Iowa State just cancelled the rest of its season!? We discuss the implications of this. Plus our interview with former Oregon State gymnast, Risa Perez on her college career, her switch from ASU (where the coach would be fired soon after) to Oregon State, and her TikTok about her college experience that gained lots of attention.
HEADLINES
- Iowa State announced it’s cancelling the rest of the season. WHAT!? Listen to our discussion on College and Cocktails
- ”It became apparent we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely compete,” Iowa State Senior Associate Athletics Director, Shamaree Brown said in a statement
- College & Mocktails with special guest, Cal gymnast and World medalist, Ondine Achampong: Cal @ Clemson
INTERVIEW: RISA PEREZ
If there were one word to describe Risa Perez’s gymnastics, it would probably be energy. From her spunky floor choreography and unique beam elements (hello there, front aerial to one-armed back handspring!) to her ability to engage and interact with the crowd, her gymnastics stood out. Perez began her collegiate career at Arizona State before transferring to Oregon State for her junior year in 2014. The 2016 Pac-12 beam champion hit 102 out of 110 total routines throughout her collegiate career. Perez qualified as an individual to the 2015 and 2016 NCAA Championships. Today we talk about her career, her move from ASU to Oregon State and the TikTok about her college experience that got lots of attention.
References:
- Her badass beam save that is framed in our greatest beam saves of all time gallery
- Rene Lyst fired from Arizona State University
- The Balance Beam Situation’s ASU Risa recap
CHAPTERS
00:00:00 – Cold open: Cortisone shot + “that’s not a coach’s decision”
00:00:29 – Intro: Iowa State cancels the rest of the season
00:02:38 – How does a team compete with no lineup? (ASU suspension flashback)
00:04:30 – Iowa State statement: “not enough student-athletes to safely compete”
00:04:58 – Alumni demand answers + rumors swirl
00:06:23 – Updates: American Cup ticket giveaway
00:06:42 – Merch drop: Team Bronze tee
00:07:07 – College & Cocktails plug: Oklahoma at Florida watch party
00:07:28 – Interview begins: Risa Perez (ASU → Oregon State)
00:08:34 – The TikTok that blew up: ‘college gym’ reality check
00:13:32 – Locker room culture + boundaries (why this matters)
00:15:28 – Message boards + rumor mill as a weapon
00:15:56 – Rene Lyst era: name placards, power plays, intimidation
00:29:25 – Puberty, periods, and what nobody warns gymnasts about
00:31:43 – Crippling cramps, hormones, and C-section recovery talk
00:32:41 – Hip dysplasia: pain you normalize until you can’t
00:38:07 – The ‘party’ accusation read aloud (WTF moment)
00:41:51 – Team meeting confrontation + medical privacy
00:43:04 – ‘Canary in the coal mine’: how programs spiral
00:48:10 – Food/weight control + “you can’t” rules
00:52:31 – College Mocktails teaser: Ondine Achampong on Cal vs Clemson
00:56:01 – Get more: Club Gym Nerd bonus + where to find everything
UP NEXT
- Fantasy Gymnastics podcast every Wednesday
- College & Cocktails: Friday, Feb 13th at 6pm Pacific where we will watch Oklahoma at Florida on ESPN2
UPDATES
- Attention! We are giving away 2 tickets to the American Cup in Las Vegas
- Check us out on Bluesky
- NEW Team Bronze Design in the store!
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- Replay tickets on sale for our fundraiser show with all the Tea from Cecile Landi
- 2026 Live Show Season Pass is now available, 4 shows for the price of 3
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