Level 7 Regionals . . . from Zi's perspective

Zi had to write a narrative for school.  She chose to write about her first Regional experience.  I love to see her take on the whole experience.

Chandler, Arizona

“Is there anything else we need?” I asked my mom excitedly. I had made a list of what I needed for Arizona, but I wasn’t sure I had remembered to round everything up.

“No, we have everything.” my mom assured me.

We were headed to the Sacramento Airport, where I would meet up with the rest of my team, and fly down to Arizona for my Level 7 Regional gymnastics competition. I had qualified for this meet in the previous month at the Jackson Sports Academy in Roseville, California.

After we finished zipping up our suitcase and grabbed our carry-on bags, we headed to the car, and we were on our way.

I could barely contain my excitement! I was going to regionals, and I was flying for only the second time in my life, and the first time I would remember it; I was 11 years old this time, instead of 3 months old.

When we arrived at the airport, my dad and sister said goodbye to us, and I walked inside. It amazed me, and I couldn’t stop staring at all the different features -- the escalators, all of the people, and the baggage. My mom took me over to the kiosk that would print out our boarding passes, when I looked behind me to my right.

“There they are!” I exclaimed.

“Who?” my mom asked me curiously.

“It’s Keira and Sam!” I replied running over to them. I was so happy to see them and start my journey.

After we talked, we headed to security. My mom told me what to get out of my bag, and where to put it on the conveyor belt. It was so confusing to me, but everything worked out in the end.

“What should we have for lunch?” I said to my mom.

“Well, let’s take a look around.” she told me.

There was a pizza place where my teammates ate, but instead, I got an enormous chocolate chip cookie from a coffee shop; just to my liking.

We all sat down and ate and charged our electronics. By now, my teammate Tessa had joined us. She wouldn’t be competing, because she fractured her foot just three practices before, but she still came along for the ride.

We found our seats, and when the plane sped up to take off, I gasped and thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest. I squeezed my mom’s hand tightly, and she smiled at me reassuringly as we took off.

I quickly adjusted to the flight and started taking funny videos and selfies. I watched a movie and played on my Nintendo 3DS, and talked and laughed. I couldn’t control my excitement and anticipation!

When we landed at the airport in Phoenix, Arizona, my eyes lit up. I was the furthest away from home I had ever been. The plane was so much fun! I enjoyed every bit of it.

We had an Uber driver take us to our hotel in Chandler. I went to hang out with one of my coaches, Abby, as we got ready to go to dinner.

Another Uber driver took us to PJ’s restaurant, where we met up with Keira, Sam, and my other coach, Tristan. I ate macaroni and cheese, and for dessert, I got a double chocolate Ghirardelli pizookie, a pizza cookie with ice cream on top. It was delicious, but I was very full!

I said goodbye to everyone, and went back to our hotel. When I got there, I went to bed right away. I was tired, and wanted a good night’s sleep for the big day.

In my bed, I woke up, ready for a fantastic day. My mom went with me to the lobby to eat breakfast. I got my favorite meet day meal -- belgian waffles with syrup, two hard-boiled eggs, and a glass of orange juice. Tristan joined us at our small table while we ate, and Abby came soon after that. We all had little conversations that made us laugh; it was a lot of fun.

After we said goodbye to Tristan and Abby, I went back to my hotel room. I was exhausted! I still had several hours before my meet, so I decided to take a nap. I turned out the lights, closed the curtains, and turned the TV on very quietly. It took a long time for me to drift off, but once I did, I was sound asleep.

I woke up to the quiet and still room. I drew back the curtains to let some light in, and switched on the lamp. I was still tired, but I felt very refreshed. My mom came with me to the lobby again, where they sold food and beverage items. I got a mini Digiorno pizza and a Dr. Pepper for lunch.

Turquoise glitter, stars, gel, and hairspray were glued in my hair, along with my braids and bun. I put my leotard and warm-ups on proudly and packed my backpack; I was competition-ready.

It was the big day, and when I walked into the huge, western themed building, there were stars in my eyes. I was at my first regional competition! I was so ecstatic to compete! I met up with my Level 6 teammate, Keoana, who would be competing in the same session, but at the opposite side of the building. We took pictures and encouraged each other, then went to our separate sides of the gym to warm up.

Tristan had me go through my normal competition warm-up and stretch, but it was so crowded that it was hard to move around without hitting someone! I was a little nervous, and my shoulder was hurting, but Tristan and I both knew that I was going to do great.

My first event was bars, an event that I always had fun on at practice throughout the season.

“Are you ready?” Tristan asked me.

“Yeah, I think I am!” I told him.

