Go Green was Z's hardest meet last year and this year did not disappoint in that regard. Although I warned her that it was a hard meet, she had a good attitude going in. Unfortunately, a good attitude only gets you so far.
We started this meet on floor, something we have never done before. Although the girls all thought it was a good thing, since they all excel at floor, I wasn't so sure. When none of the girls got a 9.000, I knew something seemed off. Z had a great routine and yet only scored an 8.725. The highest of our girls was 8.775. This was not something we were used to. The judges apparently told our coach that the girls looked great, but if that was the case, why didn't the scores reflect it. Until the last rotation, I was thinking maybe the judges were just hard because Z was in first place, even with her low score. Then all of a sudden, the girls in the last rotation were scoring exceedingly high and Z was knocked down to 10th place (and only 9 places got medals).
Vault was next. Her first vault looked good in the air, but she touched her hand on the mat when she landed. The second vault was better, but her score was only an 8.525.
Bars was again a disaster--even worse than last week. This time, when she did her squat on, she fell backwards and landed hard, to the point she was crying. Despite this, she got back up and finished. She missed her kip to the high bar and as such was counted for another fall. She only received 6.800, which is by far her lowest score on any event. This was also frustrating because during warm up, she did a great routine, so to see this was a bit unnerving. I'm thinking her nerves are getting to her.
Beam was looking really good, until the handstand at the end of the beam. I could tell when she was coming down that she was a bit twisted and she fell. She still scored an 8.175, which means her score would have been very similar to last week if she hadn't fallen. While she was obviously disappointed with the fall, her routine looked good otherwise.
Overall she scored a 32.225. Again, by far her lowest score ever. She's never had anything lower than a 35.125, so almost a full three points lower. Although she was in good spirits during awards, when walking to the car she said that it was embarassing coming in last place. I did tell her she wasn't last, although she was second to last. I think she is going to use this as a learning experience.
I did tell her that I was still proud of her for her attitude and not quitting. We do have a private for tomorrow afternoon to work on her bars. Last night she did two good routines, but then when the coach was there to spot, she fell on the squat on again. I'm not sure where her mental block is.
We have another meet this weekend--close to my parents, so they and my sister will be there. It is closer and a smaller meet, so hopefully she will do well again and we can move on. Since she was not the only one who again had problems at this meet, we are hoping that we don't do this one again next year.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
River City Classic -- First meet in the books!
Our first competition of the season is over and we are moving on to our second tomorrow. So far, the season is going well. This was Z's first competition in Level 4, and with the lack of a full summer of practice, I was a bit concerned over how it was going to go. And, it was an emotional weekend as the day before competition, we sent her brother off to college--seven hours away. We had to say goodbye and watch him drive away because we had to compete. Although she couldn't verbalize it, I know that it hit her almost as hard as the rest of us.
The morning of competition Z woke up early, unable to sleep because she was so excited. Our Level 3 team was competing before us, so we decided to go ahead and get ready and head down to the meet. I had her hair all done, except for the bun, to make it easier once we were there. It was a three hour drive, but very worth it to go. Our Level 3 team did great--all but one girl qualified for States and they took 2nd place as a team. I'm pretty sure that every girl went home with at least one medal.
Then came time for the Level 4 competition. This was a huge meet with at least 30 girls in each age group (we normally have about 15). As a result there were a lot of delays between events. I was worried that the girls might get distracted, but their coach is AWESOME and kept them all in good moods and on track. We had friends who came to watch Z, and luckily her dad and sister made it from taking big brother to school just in time to see her compete her first event.
I love it when Z gets the traditional rotation. I'm so used to that format, and it allows her to finish up on floor, which is generally her best event. My concern was the first event was vault--one that she can be hot or cold on and one that is a little strange because our girls have never had the experience of landing on a hard surface. The vault table at our gym has a foam pit behind it and although we put mats in to firm it up, it is not the same as a regular floor. Watching her warm up, I was very nervous. She was not sticking the landing and I told myself that if she got an 8.000, I would be happy. Her teammates were all before her and did well, all scoring over 8.350. Z got up and went and flew over the vault table. I thought she looked great, and apparently so did the judges as she scored a 9.150!
