Tiraia Ballard
Rankings
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to view this player's rankings
View RankingsAbout Tiraia
Expert Analysis
Clarissa Richardson | Prep Gymnastics Scout
Reigning National beam and all-around champion Tiraia Ballard brings an exciting combination of power, athleticism, and originality to the Class of 2029. She stands out on floor with her unique tumbling passes and impressive power, giving her routines an unmistakable presence. Ballard has also demonstrated her versatility across all four events, posting season-high scores of 9.775 on vault, 9.625 on bars, 9.75 on beam, and 9.7 on floor. Her 38.475 all-around season high reflects her ability to put together strong performances across the board. With her dynamic skill set and powerful gymnastics, Ballard is a name to keep an eye on as she continues to progress.
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to read about this player
Read EvaluationClarissa Richardson | Prep Gymnastics Scout
Tiraia Ballard brings an unmatched level of confidence to beam, and it’s easy to see why she is the reigning National Champion on the event. She posted a season-high 9.75, but the number only begins to capture what makes her beam work so impressive. Tiraia moves from one skill to the next with a calm, controlled ease that makes the routine look almost like a warm-up. There is no hesitation in her skills, and she attacks every one with the kind of confidence that immediately stands out on an event where composure is everything. Her back handspring–layout two feet seems to float over the beam before she settles into an easy landing, showcasing both her amplitude and control. Her side somi, front aerial, and switch side are equally impressive, with each skill performed aggressively and with clear intent. She combines that attack with clean lines throughout the routine, giving her gymnastics a polished quality even as she pushes the difficulty. And when a landing isn’t perfect, Tiraia fights for it, showing the determination and body control that can turn a near-miss into a hit. With national championship credentials, impressive difficulty, and the confidence to make beam look almost effortless, Tiraia has the qualities of a gymnast who could be a major asset in any future college beam lineup.
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to read about this player
Read EvaluationClarissa Richardson | Prep Gymnastics Scout
Tiraia Ballard
Tiraia
Ballard
VA
enters her sophomore season as one of the most dynamic all-around athletes in her class, pairing explosive power with remarkable composure. She competes a powerful Yurchenko full on vault, a bars routine highlighted by a Maloney to Pak and full-out dismount, an elegant beam routine featuring a unique mount, a floating back handspring to two-foot layout, side somi, front aerial, and round-off to 1.5 dismount, and a floor routine anchored by a full-in, front full to front pike, double tuck, and outstanding showmanship. Ballard’s ability to stay composed under pressure allows her to perform with confidence across every event, and she continues to push her difficulty with upgrades including a Yurchenko 1.5 and double full, Ray release, two-foot front aerial, full-twisting double layout, double layout, and front layout step-out to double back. With her exceptional power and rapidly expanding skill set, Ballard is a standout prospect college programs should be watching closely.
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to read about this player
Read EvaluationClarissa Richardson | Prep Gymnastics Scout
Tiraia Ballard brings explosive power and impressive technique to the vault, showcasing a Yurchenko full that immediately catches attention. She flies off the table with tremendous amplitude while maintaining clean lines and strong body position throughout the vault. This offseason, Ballard has been focused on upgrading to a Yurchenko 1½, an exciting next step that could add even more value to her already powerful vaulting. With her combination of athleticism, execution, and continued progression, Ballard has the potential to be an incredible addition to a collegiate lineup and is a recruit to watch closely.
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to read about this player
Read EvaluationClarissa Richardson | Prep Gymnastics Scout
As the reigning National Beam Champion, Tiraia Ballard has already proven she can thrive under the brightest lights. Her routine is built around a confident back handspring-layout two-foot series, along with a front aerial and side somi that she performs with remarkable control. Her leaps consistently hit full split positions, creating beautiful lines throughout the routine. What separates Ballard is her poise and precision. Every skill looks intentional, and her confidence on the apparatus allows her difficulty to shine. With a front aerial to two feet connection currently in development, her routine has the potential to become even more impressive in the coming seasons.
Access all of Prep Gymnastics
Subscribe to read about this player
Read EvaluationVerify Athlete
Are you Tiraia Ballard, or a parent / guardian of?
Claim your profile to verify your information for college coaches nationwide.
Claim Profile