At 17, Collum is a rare combination of determination, fearlessness, strength and even grace. A senior at Spring Valley High School, Collum has become recognized for exceptional skills on the gymnastics floor. But what many people don’t realize is that her path to success wasn’t without difficulty. It’s been paved with years of hard work, countless sacrifices and never-ending passion. And her effort has paid off, with Column recently committing to SUU a college in Cedar City, Utah for gymnastics and becoming one of the top students gymnasts in the country.
Collum’s story began when she was just over a year old. Watching her brothers play sports made her want to compete as well, inspiring her to try gymnastics.
“I watched gymnastics on TV which made me want to try out gymnastics. I saw the college gymnasts and wanted to be like them,” Collum said.
This desire led her on a journey that would not only shape her athletic career, but her life as a whole.
Gymnastics has been Collum first ever sport, and from the moment she started it was clear that she was in the right place.
“ Gymnastics was the first sport I tried and I immediately fell in love with it,” she said. “From the first time I started gymnastics classes I knew it was the sport for me.”
As she grew older, her dedication to the sport grew more and more. She began to understand that this sport was more than just having physical ability. It was also about having discipline, determination, and even an incredible work ethic.
‘The main thing I enjoy about gymnastics is the determination and work ethic I have gained from it. Gymnastics teaches a lot of discipline and that has helped me to become not only the gymnast but the person I am today” she said.
One defining moment in her gymnastics career came at the age of nine, when the Olympic team director reached out to her coach, inviting her to try out for training camps.
“What truly made me realize it was when the Olympic team director reached out to my coach and said that he would love to have me come try out for camps,” she stated.
However, her story hasn’t always been easy. Collum faced challenges, from moving away from her family at a young age, to training with a new elite coach due to her coach in Alabama quitting.
“One big challenge that I faced was moving away from my family,” Collum said. “My elite coach in Alabama quit, so I had to choose to either move so I could continue gymnastics, or quit and give up on my dreams so I could stay with my family.I loved the sport so much and knew that I had a future in it, that I made the tough decision to move away from my family to continue pushing towards my goals of becoming an elite athlete. A few years after I moved, I faced many injuries that made me unable to compete in the elite setting, but I still decided to do gymnastics so that I would hopefully one day get a scholarship.”
As if moving away wasn’t enough, Collum later had to face injuries that would keep her from competing in elite gymnastics for a very long period as well as dealing with school.
“I have had many injuries throughout my gymnastics career but the hardest ones to get through were my knee surgeries. My first knee surgery occurred when I was still training for Elite, and I had to make the hard choice to stop Elite so I could focus on getting better. My second knee surgery was right after my 2024 competition season. I was out for a few months, but it wasn’t as challenging as the first surgery,” she said
But that didn’t stop her from pursuing her dreams. She pushes through the pain, through the thoughts of quitting, and through the hardships it’s given her motivation and discipline.
“After dealing with my knee injuries for a while, and doctors struggling to figure out the problem, it became discouraging and I was starting to think I would never be able to do my sport like normal again,” Collum said. “However once I figured out a solution, I was more motivated than ever to fix the problem and prove to myself that I was capable of having a great comeback. Dealing with injuries makes me more determined because it motivates me to be the best at what I can do even with my injuries.”
That motivation has pushed her to even greater heights. While managing school, team practices and even injuries, she has managed to get accepted to a D1 school.
“Balancing school and gymnastics is very tough, but the work ethic I’ve gained from gymnastics helps me to stay on top of my schoolwork and grades even when it gets tough,” Collum said. “Gymnastics also helped me achieve a scholarship to a D1 school which is something that wouldn’t have happened without this sport. I have also made many friends and personal connections that will stick with me my whole life.”
That D1 school is SUU. Their gymnastics program began in 1985 and has evolved into a competitive force in collegiate Gymnastics. In the 2025 Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Preseason Coaches Poll, SUU was ranked 31st nationally, reflecting its strong reputation in the sport.
“I got a full-ride scholarship to Southern Utah University! (SUU),” Collum said. “ I am very excited to go to SUU! They have an amazing gymnastics history and an awesome team that I cannot wait to be a part of. I am excited to go, and hopefully help set new high scores and records for the team.”
Her success wouldn’t have been possible, however, without the support of her mother, Joy Hilton.
“I wanted Ariel to start participating in sports to give her a social outlet and to start instilling the concept of good work ethic,” Hilton said. “Gymnastics was the first but she also tried playing T-ball. I was excited and supportive. I could see her love for the sport and as a parent I could see the hard work she was putting into the sport she loved!”
She also mentioned that she saw major changes in Collum when it comes to going through tough times and challenging moments.
“Gymnastics made Ariel more determined and driven,” Hilton said. “She is very self motivated, her drive and ambition to succeed. She never lets anything stand in her way, she always finds a way to adapt and overcome and makes her dreams come true! Gymnastics has definitely given Ariel the confidence to take life head on. She doesn’t shy away from hard work or challenges. ”
There will always be a moment in the parents life where they know what path their child will choose, for Hilton the memory was clear.
“At the beginning of Ariel’s third grade year she was approached by an elite level coach and asked to move from traditional school to homeschool setting and start down a more strict and dedicated road with her gymnastics. The decision was easy for her; she transitioned to home school and never looked back!”.
Ariel’s journey has become a testament of determination, strength, and hard work. From her first steps into gymnastics at the age of 16 months to being able to secure a full-ride scholarship to SUU, Ariel has proven time and time again that no obstacle is too hard to overcome. With the support of her family and the lessons learned from years of hard work and sacrifice, she has not only become a top athlete but has also become a person of strength and character. As she prepares for scholarship to SUU, Ariel’s story should be stranded as a reminder that with hard work, determination and sacrifice any dream is within your reach.