Bars warm-up went very well. When it was my turn to compete, I stepped up, saluted the judges, and started my routine. I almost arched off of the bar on one of my skills, but I saved it! When I landed my dismount and saluted the judges, Tristan gave me a high-five, and I smiled. I was happy with how my routine went. It was a great start to my meet.

The next event was beam, which went well too! I didn’t connect one of my skill series, which put my starting value from a 10.0 to a 9.500. However, I still pulled off an 8.900 for my routine! I wasn’t upset at all!

My second to last event was floor, my favorite event. This was it! I got to show the judges who I was through dancing, emotion, and my skills!

I saluted the judges, and stepped onto the floor. I could feel the adrenaline running through my body as my music began. I tried to make every movement either sharp or graceful, according to my music. I stuck my double turn and smiled widely. I performed my first tumbling pass and my back layout felt so high in the air -- it was amazing! At every moment I could, I would smile and make eye contact with the judges. My leap pass felt great, and even though I wasn’t facing the judges, I smiled for the people watching me. The beat right before my second tumbling pass hit, and I took a deep breath. I did my front-handspring into a front tuck, and it felt better than usual. I smiled and finished my dance off strongly and gracefully. I struck my ending pose with the music, stood up, and saluted the judges.

When I walked off the floor, I was all smiles. Tristan gave me a double high-five, and told me it was a really good routine. I waited anxiously for my score to show up, still only a few feet away from the floor. My score flashed up on the scoreboard, and I started shaking. I got a 9.700! That was not only my highest score on floor, it was my highest score on any event of my whole life! And it was at regionals! Tristan gave me a huge hug as I was crying tears of joy. This was such a huge accomplishment for me!

I walked over to get some water with my knees still shaking. I gave my mom a smile from ear to ear, and she signaled me two thumbs up and her “I’m so proud of you!” face. This was one of the best moments of my life!

My final event was vault. I finished the meet off with it, scoring a 9.400. It was not one of my highest-scoring vaults, but it was one I was very happy with.

I took a few selfies with Tristan and ran over to my mom to give her a hug as we headed outside for awards.

I had placed on both bars and vault with medals I am glad to have earned. But on floor, I earned a gold medal! I was the Level 7 Regional floor champion! I was so proud of myself and Keoana, who managed to be the Level 6 Regional champion for all of the events combined.

Tristan, Abby, and my mom decided to go out to a celebratory dinner. We went to The Old Spaghetti Factory! Whenever we travel I ask to go there -- the food is so delicious!

“Would you like anything for dessert?” the waitress asked me when I was done with my dinner.

“Yes, please!” I told her. I was so full from my dinner, though, I don’t know why i said yes.

“What would you like?” she asked me.

“A scoop of spumoni ice cream, please!” I responded.

The ice cream was so good, but I was 100% stuffed! My stomach even started hurting on the way to the hotel!

I went to bed right away after I said goodbye to Tristan and Abby because my flight home was the next morning at 6:45.

When I woke up, I quickly packed everything away. I got a hot cocoa and a cheese danish for breakfast at the airport.

I was tired on the flight, but it was still very fun, and I took multiple pictures out the window.

I found my dad and sister at the airport and gave them a big hug. They were proud of me, and I was proud of myself. I was also very happy to be back in California, and I was ready for the drive back to Redding.

When I got home, I felt warm inside, happy to have had this experience. If I had only known that I would be going to Kansas less than a year later...

L7 Judge's Cup Qualifier (12/9/18)

At the beginning of the summer, even though decisions had not yet been made about what level everyone would be competing, Z's coach asked if the girls wanted to attend the Judge's Cup Qualifier again.  He said they had more experience, and could use it as a means to get the jitters out for the season.  Several of the girls said that they would like to do it and as a result we registered seven girls, but only five ended up going.

Throughout the summer, the girls were all working on up-skills, had testing for their levels and we knew that Z would be competing level 8 for the 2019 season.  We had a mock meet on November 30th, and Z actually outscored all her teammates on all events except vault--and this included bars where she did not do her dismount.  Sometime after Regionals, Z got a mental block against doing her flyaway.  No matter what we and her coach would do, she just couldn't get herself to do it.  As a result, we knew that she would never qualify for the state team at the qualifier.  I told her that it was not a big deal and that this would just be a way to get her jitters out.  I also pointed out that it was being held at a gym we had never competed at before and was the same gym that our final meet of the season will be held.

Interestingly, on Tuesday before the meet, Z decided to start working her flyaway again.  I watched her do it on Wednesday with a heavy spot from her coach on the large mat stack.  On Thursday, the coach told her dad that she would be doing the flyaway at the meet.  I still wasn't sure, but on Friday I was told that she had done it with a spot from the ground.  A huge improvement in four days.

