At the 2009 Visa Championships in Dallas, Texas, Sienna Martinez and Ryan Ward of REALIS in Moreno Valley, Calif., won their first Senior Mixed Pair title. In honor of their accomplishment, this month’s Acro Highlight features these two outstanding athletes.

How long have you been involved in Acro?
Sienna: Six years.
Ryan: Fourteen years.

Yours is a relatively new partnership, how long have you been together?
Sienna/Ryan: One year.

What was your training schedule like preparing for Visa Championships?
Sienna/Ryan: Morning and evening practices, 2 ½ hours each, six days a week.

What were your expectations going into Visa Championships?
Sienna/Ryan: To go on the competition floor and be the best we could be and make the National Team.

What were your feelings as you stood on the podium to take the Gold Medal?
Sienna: I was so happy that all of our hard work had paid off.
Ryan: I was extremely excited and in awe of the moment. I also thought about what it would be like to stand in the same place at Worlds.

Have you received any special awards in the past?
Sienna: At 2008 National Championships I received the Most Flexible Top award.
Ryan: In previous years I have been awarded Athlete of the Year for Region 1 and also highest score of the competition for Region 1.

What do you do in your spare time?
Sienna: I enjoy reading Harry Potter books and watching movies.
Ryan: I coach at our gym, try to see as many movies as I can, spend as much time on the beach as I can and go to school to get my degree.

What are your future goals in Acro?
Sienna/Ryan: To attend the 2012 World Championships and bring home the Gold for the United States!

What are your goals after Acro?
Sienna: To perform in Cirque de Soliel.
Ryan: To attend Medical School and become a Pediatric Endocrinologist and to sky dive. Possibly perform in Cirque de Soliel.

                 

Photos by James Glader