Name: Cayla
Hometown: Walnut Creek
Current Home: San Diego
Languages: English, Spanish, & Beginner Hebrew
Tenure: Rookie
College: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Manufacturing & a Minor in Spanish
Grad School: Cal Poly SLO
Degree: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Occupation: Clinical Heart Mapper

What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love being able to combine problem solving with incredible technology in order to help improve people's quality of life!

What was your first job?
Dance Teacher at Bella Dance Academy

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a butcher because my favorite food is filet mignon and I thought I would get free steak! Later, I wanted to be a Disney Imagineer!

What activities bring you the most joy?
I love to craft, cook, read, lay on the beach, and spend quality time with family and friends!

What is your personal motto?
Keep showing up!

What causes are you passionate about?
Heart health is definitely one of the causes that I am most passionate about as someone who works in cardiology!

What is an interesting fact about you?
I competed in a creative problem-solving competition called Odyssey of the Mind in middle and high school and my team competed at the World level multiple times!

If you could make up a cheerleading superpower, what would it be?
Endless energy!

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don't know about?
I love making spreadsheets with fun formulas and am always the person that family and friends come to for help with them!

How do you want people to remember you?
I want to be remembered as the girl who managed to do it all! As the person who was a great friend, daughter, and partner while simultaneously having a successful engineering career and achieving her dance dreams. I hope people remember me as someone who always helped those around me be their best and achieve their own dreams. Additionally, as someone who never took no for an answer, always pursued the goals I was passionate about, and truly gave everything I did 110%.

What is a personal goal you are working towards this year?
Getting more comfortable with speaking Spanish again! I studied abroad in Spain in college and minored in Spanish but I've been out of practice since then and I want to be able to speak with all of our incredible fans in Mexico City this year! ¡Vamos 9ers!

Who is your biggest role model and why?
My mom is my biggest role model! She somehow manages to own and run her own business, be an amazing boss, have fantastic relationships with clients, maintain close friendships from every walk of life, make friends wherever she goes, answer the phone whenever I call, and pour all of her love into her family simultaneously! She will always be my inspiration for the woman who can do it all!

What is your favorite thing about Gold Rush?
The people! Not only is all of Gold Rush incredibly talented, intelligent, hilarious, and fun to spend every weekend with, but they also make up the most supportive and encouraging environment anyone could ever ask for! Everyone goes out of their way to lift others up and encourage each other!

What song gets you pumped up on game day?
Best of Both Worlds - Hannah Montana

If you were a football player, what position would you play?
I would have to be a QB because I love finding creative solutions and I think the strategy behind calling plays would be so interesting and fun!

What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am most looking forward to building strong connections that will last a lifetime with all of my incredible teammates and coaches!

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Faithful? What do you want us to know about you? 
I can't wait for the best season ever!!