After committing to Arizona State University with a $50,000 scholarship for gymnastics, senior Chas Van de Motter said, “I felt a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders.”

Van de Motter had a hard time deciding among ASU and three other colleges: the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Nebraska.

Van de Motter, who committed to ASU on Feb. 22, received a minor academic scholarship, which is included in his gymnastic scholarship. He is also a finalist for a $16,000 scholarship on top of that.

“After 12 years of training and many injuries, I realized all the hours of hard work finally paid off,” Van de Motter said.

Van de Motter has trained and competed with Gym South Gymnastics, in Fayetteville throughout his gymnastics career. Although Van de Motter competes in all six gymnastics events, his best ones are floor, pommel horse, and high bar.

Since Starr’s Mill doesn’t have a gymnastics team, Van de Motter said he had to send videos and ask scouts to come to his competitions to see him perform

“Choosing was a very hard decision, but ASU gave me the best offer, and I am extremely pleased with my decision,” Van de Motter said. ASU’s “talented, hardworking gymnastics team also helped” spur his decision , he said, especially when he found out that ASU’s business school is ranked 24th in the nation. Van de Motter plans to major in International Business and Business Marketing.

“I chose Business probably because I just have a genuine interest in it and I think I can be successful in that field,” Van de Motter said.

Competing since the age of six, Van de Motter can’t wait to show his love for gymnastics at ASU and is proud to say, “Go Sun Devils, Fear the Fork!”