The day of the qualifier, we got up and got ready.  The gym was three hours away and she was had to be there by 2:00pm.  This year they held the qualifier differently.  Instead of one big session, they broke the meet into two sessions with two age groups for each session.  This way, the girls were able to get more awards, but it was harder to tell your position since you had to look through all four sessions to see the all around scores.  Again, only the top six and one alternate were named to the state team and would represent in Kansas at the National Judge's Cup.

We started on beam and Z was the third on her team to go.  Both girls before her fell, so I was a little concerned.  Z has a habit of doing what those before her do, but not this time.  She didn't fall and other than a fairly big wobble after her full turn, she looked pretty solid.  She scored a 9.175, which was the highest out of her team and got her fourth place.

On floor, she was the fourth out of our team to go.  Her routine looked great.  She remembered to breathe and scored a 9.475.  Again, this was the highest on her team and ended up getting her first place.

At this point, Z's dad called and asked how things were doing.  With two events done, Z was in first place in both events and all around.  I reminded him, joking, that if she did well enough, she was going to Kansas.  He had forgotten, but said it didn't matter and not to put pressure on her.  I can't talk to her during meets and her coach had told the girls to just have fun at the meet, not to let it bother them and to actually not even look at their scores.  I don't know if she was or not, but I definitely was watching.

Vault was next.  This year the level 7 vaults are weird because they are timers and you land on a large mat, not on the floor.  Z scored an 8.825, which we thought was low, but turns out was one of the higher scores of the day.  In fact it took first place in her session.  Her coach said the judges are all learning how to judge the timers. 

While Z was on vault another girl outscored her on beam and turned in a huge 9.800 on bars.  At this point, knowing her difficulty with bars and her dismount, I knew everything was basically over for her.

Z got up on bars--again the fourth on her team.  Two of her teammates fell before her, and again, I thought that was it.  But no, my girl wasn't going to let that bother her anymore.  She turned out a beautiful routine and scored a 9.600-which ended up being 2nd place. 

Overall, she scored a 37.075 and was second place in her session. 

After her bar score, I started looking at the all around scores from the morning session and there were only four that were a 37.000 or above.  I knew the girl who had the 9.800 on bars had over a 37, which meant that it was very possible that Z was part of the state team.  As I was getting ready to text her coach to see if we were going to Kansas, I saw him looking for me.  I ran over to him and he told me that Z was the alternate, but that she would still be going to Kansas.  He said he didn't tell her and didn't want me to say anything.  I quickly texted her dad and let him know and he was freaking out as much as I was.

After the awards were handed out, they announced the state team.  Turns out her coach lied to me--she wasn't the alternate, but was actually one of the top six!  He said he wanted me to be surprised.  :)  While they were announcing the team our girls were apparently discussing whether they should all go out for dinner.  An assistant coach suggested that they should pay attention and respect those who made the team--two people before they called Z's name.  :)

We had to stay for awhile after filling out forms and getting sized for the team leo and warm ups, but one of her teammates stayed to go to dinner and celebrate with us.  We ended up getting pizza with her teammate and coaches. 

The whole day was so weird and I still can't believe it happened--but I guess I better believe because in 36 hours we will be on a plane to Kansas!

Level 7 Regionals 2018

So this one deserved a post all its own.  This was a big deal--the first time Z was going to Regionals and the first time that she could remember going on an airplane.  Because the meet was the same weekend as her sister's Junior Prom, this was going to be a very fast trip.

Our flight left on Thursday, since Z was competing on Friday.  I had arranged the flight so that she was on the same plane as three of her teammates and her coaches--with our seats together with the two coaches.  Dad drove us to the airport, with her coach, and we met up with the rest of the girls.  We had taken great care to make sure that our carryon was all airline friendly, nothing over 3 ounces, etc.  One of her teammates and her sister weren't so smart--or I guess maybe they weren't smart to change from checking their luggage to carrying it on.  All the full size Bath & Body Works stuff got tossed.  :(

Once we landed in Arizona, we took a quick uber to the hotel and got everything unpacked.  I had a client in town and met up with her for a short time.  Z stayed with her coaches and then we all met up for dinner.  We did not stay out too late, knowing that we were competing on Friday.

Friday we met for breakfast in the hotel.  Then it was a matter of killing time since Z didn't compete until 4.  I was able to get her to take a short nap, then lunch, shower and hair.  We met the coaches downstairs and one of her coaches added the glitter to her hair and we were off!

Since this was Regionals for Level 6 and 7, we had a level 6 teammate competing at the same time (the reason both coaches came with us).  But for Z, she was all alone with her coach.  The rest of her teammates were competing on Saturday.  I had hoped that some of them would have come to watch, but no one did. 

