MUNCIE — Ashley Holliday watched teammate Katrina May win the Mildred Ball Mental Attitude Award last year and didn’t think she’d have much of a chance of claiming the prestigious honor this gymnastics season.
But after winning the vault and helping lead Columbus North to a state runner-up team finish on Saturday, Holliday heard her name called as this year’s honoree.
“I was super proud of Trina when she won, and I thought that would be an amazing award,” Holliday said. “Because she won, I didn’t think I was going to get it because I didn’t think they would do the same school two years in a row.”
Holliday was the state runner-up on bars as a freshman and won that event as a sophomore. Last year, she was runner-up on the vault and finished fifth in the all-around in helping lead the Bull Dogs to the state team title.
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Outside of gymnastics, Holliday earned two varsity letters in track and field and three in cheerleading. She is secretary of the student council, a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers at Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
Holliday plans to study accounting and finance at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.
Holliday is the third North girl in the past five years to win gymnastics’ Mental Attitude Award. Chelsea Wieland was recognized in 2013.
“I’m very honored,” Holliday said. “I wasn’t really expecting it at all, so it’s a surprise. It really made my day and was, all around, a great way to end my career.”
