It's been a fun and exciting Prelim season for Kaylie! She's done well at all of her Prelims--with last weeks meet being her best of the three--a 33.85 all-around score! She scored 8.4 on vault, 8.425 on bars, 8.75 on beam, and 8.275 on floor. She's been working very hard in preparation for next weekends Sectional event---she really wants to score a 9.0 or better on at least one apparatus.
She'll be taking an additional class for the next four weeks, with the gym's head coach, in preparation for these last two meets. She loves working with this coach, and so is very excited about the opportunity.
The girls will also be getting their warm up suits this week--a little late, but exciting none the less! Most of the teams have serious, matching suits, leos and gym bags--so our girls have felt a bit unpolished, if you will, not to have a warm-up set. Thankfully the gym found a really nice velvet set, at a great price. I'll post some photos and her sectionals scores after the meet.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Kaylie Qualified for Sectionals!!
Hello Everyone,
We're so excited that at Kaylie's first USAG meet yesterday, she scored a 33.55 all-around, which qualified her to compete at sectionals this year!
It was a fun day and although Kaylie was nervous and excited, she didn't let it get to her. The team started with the vault (usually Kaylie's worst event) and she scored an 8.9! She usually gets in the high 7's, so that was an awesome result for her, and the third highest score on her team.
Next up was the bars--normally she scores a bit higher on this one, but she still managed to get a good enough score to place for her age group---8.2 with a clean routine. The team as a whole didn't practice bars much in the days leading up to the meet--quite a few of the girls had "rips". Basically they had tears on the palms of their hands. That's something gymnast just have to put up with, but not really ideal to have them at competition time! Kaylie's were mostly healed, and didn't really bother her for this competition.
The third rotation was for beam. It seems that the whole team was nervous about this one, and most of the girls fell at least once in their routines. Kaylie wasn't happy that she was wobbly during her routine, but managed to do a nice job, stay on the beam, and finish in time for a score of 8.6---best score for her team.
Last was the floor routine---looked ok from across the gym, but apparently lots of small deductions, and a problem with her round-off-back-handspring so she got a score of 7.850---a full point lower than she usually scores, but a good learning opportunity. I am so proud of her that she didn't let it faze her, she's just super determined to work extra hard on her routines this week so that she does even better on the meet this Saturday!
Competing against other teams who have obviously been competing at this level for a while was a bit disconcerting for the girls, but they didn't let it get to them---too much! Apparently, some gyms will hold their gymnasts back until they regularly score in the mid to upper 30's---this helps the gym achieve higher rankings at meets, but does create an un-level playing field for those girls who are competing for the first time. At this meet, there were two teams who were competing for the first time, and two teams who have been competing for quite a bit longer. Some gyms also have a stricter program, and ours is definitely focused on the girls having a good experience over just getting great scores. I really love the family atmosphere at our gym.
So my fears of 1st meet catastrophe are laid to rest, and now that she has made that qualifying score, we can just relax and enjoy the next two preliminary meets---this Saturday the 26th, and then the weekend of October 10th.
We're so excited that at Kaylie's first USAG meet yesterday, she scored a 33.55 all-around, which qualified her to compete at sectionals this year!
It was a fun day and although Kaylie was nervous and excited, she didn't let it get to her. The team started with the vault (usually Kaylie's worst event) and she scored an 8.9! She usually gets in the high 7's, so that was an awesome result for her, and the third highest score on her team.
Next up was the bars--normally she scores a bit higher on this one, but she still managed to get a good enough score to place for her age group---8.2 with a clean routine. The team as a whole didn't practice bars much in the days leading up to the meet--quite a few of the girls had "rips". Basically they had tears on the palms of their hands. That's something gymnast just have to put up with, but not really ideal to have them at competition time! Kaylie's were mostly healed, and didn't really bother her for this competition.
The third rotation was for beam. It seems that the whole team was nervous about this one, and most of the girls fell at least once in their routines. Kaylie wasn't happy that she was wobbly during her routine, but managed to do a nice job, stay on the beam, and finish in time for a score of 8.6---best score for her team.
Last was the floor routine---looked ok from across the gym, but apparently lots of small deductions, and a problem with her round-off-back-handspring so she got a score of 7.850---a full point lower than she usually scores, but a good learning opportunity. I am so proud of her that she didn't let it faze her, she's just super determined to work extra hard on her routines this week so that she does even better on the meet this Saturday!
Competing against other teams who have obviously been competing at this level for a while was a bit disconcerting for the girls, but they didn't let it get to them---too much! Apparently, some gyms will hold their gymnasts back until they regularly score in the mid to upper 30's---this helps the gym achieve higher rankings at meets, but does create an un-level playing field for those girls who are competing for the first time. At this meet, there were two teams who were competing for the first time, and two teams who have been competing for quite a bit longer. Some gyms also have a stricter program, and ours is definitely focused on the girls having a good experience over just getting great scores. I really love the family atmosphere at our gym.
So my fears of 1st meet catastrophe are laid to rest, and now that she has made that qualifying score, we can just relax and enjoy the next two preliminary meets---this Saturday the 26th, and then the weekend of October 10th.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Kaylie's First Official Meet!
We found out last night that Kaylie will be competing as an official USAG gymnast for the first time on Sunday the 20th!! She was assigned to a 12pm session, which means we don't have to get up at 5am! Yeah!
