmuller said.

She considered offers from Florida, LSU and Georgia, but was most comfortable at Maryland.

"It felt like home," she said.

Brauckmuller was two places away from attending the USA Gymnastics Olympic Trials last May when she placed sixth all- around in the Junior Olympics in Virginia Beach. The top four all-around athletes earned automatic berths into the Olympic Trials.

The Level 10 gymnast won all-around titles at the Tampa Bay Turner Classic, Gasparilla Classic and the Magical Classic where she won all four events this year.

The success earned her a spot in the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup at Madison Square Garden, which featured the top 34 gymnasts in the country of all ages. There, she placed eighth overall.

Brauckmuller is a co-op student at Auburndale, leaving the school every day at 11:37 to train until approximately 7:30 p.m. in Orlando.

She plans to major in finance and marketing with a minor in business at Maryland.

— BY LISA COFFEY