Tell the readers a little bit about yourself.

     Hey! My name is Gina Scarangella. I grew up in the small town of Ocean View, DE. I began doing gymnastics at the age of six and competed until the age of sixteen. While in high school, I participated in competitive cheerleading and later went on to cheer at La Salle University. After graduating college and obtaining my bachelor’s degree in nursing, I became an NFL cheerleader for the Baltimore Ravens. I currently spend most of my time working as a nurse while still finding time to train for a new sport called calisthenics.

What exactly is calisthenics?

     Calisthenics is a sport practiced on bars as well as the ground.  While this may sound similar to gymnastics, calisthenics differs in many ways. The bars used in calisthenics are not the typical wood coated fiber glass bars used by gymnasts, but metal bars you may find in any outdoor park. Competitions do not use a ten point scale; instead, judges look for creativity and static strength. Lastly, the best part about this sport is there are no gym fees. It is free!

How did you get started in calisthenics?

     I was first introduced to this sport by a good friend of mine. I had gone to a gym to take a class when I saw him jump on the bars. He started to do bar skills I had never seen before and I instantly thought, “I want to try that!” I started by learning a few basics and continued from there.