Adayla Morant vaults to next level

Como Park High School’s Adayla Morant humbly asked her AP Macroeconomics teacher if she could reschedule the College Board AP Exam in May. Her conflict was the USA Gymnastics’ National Championships in Oklahoma City, where she had qualified for the all-around competition.

The teacher agreed that the alternative AP Exam date was a good idea!

Adayla’s modesty and attention to detail, in the classroom and gymnastics arena, are foundational elements of her success resulting in academic and gymnastics scholarships to study and compete at Southern Connecticut State University (an NCAA D2 school).
Balancing rigorous college-level work at Como and her year-round training at Flips Gymnastics Academy in White Bear Lake was always a challenge. Sacrifices were made. Adayla couldn’t pursue social and school-related opportunities that many classmates could.

But the trade-off was worth it. Her love of gymnastics was established with programs at Hamline University even before kindergarten. She thrived at Circus Juventas while attending Chelsea Heights Elementary and officially joined the Spirit Gymnastics club at Hamline.

“Swinging around and being able to do all the events – I’ve always loved the environment and the camaraderie I’ve had with the girls,” Adayla said.

While attending Murray Middle School in 2020, Adayla and her family decided to pursue training at Flips and start competing in the USA Gymnastics Development Program (DP) which is highly structured and serves as the primary pipeline for collegiate gymnastics.

Adayla began DP at Level 6. She progressed to become an athlete at Levels 7 and 8 where seasons concluded on the podium at state meets. By 2025, she had placed at the Level 9 Regional Tournament. The only DP level where athletes can advance to Nationals is Level 10.

And that’s where Adayla began her senior year.

“My goals kept changing,” Adayla explained. “Especially this year, because I was competing against girls who were (level) 10s for the past five years, D1 scholarships to the top schools – my goals moved away from winning to doing my best, get this skill, perform to my best abilities.”

That mindset guided her to the national stage. Adayla advanced from Minnesota and then through the regional, qualifying for the National DP Level 10 all-around competition. She showed she belonged with the best, with peak performances on the balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise. And for the vault – 10th place in the country.

“I know I deserved to be here. I wanted to show everyone else that I deserved to be here too.”

Mission accomplished.

Adayla’s gym has a tradition of displaying banners for graduates who continue their gymnastics journey at college. While Adayla’s motivation is clearly intrinsic (evidenced by smiling when saying “practice is fun!”) earning a banner was an extra motivator.
“Ever since I joined the club, I’ve said I need my banner to be on that wall,” Adayla explained. “I’m the first Black gymnast to have graduated the program, and I want to be an inspiration for young girls coming after me.”