Monday, November 2, 2009
Finals!!
I just got the info for Kaylie's finals session--she'll be competing with two of her teammates on Sunday, November 15th in the evening. Wish it was a morning session, since we had hoped to meet with friends afterwards, but such is life. Of the six gymnasts from Kaylie's team who made it to finals, hers is the only session with three girls--the other three gymnasts have to compete without the support of their teammates. Kind of makes me sad--we'll just have to cheer them on in spirit!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Kaylie Made it to Finals!!!!
Since it's taken me a week to post it, you might think that I am not excited about Kaylie making it to finals---when in fact I am beyond proud and excited. I was just super behind in getting Halloween costumes done, so had to set my post aside until today!
Kaylie came down with a nasty chest cold 6 days before the Sectionals meet, and missed about half of her workouts. Very stressful, worrying about her health, and hoping that she would feel well enough to actually get thru her routines. Since she couldn't work out as much as planned, she spent some time on the computer, reviewing videos of her past competitions, and studying the official book that lays out the routine requirements and deductions. When she did get to the gym, she focused on the things she felt she needed to improve on from her previous meets. We also looked at the beam scores of the other girls in her age division that would also be competing at her session. She was within one tenth of a point of the highest score, so she knew she had a shot at getting on the podium for Sectionals. She really wanted to score a 9.0 or higher on at least one event, so that was the event she put her energy into.
She slept for an hour on the drive to the meet--and arrived feeling ready to go! Her team was assigned the Squadron A rotation (meaning they do events starting with vault, then bars, then beam, and finally floor.) She scored an 8.775 on vault--her second highest score on this event! Next up was bars. I got a little nervous during the warm-up, as she was struggling a bit--but she managed to do a decent routine and scored an 8.375--she wasn't happy with the routine or score, but thinks it was pretty good considering her health, etc. Now the event we were waiting for. I'd been jotting down the scores of the other gymnasts, and the highest at that point was an 8.9--could she do it?? She had a wobbly warm-up, but once she got up there to compete, it was gorgeous! Then they flashed her score-----a 9.1!!!!! A moment later I could see her hopping up and down, she was soooo excited! One of her teammates tied her score, and then they were off to the floor routine. She was managing pretty well energy wise (I bet the adrenaline was going from the excitement of her first 9.1 score!) and scored an 8.7 on her floor routine--the best yet in an USAG competition! Her all-around score was 34.95--her best to date, and easily qualifying for Finals.
During her team's floor rotation, one of the girls on beam scored a 9.350 so that put Kaylie, and her teammate Cierra in second place for beam---Kaylie didn't realize that as she hadn't been watching the scores--so she was amazed, and super thrilled when they called her name for the award! And to top it all off, she also came in 7th in the All-around! It was a really good meet!
She had a relapse of her cold by Monday--worse than ever--so she missed a few more days of school, and all of her workouts for the week. Now she's feeling much better, and ready to get busy during the next two weeks until Finals!
I've posted some photos in the slideshow--they're a bit out of focus because the gym set up the podiums to the back of the gym, instead of up front by the spectators--but you get the idea!
Kaylie came down with a nasty chest cold 6 days before the Sectionals meet, and missed about half of her workouts. Very stressful, worrying about her health, and hoping that she would feel well enough to actually get thru her routines. Since she couldn't work out as much as planned, she spent some time on the computer, reviewing videos of her past competitions, and studying the official book that lays out the routine requirements and deductions. When she did get to the gym, she focused on the things she felt she needed to improve on from her previous meets. We also looked at the beam scores of the other girls in her age division that would also be competing at her session. She was within one tenth of a point of the highest score, so she knew she had a shot at getting on the podium for Sectionals. She really wanted to score a 9.0 or higher on at least one event, so that was the event she put her energy into.
She slept for an hour on the drive to the meet--and arrived feeling ready to go! Her team was assigned the Squadron A rotation (meaning they do events starting with vault, then bars, then beam, and finally floor.) She scored an 8.775 on vault--her second highest score on this event! Next up was bars. I got a little nervous during the warm-up, as she was struggling a bit--but she managed to do a decent routine and scored an 8.375--she wasn't happy with the routine or score, but thinks it was pretty good considering her health, etc. Now the event we were waiting for. I'd been jotting down the scores of the other gymnasts, and the highest at that point was an 8.9--could she do it?? She had a wobbly warm-up, but once she got up there to compete, it was gorgeous! Then they flashed her score-----a 9.1!!!!! A moment later I could see her hopping up and down, she was soooo excited! One of her teammates tied her score, and then they were off to the floor routine. She was managing pretty well energy wise (I bet the adrenaline was going from the excitement of her first 9.1 score!) and scored an 8.7 on her floor routine--the best yet in an USAG competition! Her all-around score was 34.95--her best to date, and easily qualifying for Finals.
During her team's floor rotation, one of the girls on beam scored a 9.350 so that put Kaylie, and her teammate Cierra in second place for beam---Kaylie didn't realize that as she hadn't been watching the scores--so she was amazed, and super thrilled when they called her name for the award! And to top it all off, she also came in 7th in the All-around! It was a really good meet!
She had a relapse of her cold by Monday--worse than ever--so she missed a few more days of school, and all of her workouts for the week. Now she's feeling much better, and ready to get busy during the next two weeks until Finals!
I've posted some photos in the slideshow--they're a bit out of focus because the gym set up the podiums to the back of the gym, instead of up front by the spectators--but you get the idea!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Sectionals Next Week!
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.
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.
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.
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