Bailey Pendley
March 24, 2011—Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Bailey Pendley is finishing up her final season with the Southern Utah University gymnastics team. She has fought through many injuries throughout her career, but has still been an important part of SUU’s success. Pendley was named second-team all-Western Athletic Conference on vault after scoring a 9.850 at the 2010 conference championships, and was also named to the Academic All-WAC team that same year. The 2010 WAC champion Thunderbirds have once again qualified for the NCAA regionals, and although Pendley will not be competing, her teammates stand to benefit from her leadership and positive attitude. Photo courtesy of SUU Athletic Media Relations.
I understand that you recently had surgery. How are you doing?
I’m actually doing a lot better since I’ve had the surgery. It’s called an ulnar nerve transposition. They basically go in and move your ulnar nerve under your forearm. I’ve actually had less pain since I’ve had the surgery so it’s definitely helped a lot.
How did you sustain the injury?
I tore my tricep three years ago and as the years went on that pain moved into my elbow. I ended up tearing the sheath that protects my ulnar nerve. Because of this, my nerve was always shooting down into my hand and fingers. We finally decided to do the surgery, and while they were in there they fixed up my tricep.
So your gymnastics career is done then?
Yup, unfortunately my career is over. I am already a fifth year senior, so there is no coming back next year, even if I wanted to!
What are you doing presently to help your team?
Since being injured, I have had to change up my role in the gym. I am not able to contribute physically anymore, so I am always mentally there for my girls. They know that I always have their backs. I have been called the “mom” of the team, and if that is how I’m needed than I am okay with that title. Even though I am not contributing physically, I am screaming my lungs out for my girls.
Southern Utah University gymnast, Bailey Pendley competing in vault. Photo courtesy of SUU Athletic Media Relations.
What was your team roll prior to your injury? What were your specialties?
Prior to my surgery I competed vault and floor. Floor was my favorite event to compete. I love being in front of the crowd and doing my floor routine. I love the emotion you can pull from the crowd. In previous years, I had trained all four events, and competed bars many times in 2010 for the T-Birds.
How’s the team doing?
We’re doing pretty well. We are obviously facing a couple of injuries. Myself being out and then a fellow senior tore her Achilles in December. We’re pretty deep on each event which is nice, but having your starters out can hinder you a little bit.
Describe a typical day for you.
I actually live an hour away from the school. I’ll leave my house about 7 a.m. I have an internship at child protective services. I come up here to Ceder City by 8 a.m. and I’m at my internship until practice at 2 p.m. We are usually out of practice at 6 p.m. I get my physical therapy done and I get home about 8 o’clock at night.
You’re pretty busy.
Yeah, a gymnast’s life is always really, really busy.
So when do you find time to study?
I’m really lucky. Because I’m a 5th year (senior) right now, my degree is basically already done and completed. That’s why I took the internship for so many hours. I actually don’t have a lot of studying to do, just a lot of work for my internship, basically.
I noticed that you actually went to school at San Jose State and transferred to Southern Utah.
I did.
What was it like at San Jose State?
I enjoyed the school a bunch and the atmosphere. I just didn’t feel like I fit in with their gymnastics program. I think they have a great program, and have continued to improve throughout the years, but it just wasn’t a good fit for me.
How did you end up at Southern Utah?
I had lived with my grandparents growing up and my grandpa got really, really sick and I decided to transfer a little closer to home so I could come home more often. I needed to be around my family a little more.
Has it worked out for you?
Yeah, I’m so blessed to be at Southern Utah now. It’s definitely been a great path for me.
What have you enjoyed the most about being at SUU?
Cedar City is basically a college city so it’s nice that we have so many fans that come to our gymnastics meets. We are so well known here and that’s good. It’s amazing, the publicity we get. Just the small town and being so close with everyone is really nice. We are essentially a big family in this athletics community.
BAILEY PENDLEY
1) I would love to go back to my husbands mission (Dominican Republic) and visit and see people that he taught and baptized. I think that would be really cool.
2) I don’t know if this is really a “bucket list” item, but having my family and having them grow up in the church—being able to give my children what I didn’t really get growing up. That’s just really important and something that parents should strive for. I think Heavenly Father put us all here on earth for a reason, and I want to validate that reason by teaching my children how to get back to Him.
3) I’m a huge Disney freak and I’d love to visit every Disneyland there is in the world.
4) I would also like to go to a Yankees game in New York City! I am a huge fan!
—Photo courtesy of SUU Athletic Media Relations.
How long have you been a member of the church?
I converted on December 6 of 2008.
How did that come about?
I met my (future) husband and he was a returned missionary. I started going to church with him (but) we actually ended up going our separate ways for a while. I had joined the church (during) that time. I just started talking to the missionaries and just really enjoyed it. I decided to convert a couple of months later.
What in particular peaked your interest in the church?
I loved the emphasis the church had on families. I am so thankful that I am sealed to my husband, and our children will be sealed to us as well. I have always felt that families are together forever, and the church just reaffirmed that belief I always had.
You obviously got back with your husband to be?
I did. (laughter) We got back together about 6 or 7 months (after I joined the church).
Your husband played football at SUU?
He did. He was a fullback here. His name is Taylor Pendley.
What are your plans for the future?
My husband is already graduated. He works at a youth correctional facility. We’re just kind of putting ourselves out there and looking for new jobs. I personally would like to start a family fairly soon. We’ll just end up moving wherever jobs take us. That’s the beauty of being young, we will just go where the winds take us!
What are you currently doing in the church?
I teach primary. I have the 9 year olds.
How’s that going?
It’s great. I obviously didn’t have primary growing up so teaching these lessons has actually taught me more than I think I teach them. I’ve had to learn all the primary songs. I had no idea they actually existed until two years ago, so it was definitely a big assignment starting to teach primary. I absolutely love it though.
I grew up in the church but the primary songs are a lot different now. There’s a lot more.
There are. There are lots of new songs coming out and I gotta keep up.
Yeah, I don’t know them either—just the basic ones.
I know!
As a fairly new convert to the church, what has helped you learn, grow and stay committed to the gospel?
I think staying in constant communication with Heavenly Father, and surrounding yourself with positive influences can do wonders. I am blessed to have a husband who always stays true to what he believes in and this helps me stay on the right path. I think having a temple where you live is extremely important!
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