Bars was next. Z has definitely had issues with bars this year. This is the first year where they use both bars and her squat on has had issues--she tends to not keep her shoulders over the bar and falls backwards. So when she was performing and had a beautiful squat on I was very encouraged. Unfortunately, when she jumped to the high bar, she missed with one hand and landed on the floor on her back. She was a trooper though and got back up and finished her routine. She did struggle on the kip to the high bar and as a result received a 7.875. Obviously, if she had not had the two falls, she would have had at least an 8.875, so I was happy. And very happy that she got up and finished her routine and didn't give up. (According to the coach later, the judges were also impressed that she did that.)
Beam was next. She was the last one up, and I was a little concerned because the two girls before her both fell, and she saw it. She sometimes has problems with falls and I was hoping that it wouldn't get in to her head. Luckily it didn't and she scored an 8.700--she still has bobbles that she needs to work on, but she didn't fall.
Finally she was on floor. Her entire team did exceptional on floor, with the lowest score being a 9.300. Z looked great and scored a 9.425. I was so happy for her and with her 35.150 all around score knew that she had qualified for States.
When it came time for awards, I figured she would probably get something on vault and floor. She wound up with first on vault, twelfth on beam, second on floor and fourth all around. In addition, her team took third overall. Turns out we took first on vault and tied for first on floor as a team. It was great. All five girls qualified for States--which takes a lot of pressure off of us for the rest of the season.
Tomorrow is Go Green. Last year that was a meet where Z did not do as well (still did well, but not in her mind). I tried to remind her that it might be a hard meet, and she is very positive and said that it won't be. We will be driving down tonight after practice--and giving her coach a ride. :). Wish us luck.
The morning of competition Z woke up early, unable to sleep because she was so excited. Our Level 3 team was competing before us, so we decided to go ahead and get ready and head down to the meet. I had her hair all done, except for the bun, to make it easier once we were there. It was a three hour drive, but very worth it to go. Our Level 3 team did great--all but one girl qualified for States and they took 2nd place as a team. I'm pretty sure that every girl went home with at least one medal.
Then came time for the Level 4 competition. This was a huge meet with at least 30 girls in each age group (we normally have about 15). As a result there were a lot of delays between events. I was worried that the girls might get distracted, but their coach is AWESOME and kept them all in good moods and on track. We had friends who came to watch Z, and luckily her dad and sister made it from taking big brother to school just in time to see her compete her first event.
I love it when Z gets the traditional rotation. I'm so used to that format, and it allows her to finish up on floor, which is generally her best event. My concern was the first event was vault--one that she can be hot or cold on and one that is a little strange because our girls have never had the experience of landing on a hard surface. The vault table at our gym has a foam pit behind it and although we put mats in to firm it up, it is not the same as a regular floor. Watching her warm up, I was very nervous. She was not sticking the landing and I told myself that if she got an 8.000, I would be happy. Her teammates were all before her and did well, all scoring over 8.350. Z got up and went and flew over the vault table. I thought she looked great, and apparently so did the judges as she scored a 9.150!
Bars was next. Z has definitely had issues with bars this year. This is the first year where they use both bars and her squat on has had issues--she tends to not keep her shoulders over the bar and falls backwards. So when she was performing and had a beautiful squat on I was very encouraged. Unfortunately, when she jumped to the high bar, she missed with one hand and landed on the floor on her back. She was a trooper though and got back up and finished her routine. She did struggle on the kip to the high bar and as a result received a 7.875. Obviously, if she had not had the two falls, she would have had at least an 8.875, so I was happy. And very happy that she got up and finished her routine and didn't give up. (According to the coach later, the judges were also impressed that she did that.)
