Our Spotlight Shines on Brayden Bates, Champion High School Gymnast Entering William and Mary University

Brayden Bates has been a rising star in gymnastics since he began competing at the age of 8. Skipping the traditional recreational class program altogether, Brayden joined a competitive team almost immediately—and he’s been making waves ever since.

At just 10 years old, he competed as a Level 5 gymnast and dominated the state championships, finishing first on the pommel horse, high bar, and parallel bars. His all-around victory at that meet earned him a spot at the 2017 USA Gymnastics Men’s Regional Championship, signaling the beginning of a promising athletic career.

By age 12, Brayden was competing in the 2019 USA Gymnastics Men’s Region 8 Championships in Alachua, where he claimed first place on both the parallel bars and rings. Although he fell just short of winning state and regional titles that year, his high placement qualified him for the 2019 Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships, representing Gymnastics USA of Winter Garden.

For nearly a decade, this talented gymnast has refined his skills and stayed committed to his sport. Fast forward to 2024: the junior at Lake Minneola High School, once again demonstrated his athletic excellence. His first-place finishes on the high bar and pommel horse earned him a spot on the 2024 USA Gymnastics Men’s Region 8 Team. At the National Championships held in Daytona Beach, he helped lead Region 8 to a team victory.

This year, Brayden Bates continued his remarkable rise in the world of gymnastics, finishing 3rd All-Around and capturing first place on parallel bars at Nationals.

His athleticism, endurance, competitive drive, teamwork, and perseverance seem to run in the family—his mother was an All-American gymnast at the University of Alabama.

Reflecting on his recent competition, Brayden shared, “This was the last time for me to compete for my club, Gymnastics USA, and Coach Nick, so it was a little emotional. God has truly blessed me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Brayden recently signed to continue his gymnastics career at the prestigious College of William & Mary. Looking ahead, he remarked, “As I continue this competitive journey at William & Mary, I want to adapt to NCAA gymnastics and help our team succeed. I’ll be pushing for more strength and difficulty. My athletic goals over the next few years are to help strengthen the team and push us to become more competitive with top-ranked programs. Personally, I’d love to achieve an NCAA championship or podium finish in the next two to three years.”

When asked about his future beyond athletics, Brayden said, “My academic goals include earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering or biosciences, then pursuing a master’s in that field. I’ve been passionate about science and how things work since I was young, and I want to continue that journey through higher education.”

William & Mary is an ideal match for Brayden’s ambitions. Known for its exceptional academics and athletic programs, the university—founded in 1693 and often called a “Public Ivy”—has a storied legacy. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, it boasts a distinguished list of alumni, including three U.S. Presidents, the first President of the Continental Congress, the first U.S. Attorney General, and Chief Justice John Marshall of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brayden Bates is a shining example of what passion, discipline, and hard work can achieve. As he begins this exciting new chapter at William & Mary, his family, friends, and community proudly stand behind him, eager to see what he’ll accomplish next.

Wishing Brayden continued success as his gymnastics journey unfolds!