Meet #2 Carolina Classic

To set the stage for this exciting day, it's worth mentioning that I had a fever of 102 or above before, during and after the meet. I later ended up at the emergency room with a bacterial infection.

Jillian was feeling great though, and ended up having the best meet of her life. She scored an all around of 37.00 for First Place.

Beam: She hit a gorgeous series of Tick Tock Back Hand Spring, upgraded since the last meet. Only had a couple small bobbles. Score: 9.65 wow 1st place

Floor: Solid and lovely routine. She stuck her landings better. Score: 9.375 3rd place

Vault: She received her first 9 on vault. 9.05 even! 6th place

Bars: Still a few problems with squat on and clear hip angle, but very nice set. Score 8.9 4th place

And We're Off......Meet Season Mania

I look forward to this time of year, as does Jillian. After months and months of grueling work, finally there is the opportunity to show what you can do. Meets are mini circus worlds where colors spin around and light bounces off the sequins and stones of everyone's best chosen competition leotards.

First meet of the season is usually the Judge's Cup. This is a meet hosted by the NC Judges and a type of final exam for brand new judges I believe. The great thing about this meet is that the judges actually write down where the deductions were taken as well as what they thought was done well in the routines.

Jillian started on bars. She cast over on her handstands during every warmup. She was a little worried about that going into her routine. But she stuck those handstands like a pro. The angle of her clear hip was a little low, she bobbled when she stood on the low bar, and she took a step on her dismount. Score was 8.9

Next was beam. Lovely routine with just a couple small balance checks. The important thing in this routine is to connect her tick tock back walkover without hesitating. She did it! Score 9.375

Floor was next. First time competing her new routine. It is really a cool dance. She performed it very well. Most deductions came from taking extra steps on her landings out of tumbling. She received a score of 9.05.

Vault was the last event. She has worked hard to improve this, her hardest event. In spite of big steps on both landings, she received her highest score ever on vault.....8.75.

Her all around score was 36.2. She won First Place All Around. She also won first on floor and beam. It was a great start to the season.

The excitement is building now that the first meet of the season is only three days away. Jillian wore her leotard to practice today for team pictures. I took a few pictures of me own. I don't know what shines the brightest here, the leotard.... or Jillian look of determination! Thanks for checking in. I'll posts scores as soon as we get ome from the meet!

Countdown to Competition

New Years Day! And we will tumble into the new year with all the dreams and undying optimism that I try to copy from my 11 year old. Life is Beautiful. Gymnastics is Life. Gymnastics is a Beautiful Sport. And we are happy to be part of it again this year.

Two weeks from today Jillian will have her first meet. This is the annual meet put on by the state judges called Judges Cup. One reason it is special is that only at this meet the judges actually write notes and share with the gymnasts what was good about their routines....and what they received deductions for.

Jillian is quite ready for the Level 7 season. In fact, she has 90% of her skills for Level 8. She has recently started to flip her tsuk (vault) into the pit and land on her feet. She has nice front tumbling passes of front handspring, front tuck, front layout, ......or front handspring followed by two front tucks or two front layouts. She has a fully twisting layout. And she has a nice connection on beam of two backhandsprings. Still in the works is the bar pirouette. She can do it, but just not to the standards of her coach.

The best thing about this time is Jillian's outlook. She is working very hard. She wants the new skills with her whole being. She wants to be the best she can be. She exhibits very little fear, and when she does feel a moment of uncertainty, she pushes through, knowing that DOING the thing that scares her is the CURE. Afterwards she is no longer afraid.

A couple months ago, Jillian and I started working at home togehter on a bit of extra conditioning. What a difference it has made! Just doing a little on the days she doesn't go to the gym has made her alot stronger. She has a great attitude about it. Last night, at the end of some New Year's Eve conditioning, she held a handstand against the wall for five minutes. If you think this is anything less than grueling I urge you to try it. The burn in your shoulders and the weight of your body on your wrists will have you wanting to scream in less than 30 seconds. So she is quite a trooper. I'm so proud of her. Proud of her heart and her spirit. And I wish I could protect her and be sure that only good things will rain down on her life.

Jillian's early attempts at Yurchenko vault