Norman, Oklahoma, native Maggie Ball, daughter of the University of Oklahoma head women’s gymnastics coach K.J. Kindler and associate head coach Lou Ball, looks to create her own story and impact in the world of gymnastics, but not in her hometown. Rather, her first chapter begins in Iowa City as a member of the Hawkeye gymnastics team.
From a young age, Ball was given high-performance opportunities to pursue gymnastics, with her parents being key role models. Kindler and Lou Ball both not only coach collegiate gymnastics but also have careers in the sport as athletes themselves, with Kindler having competed at Iowa State and Lou Ball at Nebraska and Michigan.
It was from these experiences that allowed them, not only as parents but as coaches, to help Ball train and grow as a gymnast while also allowing her to decide her own path in sports.
“They always had the mindset of helping me get started but still offering me the opportunity to choose another sport if I wanted, which my sister did when she decided to pursue volleyball,” Ball said.
Even though she may be far from home, Ball still consults her parents on her routines and how to improve her skills — sometimes doing so in person, like at the Iowa’s meet at Minnesota on Jan. 31.
“My mom was giving me pointers afterward, which my coaches thought was pretty funny,” Ball said.
Through high school, Ball competed in club gymnastics at Bart Conner Academy, starring in all four events and claiming a national championship on beam in 2024. Despite the accolades, Ball noted one thing: the lack of group and team mentality in club gymnastics.
“There weren’t a lot of us on the club team, and it was kind of laid back, so sometimes it kind of felt like you were doing everything alone in both competitions, conditioning, and workouts,” Ball said.
However, at Iowa, Ball received a warm welcome, as the majority of this year’s roster consists of veteran collegiate gymnasts. Ball learned through skills and suggestions bestowed by her fellow team of Gymhawks.
“Its nice to hear from them and get that reassurance from someone who has been through the ins and outs and knows what you are going through,” Ball said. “Having that support brings a lot of positive advantages.”
To her teammates and coaches, Ball is more than just another freshman on the team. She brings her own personality and characteristics that help not just her but everyone on the team.
“One of her biggest characteristics is that she always has that positive optimism and kindness that just radiates from her in practice and in competition,” freshman Daisy Bowles said.
For Iowa head coach Jen Llewellyn, Ball embodies a passionate obsession.
“Once she finds something to work on, she can dedicate hours to working on it. That work ethic is so contagious to the other gymnasts,” Llewellyn said.
Though being listed as an all-around on Iowa’s roster, Ball chose to start off her collegiate career on beam. To her, the beam event at this time feels the most comfortable, and with a consistent uptick in scores since the beginning of the season, it looks like she made the right decision.
“I wasn’t very happy with how the first few weeks went, but I have definitely been more intentional in practice, making sure I carry that into the competitions, and hopefully my scores continue to improve,” Ball said.
Even though she does not compete in the other three events, Ball still dedicates her time to the collegiate training routine in hopes of one day becoming an all-around competitor for the program.
“I didn’t do a lot of weight training in high school, but here we do it about twice a week, which helps me in ways,” Ball said. “I will definitely be working hard this summer to hopefully make that move into the other areas.”
Even though her freshman season may be nearing its conclusion, Ball remains fixed on improvement, acknowledging her legacy as not just a coach’s kid but a descendant of collegiate gymnasts.
“I do hope to one day coach like my parents, but for now, just trying to be sharper and confident in whatever I do is my immediate goal,” Ball said.