Christina Pheil

Position:
AA
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
St. Petersburg, Fla.
High School:
St. Petersburg

As a Junior

Versatile athlete that returned from injury to have a major impact for the Tar Heels • Was in the lineup for all 10 meets • Competed in the all-around during eight meets • Opened the season with a solid performance in the home opener against William & Mary, finishing in the top-10 on three of the four apparatuses • Earned second-team All-Tournament honors at the EAGL Championship after posting a 38.800 to take 10th place • Was also second-team All-Tournament on the vault following a score of 9.825 to take ninth place • Posted career highs on the uneven bars (9.700) and balance beam (9.625) against William & Mary on March 5 • Named to the second-team All-EAGL in the all-around.

As a Sophomore

Did not compete for most of the season due to injury • Competed twice on the vault and once on the floor exercise • Notched a season-best score of 9.550 on the vault against Temple, West Virginia and Pittsburgh on Feb. 28.

As a Freshman

Competed on vault, balance beam and floor exercise in the first three meets of the season • Was limited during the middle of the year due to injury • Came back to compete on floor exercise for the final three meets • Posted season-highs on floor with a 9.850 at both the season-opening NC State meet in Chapel Hill and the following week at NC State • Finished second on floor vs. NC State in the first meet of the year • Posted a season-high 9.725 on vault at NC State • Was sixth at the EAGL championships on floor with a 9.750 • Selected to the All-EAGL Scholastic Team.

Prep:

Trained under the guidance of Brad Harris and Amy Schulthess at Tampa Bay Turners Gymnastics in St. Petersburg, Fla. • During her Junior Olympic career she was the Florida State all-around champion at every level for levels 4-10 • Was the 2009 USA Gymnastics Level 9 Eastern National all-around and uneven bars champion • Placed fourth on floor exercise and 19th in the all-around at the 2010 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Level 10 National Championships • Was the 2011 Junior Olympic National Invitational Tournament floor exercise champion.

Personal Bests:

Vault: 9.725 (2 times) – most recently 3/18/16 at EAGL Championships
Uneven Bars: 9.700 – 3/5/16 at William & Mary
Balance Beam: 9.625 – 3/5/16 at William & Mary
Floor Exercise: 9.850 (2 times) - most recently 1/17/14 at NC State
All-Around: 38.800 – 3/18/16 at EAGL Championships

Getting to Know Christina:

Major: Double major in Exercise and Sports Science and Communications with a minor in Spanish for the Professions

Nickname: Chris and Pheil

Career Plans: Physical therapy

What is the best thing about being at UNC? How everyone cares so deeply about this school and the spirit they show in everything they do

Away from gymnastics and my academic pursuits, I like to spend time… playing other sports, hanging out with friends and family and shopping

My greatest strength as a gymnast is… creating and optimistic atmosphere, being committed and composed and encouraging others

Biggest sports thrill and why? I love underdog stories, but anything with Carolina basketball gets me hype

Person who had the greatest influence on your career and why: My parents because no matter what they are always supporting me, listening to me and encouraging me

Favorite Book: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Favorite Food: Sushi

Funny or interesting fact about yourself: I’m super tech-savvy

Favorite class at UNC and why: Exercise and Sports Science 376 (Exercise Physiology) because learning how the body functions during exercise is fascinating and gymnastics makes even more sense

At what age did you first start participating in gymnastics and what is your earliest memory of gymnastics? My fifth birthday party in the gym where everyone sang Happy Birthday to me in the foam pit

The funniest nickname on the team belongs to: Maddie Nettles – Nettles. She just has a rad last name

What song would you sing if you were on The Voice? Drops of Jupiter by Train (I’d kill the chorus)

What reality show would you most like to be on? Say Yes to the Dress

My favorite guilty pleasure is: Christmas music

If I could go to dinner with one famous person it would be: The Obamas

The most interesting person I’ve met at UNC is: Meredith Petschauer

People say I look like… Selena Gomez

Favorite place to visit: St. Pete Beach back home