BOISE – Adriana Popp is probably not the first person who comes to mind when it comes to the Boise State gymnastics team.
The fifth-year senior might not even be the second or third one either.
But that can all change today by qualifying for the ever elusive NCAA Championships. The “Beam Queen” as she’s referred to, will compete individually in the event during the second round of the NCAA Regional Championships at 6 p.m. (MDT) in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“When people think of the program, they think of Courtney (Blackson) and Emily (Lopez). But we think of Popp,” Boise State head coach Tina Bird said. “I totally feel like she’s under the radar because she’s not an all-arounder and she hasn’t gotten a 10 yet. When you do more events, you have more accolades. So therefore you’re more recognizable.”
Which Popp was prior to her arrival at Boise State.
She was receiving college letters from the likes of UCLA and Utah at just 12 years old.
“That was back when you could recruit early. But it was crazy. I was like, ‘I don’t even know where I’m going to college. I’m 12 years old,’” Popp said with a laugh. “That’s the last thing on my mind.”
But she had gotten their attention by holding her own against the likes of Olympic gold medalists Suni Lee and Laurie Hernandez at the 2014 P&G U.S. National Gymnastics Championships in Pittsburgh – about five hours away from her hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania.
“I remember just looking at my coach and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I made it,” Popp said. “It was one of the best feelings ever.”
Those types of meets became common for her after that. And if not for two little steps on her dismount at the 2019 nationals, Popp would have arrived at Boise State as a national champion. But she had to settle for a runner-up finish instead.
“She came in mad that she didn’t win,” Bird said. “She’s been chasing it ever since.”
One that began freshman year.
Popp was in the starting lineup in both balance beam and floor exercise for the season opener at No. 4 UCLA on Jan. 12, 2020. The only Bruin with a higher score on beam than her 9.850 that day, was two-time All-American and Pac-12 champion, Grace Glenn. Popp followed that up by claiming her first individual title with career-high 9.900 on floor in a home quad meet against Utah State, Sacramento State and UC Davis on Feb. 21.
But a few short weeks later, the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Popp went back home and didn’t really train again for three months.
So as to be expected, Popp was a little rusty upon her return to campus that August. She had a hard time even doing relatively simply things like a handstand on the uneven bars and a handspring on the floor.
“I looked at Tina and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I lost all my strength,’” Popp said with a laugh. “I’d only ever gotten a week off of gymnastics a year in my life. You’re not supposed to take time off in gymnastics. Like if you even take a week off, it’s hard to come back. People don’t understand that. It’s an all-year sport. You can’t stop training.”
However, Popp quickly found her groove again.
She collected five All-Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference honors, including taking home the 2021 league title in beam, and was part of back-to-back-to-back NCAA Regional teams in each of the next three seasons. This included learning a brand new routine in vault – an event she hadn’t even competed in since her club day at Girls Co-Op – last season. Popp only did floor and balance beam during her first three years with the Broncos.
She recorded a career high 9.950 on the apparatus against Utah State on Feb. 3, 2023. It earned her MRGC Specialist of the Week honors. Popp was then later selected to the All-MRGC second-team at the end of the year.
“In college, it is unheard of to learn a completely new vault and to have it be a 10.0 start,” Bird said.
Which is why it was a bit shocking when Popp fell on her landing during last year’s regional. She also had a few uncharacteristic wobbles on the balance beam. It all cost her a spot at nationals.
“I feel like I put too much pressure on myself at times,” Popp said.
It wasn’t just then.
Shaking before every event was a common occurrence, especially during her first couple years with the program. And she overcompensated for that by rushing through her routines. It’s why Popp never officially competed in the uneven bars at Boise State and why the vault was held off until just recently.
“She’s the quickest kid I’ve ever seen in gymnastics. But I’m always telling her to slow down,” Bird said. “Our cue is we’re doing underwater gymnastics. Right before she goes on, I’m like, ‘Slow it down.’ Because if her timing is on, you can’t beat her.”
Injuries have also hampered her, too.
They’re part of the reason why she elected not to compete on the floor this season. Popp hurt her foot right before the start of the year after spending the entire offseason perfecting a brand new routine. This was all in addition to the ongoing pain in both her shins and toes over the years.
“She’s really handled it very well. She’s as tough as nails,” Bird said. “You can’t tell when she’s hurt and I can count on one hand how many times she’s cried in five years.”
It hasn’t slowed her down this season.
Popp tallied three wins on the beam, including posting a 9.950 score in a tri-meet against Southern Utah and Sacramento State on Feb. 16. The mark is tied for the fourth-highest in school history. It garnered her All-Mountain West Co-Beam Specialist of the Week honors and started a run of her winning the event in three consecutive meets.
Popp was named All-MW first team on the beam and to the second team on vault with national qualifying scores of 9.895 and 9.830, respectively. It all helped the Broncos win the inaugural MW Championship meet and qualify for regionals for the 16th season in a row.
Her 12 career victories on the balance beam, are currently tied for the third-most on the program’s all-time list.
“It’s cool to just see there’s not many other gymnasts who have done that at Boise State. So it’s just kind of an honor,” Popp said. “It’s crazy. I didn’t really realize how much I’ve actually accomplished until talking about it just now.”
She hopes to add another one later this evening.
Yet, in order to do so, Popp has to win regionals. No easy task in a field of gymnasts from perennial power programs such as No. 2 LSU and No. 7 Kentucky.
But if it does happen, her name should shoot straight up to the top of the list.
“That would just make all my hard work that I’ve put in throughout these years worth it,” Popp said. “That would be such a cool experience getting to compete with the best of the best in the college world and see where I place.”
