Feb. 22, 2013

STANFORD, Calif. - As an introduction to this year's freshman class, gostanford.com will present an interview with a different Stanford men's gymnastics freshman each Friday. This week, gostanford.com profiles Dennis Zaremski.

Zaremski has competed in three meets and recorded two of Stanford's top-10 scores on rings on the season, including a career-high 14.850 in the team's most recent meet against Cal.

Q: How is your first year at Stanford going so far?

A: My first year here has been transformative in a very positive way. I've been learning to push my limits both in the gym and in the classroom and it's been a great experience. I can't wait to see what the next few years have in store for me!

Q: How has your time been with the Stanford gymnastics team?

A: I couldn't be happier to be part of the team. I find that being on the gymnastics team is as much a learning experience as the academics here at Stanford, and I think they complement each other very well. I'm still learning new things in the gym every day, but some of the major things I've taken from the experience thus far are being a team player, handling pressure, pushing myself physically beyond my comfort zone, and effectively managing time in and out of the gym.

Q: What role have the other freshmen played in your transition to the college life?

A: The other freshmen have helped tremendously in my transition to college life. We push each other every day and we empathize with each other because we're all going through the same things. At this point, I'd say we're almost like brothers.

Q: What are your personal goals this year?

A: First and foremost, I want this team to win the NCAA championship. Personally, I'd be ecstatic if I could make NCAA finals on rings and parallel bars.

Q: You've competed in three meets for Stanford this season, what's that experience been like?

A: Competing for this team is very different from competing in high school. In high school, my individual success was my primary concern, but here, the team always comes first. Competing to represent Stanford means a lot, and I couldn't be more proud to wear a Stanford uniform. It's great competing on this team because although there's a lot of pressure to represent the school in the best way possible, I also know that my teammates have my back.

Q: What are your expectations for the team this year, both short and long term?

A: Stanford men's gymnastics will win the NCAA championship this year. Period. Everything we do in the short term is to best prepare ourselves for this goal. In the short term, I'm sure we will continue to win competitions, but we view each competition leading up to NCAAs as a learning experience.

Q: Is there a special or unique moment this season with Stanford gymnastics that stands out to you?

A: Our team camping trip in the beginning of the school year was a great experience. It made me feel like a part of the team and I started to understand what this team is all about.

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time outside of the gym?

Outside of the gym, I enjoy listening to music, reading, getting to know new people here at Stanford, and hanging out with my classmates.