Beam was next. She was the last one up, and I was a little concerned because the two girls before her both fell, and she saw it. She sometimes has problems with falls and I was hoping that it wouldn't get in to her head. Luckily it didn't and she scored an 8.700--she still has bobbles that she needs to work on, but she didn't fall.
Finally she was on floor. Her entire team did exceptional on floor, with the lowest score being a 9.300. Z looked great and scored a 9.425. I was so happy for her and with her 35.150 all around score knew that she had qualified for States.
When it came time for awards, I figured she would probably get something on vault and floor. She wound up with first on vault, twelfth on beam, second on floor and fourth all around. In addition, her team took third overall. Turns out we took first on vault and tied for first on floor as a team. It was great. All five girls qualified for States--which takes a lot of pressure off of us for the rest of the season.
Tomorrow is Go Green. Last year that was a meet where Z did not do as well (still did well, but not in her mind). I tried to remind her that it might be a hard meet, and she is very positive and said that it won't be. We will be driving down tonight after practice--and giving her coach a ride. :). Wish us luck.
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
And so it begins again . . .
I have completely remiss in posting. I really wanted this to be a blog about Z's adventures in gymnastics, practice, competing and everything. Unfortunately, this summer we had some health and family issues that kept Z from her usual practice and she probably lost half of the summer. Her coach and gym have been great, however, in letting her try to make up some time. As a result, she has been practicing five days a week for the last five weeks. But, we are going to find out soon if the extra make up time has been worth it.
Z's first competition is in a mere five days--her first time competing Level 4. She is beyond excited.
Although we had a lot of issues this summer, and at times thought that she might be done with gymnastics, she has come back with a vengeance. She is back to only wanting to do gymnastics--no school, no nothing. She is upset on days when she doesn't have practice. I hate to tell her that coach is going to stop the one extra day of practice if not tomorrow, then next week. I think four days a week is enough, especially now that competition season is upon us!
We will have three weekends in a row with competitions, then two weeks off, competition, one week off, and final competition before State. I know I'm putting the cart before the horse, but I'm really hopeful that she will make State again this year.
Due to her missing practices, she was having some problems with bars, but her coach thinks that she is doing well and is ready for competition. I don't think that he would let her compete if he didn't think she was ready. He really cares about the girls and wants them to do well. I cannot imagine that he would knowingly set her up for failure.
One of her friends from the gym actually moved to another gym earlier this year. They spent some time together this weekend and it looks like they will actually be competing against each other on Sunday. While they obviously competed against each other last year, this time it will also be for different teams. Obviously I haven't seen her friend practice in awhile, but I'm hopeful that she will also do well.
The countdown has begun. I'll make sure to post after the competition!
Z's first competition is in a mere five days--her first time competing Level 4. She is beyond excited.
Although we had a lot of issues this summer, and at times thought that she might be done with gymnastics, she has come back with a vengeance. She is back to only wanting to do gymnastics--no school, no nothing. She is upset on days when she doesn't have practice. I hate to tell her that coach is going to stop the one extra day of practice if not tomorrow, then next week. I think four days a week is enough, especially now that competition season is upon us!
We will have three weekends in a row with competitions, then two weeks off, competition, one week off, and final competition before State. I know I'm putting the cart before the horse, but I'm really hopeful that she will make State again this year.
Due to her missing practices, she was having some problems with bars, but her coach thinks that she is doing well and is ready for competition. I don't think that he would let her compete if he didn't think she was ready. He really cares about the girls and wants them to do well. I cannot imagine that he would knowingly set her up for failure.
One of her friends from the gym actually moved to another gym earlier this year. They spent some time together this weekend and it looks like they will actually be competing against each other on Sunday. While they obviously competed against each other last year, this time it will also be for different teams. Obviously I haven't seen her friend practice in awhile, but I'm hopeful that she will also do well.
The countdown has begun. I'll make sure to post after the competition!
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