Z started on bars.  After States, I was a bit nervous.  But she killed it, scoring a 9.375.  There was even one person behind me who said that Z had a great save on her giants/handstands.  Unfortunately, I hit the wrong button on my phone (had just gotten a new phone the day before we left) and didn't record the routine.  Her dad won't let me live that down.

Beam was next.  I thought her beam routine looked good--a few little wobbled, but not much.  She scored an 8.800, which her coach said was in part due to the judges reducing her start value.  They felt that she did not connect her back walk overs, but to me they were more fluid and together than any others. 

Then came floor.  And boy did it come!  I was watching and recording and just loving her routine.  She had her flashy smile and I almost cried watching her.  I really wish that I had my phone recording when her score was posted because the hug between her and her coach was awesome.  She scored a 9.700--and wound up being the Regional Floor Champ!

Finally, we had vault and she was one of the very last to compete.  She scored a 9.400, which was good, but still 14th place.  Ultimately, she wound up with 5th on bars and 8th on all around with a 37.275.

After getting awards, t-shirts and packing things up at the venue, we headed to Spaghetti Factory for dinner.  It was nice being at dinner with just the coaches and we enjoyed discussing the meet and basking in her Regional win!

In order to make it back in time to help with her sister's prom, we were at the airport by 5:30 the next morning.  Dad and sis picked us up at the airport and we headed back home (still a 2 1/2 hour drive).

Several hours later, after getting sissy off to the prom, I took Z to the mall where she cut her hair from her tush to above her shoulders--the goal is that it will grow by next season--and got her ears double-pierced.  Two things she had been wanting to do since early in the season.

All in all, this was a very successful season!

Balance of Level 7 Season . . .

Wildflower Invitational:

This is a meet that is held closest to our home and in a great facility.  The viewing area is raised all around the competition floor.  You always have a good seat!  Or, if you are like me, you can pace during the whole meet and still watch.  The other nice thing about this gym is that two of Z's old teammates are there and we are able to see them and their families.  One is also a level 7, so again they get to compete against each other.

We started on beam, which has started to be Z's favorite event to begin with.  She had one of her most solid routines that I've seen in awhile.  She ended up scoring a 9.350 and took 4th place.

Floor was, as usual, strong.  :)  She scored a 9.525 which was enough to tie for 2nd place.

Vault and bars were fine with a 9.375 (3rd place)  and a 9.250 (5th place) respectively.  All around was a 37.500 for 3rd place.

The team again took first place.  Four meets in a row!

Spirit of the Flame:

This is another meet that Z likes--primarily because they get a leo instead of a t-shirt!  I like it because it is near where we used to live and I can go see people and check out the changes in the area.

The meet started on vault.  For the first time this year, Z stuck her landings on vault.  They looked great to me, but she only scored a 9.300.  I guess that was ok though, since she took first place.

On bars, she looked really strong and scored a 9.475, which was 2nd place.

Beam was rough.  She fell and just was not herself.  In addition to the fall, her start value was reduced and she scored a 7.950. While beam has never been her strongest event, this was only the 3rd time she scored less than an 8.00.

Luckily, she rallied back on floor scoring a 9.400 and taking third place.  Her all around score was 36.125 which was enough for 6th place.

Unfortunately, the team only took third place.  Z took this really hard and put the blame on herself.  In part because her beam score was used for the team score.  I reminded her that it is a "team" score and the fact that they used her score meant that two other people on her team scored lower than her (one of which hasn't competed beam since the Judge's Cup Invitational).  It didn't make her feel any better and took quite a bit of time for her to get over it.

Level 7 State Championships:

The State Championships were held at the same facility as the Level 6 Championships last year and a facility where Z has competed a lot.  We are very familiar with the area.  This year was different though, because in addition to wanting to do well, Z knew that she had to score at least a 34.500 all around to qualify to go to Regionals.  Her lowest all around this season was a 35.675 so I wasn't too concerned.

We started the day on floor.  Not a normal starting rotation for us.  She did great and scored a 9.525.  Despite the high score, she took 4th place.

Vault looked good, but the scores were low.  She scored a 9.275, which was consistent with her team, but only 7th place.

Bars, which has been one of her strongest events this year, was not good.  She ended up falling twice and only scoring an 8.050.  This was the same score as at the Judge's Cup Qualifier.  I could see that she was upset and crying.  I also knew it meant that she was going to have to pull out a good score on beam to qualify for Regionals.

There was quite a delay before they were up on beam.  Luckily, at one point I saw her smiling and could tell that her coach and teammates had worked their magic to cheer her up.  When she got up on beam she looked as strong as I've seen her.  She scored a 9.375, enough for 7th place and an all around of 36.200--definitely qualified for Regionals.

Awards were fun because after handing out all the medals, they announced everyone who qualified for Regionals and gave them special grip bags to use.

We are on our way to Arizona!