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...
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