For those that don't know how it works, at level 4, gymnasts compete at the preliminary level first, and if they score a 30.00 or higher at any of the scheduled prelim competitions, they move on to compete at Sectionals the weekend of October 24th. If they score 32.00 or higher at Sectionals, they are able to compete at the State Finals (So. Cal) in mid-November.
At Kaylie's gym, any gymnast that makes it to finals, will move up to level 5 in December. She's very excited about that prospect! She's now training an additional 3 hours per week to prepare for the meets, and if she moves to level 5, will continue with the additional hours. We'll keep ya posted!
For those that don't know how it works, at level 4, gymnasts compete at the preliminary level first, and if they score a 30.00 or higher at any of the scheduled prelim competitions, they move on to compete at Sectionals the weekend of October 24th. If they score 32.00 or higher at Sectionals, they are able to compete at the State Finals (So. Cal) in mid-November.
At Kaylie's gym, any gymnast that makes it to finals, will move up to level 5 in December. She's very excited about that prospect! She's now training an additional 3 hours per week to prepare for the meets, and if she moves to level 5, will continue with the additional hours. We'll keep ya posted!
Photos from the last two Mini-Meets
Here are some photos of the last two mini-meets at Kaylie's gym--mostly I took movies, which I'll post next!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Prelims are almost here!
It's been a busy summer, and I've not updated Kaylie's blog in a long time---I have some new video, and photos from the two other mini-meets that were held at her gym over the summer, so will get those posted within the next few days. She did very well at the second meet--scored a 34.45 all around! In the weeks prior to the third meet, she was out of town, so not her best scores, but she still did well, scoring 32.90!
She'll be competing in her first real meet the weekend of September 19th, and then again the following weekend. Her final preliminary meet in October, and hopefully she'll score at least a 30.00 to qualify for the Sectionals in late October.
We'll be doing some auctions to raise additional money for the meet fees, so look for those postings in the next week.
She'll be competing in her first real meet the weekend of September 19th, and then again the following weekend. Her final preliminary meet in October, and hopefully she'll score at least a 30.00 to qualify for the Sectionals in late October.
We'll be doing some auctions to raise additional money for the meet fees, so look for those postings in the next week.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
And the results are.....
First place in Floor and Bars!!!! We're so excited that Kaylie did so well! She had a lot of fun, and didn't have any problems with nerves. Her best apparatus is normally the beam, but she lost her balance, and fell early on in the routine, so lost a full point for that---but the good news is the fall didn't shake her, and she did really well with the rest of the routine. She missed the twist in her dismount, so since she still had time, she got right back on and re-did the dismount correctly. Not sure how much that helped her with regards to her points, but really proud of the confidence she displayed to re-do the element.
She did a fantastic job on her bar routine--still needs to work on her glide, and had a bit too much momentum on her stride circle, but did so much better than the other girls it was a pleasure to watch. She scored a 8.7 for that event. She did one of her best floor routines ever---an event that she has always struggled with--I think because her coach for levels 1-3 didn't focus on those skills, she came onto the level 4 team seriously lacking in floor expertise. She really enjoys it though, and has worked hard to improve. She was sooooo thrilled to come first in that event, scoring an 8.5
Vault is just not her event, so she didn't expect to do well in it--just have fun and do her best. She did enjoy getting to see the video of her vaults, and the opportunity to see what she's doing wrong, and where she needs to improve.
The next mini-meet will be held on June 27th. The goal of the coaches is for each girl to improve upon her scores from the previous mini-meet, and to build their skills and confidence heading into the state preliminaries.
Great job Kaylie---We're sooo proud of you!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Competition Today--Sort of!
Wow, it's been too long since I've posted---guess things have been really busy!
Today Kaylie will be competing for the first time----but not in an actual, USA Gymnastics competition. Because the annual membership in USA Gymnastics runs from August to August, the owners of Kaylie's gym decided to have 3 mock competitions at our gym over the summer, rather than enter the girls in real competitions. This saves all of the parents from having to pay the membership fee now, and then again in August. So sort of good, and sort of a bummer. Kaylie seems ok with it though--so if it works for her, it's fine by me. I'm always happy to save a buck! She is bummed that she doesn't get to wear her team leo--but since she's the only level 4 team member that has hers, it makes sense! Kaylie was measured as the fit model, so hers was the first one to be completed.
The events that are planned will include prizes and goodie bags, just like a real competition, and will be judged by actual judges. Each competitor will have to do their routines under the exact same guidelines as a real meet, so it should be a good introduction for them into the world of competitive gymnastics. Each event will have a theme of some sort, and provide a fun family atmosphere. I'll be posting pictures, maybe some video, and comments tomorrow.
Today Kaylie will be competing for the first time----but not in an actual, USA Gymnastics competition. Because the annual membership in USA Gymnastics runs from August to August, the owners of Kaylie's gym decided to have 3 mock competitions at our gym over the summer, rather than enter the girls in real competitions. This saves all of the parents from having to pay the membership fee now, and then again in August. So sort of good, and sort of a bummer. Kaylie seems ok with it though--so if it works for her, it's fine by me. I'm always happy to save a buck! She is bummed that she doesn't get to wear her team leo--but since she's the only level 4 team member that has hers, it makes sense! Kaylie was measured as the fit model, so hers was the first one to be completed.
The events that are planned will include prizes and goodie bags, just like a real competition, and will be judged by actual judges. Each competitor will have to do their routines under the exact same guidelines as a real meet, so it should be a good introduction for them into the world of competitive gymnastics. Each event will have a theme of some sort, and provide a fun family atmosphere. I'll be posting pictures, maybe some video, and comments tomorrow.
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