By Ashley Springer, Athletic Media Relations

LOGAN, Utah - Hayley Sanzotti has not only been doing gymnastics since she was 3 1/2 years old, but she has also been playing the piano since the first grade.

"I like playing classical a lot," said the Utah State junior gymnast. "I can also play modern ones like I could play, 'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton, so that's kind of cool."

Sanzotti started gymnastics in a "Mommy and Me" class and went on from there. However, the sport was not without its challenges.

"It's been hard. There's always been times where I wanted to quit like around high school," Sanzotti said. "But, it's taught me so many things about life, and I'm really glad I stuck with it."

Sanzotti was voted a team captain this year.

"She's grown into a leader," said Utah State head coach Nadalie Walsh. "She's really trustworthy and she can see the picture clearly."

Sanzotti admitted she was shocked when the team voted her as a captain.

"I haven't changed much of what I've been doing. I've just kind of been doing the same thing that I've been doing all year," Sanzotti said. "It's been cool to take on that leadership role of the team."

Walsh said one way Sanzotti's leadership has benefitted the team is by her not getting involved and putting an end to any issues that may be rising on the team.

"It's not anything that needs to affect her day," Walsh said. "She's just steady, moves forward and she's done a ton to just pull the team forward with her. I am so grateful for that."

Walsh said Sanzotti is amazing at conditioning and has pushed the team over the summer.

"The things she did over her career to push her team in the summer has been super valuable and really priceless," Walsh said.

Sanzotti went home for a month, but stayed in Logan the rest of the summer to work out in the team gym, be with the coaches and work out in the Utah State weight room. She would also run stairs with fellow Aggie Bailey McIntire, go on bike rides and lifted all summer.

"It helps out to stay in shape over the summer for sure," Sanzotti said.

Walsh is going to miss Sanzotti's confidence.

"Hayley is no-holding back, get the job done and get out," Walsh said. "She just knows how to get in the gym, get her work done and throw a couple cute little remarks or sassy looks while she's in the gym to make everybody feel her personality and I just love that about her.

"I never bat my eye when she goes out there, I just enjoy her performance because she's just that athlete that always performs. She's a fabulous gymnast."

Sanzotti has competed in all 13 meets this season, averaging 9.783 on floor and a team-best 9.794 on beam. Sanzotti also competed in three meets on vault averaging 9.283.

Sanzotti had a career night against Southern Utah in which she had a career-high 9.900 on beam and matched a career-high 9.875 on floor. Sanzotti's 9.900 on beam is ranked fourth in the Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference individual top-10 scores on beam this season. Sanzotti has recorded a 9.800 or higher eight times on both beam and floor.

Sanzotti has won five event titles during the season with three on beam and two on floor. Sanzotti tied for first on beam with a 9.900 and won the floor title with a 9.875 against Southern Utah to earn two event titles. Sanzotti also tied for first on beam at Nebraska with a 9.875. Sanzotti earned two more titles at Illinois-Chicago with a 9.775 on beam and a 9.850 on floor, tying for first on both with fellow Aggies McIntire and Madison Ward, respectively. Sanzotti also tied for fifth on beam at the MRGC Championships with a 9.825 and tied for 18th on floor with a 9.775.

Sanzotti said she has been working on getting a 9.900 on the floor this year and hopes that can happen at the NCAA Regional Championships on Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Sanzotti said her biggest accomplishment was coming back from her injury from her sophomore year.

"I feel like all my skills came back way easier than I thought they would," Sanzotti said. "I'd say I even came back stronger than I was before my injury.

Sanzotti still has year of eligibility left because of the injury, which allowed her a medical redshirt, but hasn't decided whether or not she is going to stay another year.

"If I stay I'll be on the team and that'll be exciting to kind of be the old grandma of the team," Sanzotti said. "If I don't plan on staying, I'll probably just look for a job within my field, but I kind of want to stay in the west, so the Utah or Colorado region."

Sanzotti, who is from Wheaton, Ill., decided to come to Utah State because of the community and staff support of athletics and because she loved the atmosphere.

"I'm from the midwest, so I'd never seen mountains before," Sanzotti said. "So, having that scenery and seeing those mountains was amazing to me."

Sanzotti's favorite part about being an Aggie is walking into the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and seeing the fans.

"Seeing them all chant, 'Utah State' and do 'The Scotsman' with everyone is really cool," Sanzotti said.

Sanzotti's favorite memory was competing with the team during her redshirt-sophomore season at regionals.

"That was the first time I got to compete at regionals because my sophomore year when we qualified, I didn't get to compete," Sanzotti said. "So, last year competing with the team at regionals and that kind of atmosphere was a lot of fun."

Sanzotti is on track to graduate with a degree in biology.