Minneola, FL — Brayden Bates, a senior at Lake Minneola High School, capped off his high school gymnastics career in spectacular fashion at the 2025 National Championships held May 8-11 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Competing as a Level 10 gymnast, Bates finished third in the All-Around and earned the coveted title of National Champion on the Parallel Bars (P Bars).

“It was amazing and exciting,” Bates said of performing in Utah. “I felt so many emotions competing at my last junior competition. There was sadness knowing it was my final time competing with my coach, but also joy for the next chapter ahead. The competitive atmosphere and the mountainous backdrop made for the perfect venue.”

(Bates recently had the opportunity to compete at the Junior Gymnastics National Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Bates, who began gymnastics at age 8 and has trained for a decade, credited his performance and mindset to his faith. Before the competition, he led a prayer with a teammate and walked into the arena with peace and confidence.

“I thought to myself God’s will would be done,” he said. “Whatever the result, I would be grateful for this opportunity.”

Beyond his success on the mat, Bates has excelled academically, boasting a 5.08 GPA while training 25 hours a week. He’s involved in multiple extracurricular activities at Lake Minneola High, including Student Government Association, National Honor Society, FFA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the golf team. He’s also logged more than 100 hours volunteering at New Beginnings, a nonprofit organization.

(Bates has excelled academically, boasting a 5.08 GPA while training 25 hours a week.)

“Discipline and dedication help me stay on top of things,” Bates said. “Being busy keeps me motivated. I take one task at a time and focus on each individual assignment or practice.”

Bates emphasized the importance of prioritizing academics for fellow student-athletes.

“Anyone can achieve great things if they set their eyes on a goal and hold themselves to that standard every day,” he said.

His inspiration comes from home. Bates said his older sister Bailey Bates, a former NCAA Division I softball athlete and current law school student, has been his biggest role model, showing him the potential he holds. Brayden’s parents Tim and Kimberly Bates are both former elite-level athletes. They moved from Orlando to Clermont in 2003.

(Brayden’s sister Bailey Bates was a great local high school softball player who played NCAA Division 1 Softball for Holy Cross in Massachusetts.)

After graduation, Bates will attend the University of William and Mary, where he plans to study engineering and continue his gymnastics journey.

“My goal is to help my teammates and myself grow in gymnastics,” he said. “After college, I want to better the world through engineering.”

As he leaves Lake Minneola High, Bates reflects most fondly not on medals or grades, but on the relationships he’s built.

“The most heartfelt memory isn’t an event,” he said. “It’s the connections I’ve made with students and staff. The community at LMHS has truly touched me.” Bates also has advice for other fellow high school athletes “My best advice to give to an academic athlete is to prioritize academics over athletics. From personal experience I believe that anyone can achieve such feats if they set their eyes upon an end goal, and set themselves to that standard everyday. This will help guid oneself to success” he says.

(Bates “Middle” is thankful to God and credits Him for the opportunities that he has had to compete at a National level.)

Bates lives by a personal motto, one shared with him early on: F.A.I.L.—First Attempt In Learning.

“It changes your mental perspective,” he said. “I’ve failed numerous times before succeeding. Failure isn’t something to fear—it’s the foundation of growth.”

We wish Brayden the best of luck on his continued academic and athleteic journey!