Here I have reports from all of my past meets. I'm going to put all of them on this page, so it will probably be pretty long. I have been in about 25-30 meets, and I've lost count of my medals!! :)
Level 9--age 18.
2001 State meet, Memphis, TN. Again, routine-wise, this was one of my best meets! Score-wise, though, a very different story. :P But it's always fun competing in my home gym!!!
2001 Mardi Gras Gymfest, Baton Rouge, LA. Routine-wise, this was one of my best meets ever!!! I also had so much fun here!! I LOVE this meet, I like the gym, the equipment, everything. :)
2001 Vulcan Challenge, Birmingham, AL. This was my first meet of this season. I was SOOO nervous, I was doing a few new skills, and also my start values on vault and bars were pretty low. For about the millionth time, I began on beam. I had trouble with my layout in warm-up, but I made in the meet with barely even a bobble!m It's the first time I've competed it, so I was very happy!!! My straddle jumps were ok, not sure if I got my bonus. My routine was going really well, until the very last thing before the dismount, a switch leap, gainer ff. I kicked really crooked and fell. :P I almost stuck my dismount, so except for the fall, I was very happy with the routine!! I got an 8.25, and it turned out that if I hadn't fallen, I would've won beam! I was actually 4th. Then floor. The floor was SO hard! It was messing my timing on my barani through to layout-step-out in warm-up, but I made that just fine in the meet. In fact, everything went really well, until the VERY end (like beam!!), where I put my hand down on my 1 1/2. Again, that was the first time I went for that at the end in a meet, so I guess it's ok--better not happen again though LOL! I got an 8.65 (6th), pretty good for having a pretty big mistake! Then vault, same as last year, a handspring-full. I got an 8.625, 6th place. :) I had to end on bars, and I was NOT looking forward to competing on bars AT ALL! My double flyaway is not ready to compete yet, I don't have a direction change...that adds up to a VERY low start value. All I wanted was to make the skills that I DID ave, and get higher than a 6!! Well, I made the routine, and stuck my dismount, a very difficult TUCKED FLYAWAY!! haha I got a 7.1, which was better than I thought I might get! I qualified for State, and overall did pretty well, since this was my first meet. Now I've GOT to some difficulty on bars for the next meet! :)
Level 9--age 17.
2000 State Meet, Gallatin, TN. This meet was LOOONG!! Each rotation lasted at least an hour. All the 9s and 10s were competing at the same time, that's why it was so long!! I started on beam once again!! That's been my rotation 3 times out of 5 meets this year. :P I stuck my series with no bobble at all!! But fell on my tuck 3/4 and then I got SO nervous!! My legs were shaking BAD! I didn't connect my straddle jumps so I got no bonus. My score was a 7.8 :P I was hoping for much higher, but my routine was BY FAR not my best!!! Floor was great though!! I was so happy with the routine, I made all my passes and jumps, even my double turn!! :) But they flashed a 9.9 start value, I'm not sure what I didn't get bonus for. I thought my score was very low, 8.85. A lot of the floor scores seemed WAY too low to me!! Vault was also great, I STUCK my first one!!! I have only completely stuck a vault in a meet once before, and that was in level 5! I got an 8.675, pretty good IMO! :) Then bars. :P I warmed up my giants pretty good, then when I went for my double flyaway, I hit my foot on the low bar and it freaked me out!! So I didn't let go, then I realized if I didn't do something, I would peel off and land on my head! So I let go, with no idea where I was, and landed right on top of the bar, on my shins!! THAT HURT SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!! They puffed up immediately, plus the skin was scraped off! OUCH! But I went one more time and did the double but fell. So I iced my legs before I competed. In my real routine, I BARELY made my straddle back--I caught with my fignertips but when I watched the video, it didn't look worse than usual LOL!!! My giants were ok, but I hit my foot AGAIN right before my dismount, but I let go--in the air I was thinking WHAT DO I DO???--and somehow pulled it all the way around and sat down!! I just KNEW it was going to be on my face. So I was very glad to have OVER-rotated than under-rotated, since I was TOTALLY lost in the air!! I got a 7.35, which is about what I've got every time that I have fallen. So I wasn't real happy with this meet, but it's ok, this was my first year of level 9 and I think I did pretty well over-all!! I placed 2nd on floor (.05 from 1st) and 4th AA (.1 from 3rd!!). They only gave 3 places on the events, I think I would've been 4th on beam and maybe vault! I didn't qualify for Regionals, but I am REALLY looking forward to having a lot of time to work on new skills and play around a little in the gym!! :)
2000 Mardi Gras Gymfest, Baton Rouge, LA. This was my 3rd time to go this meet! It's really fun! :) I started on beam. I fell on my series--I was SO crooked on my first back handspring!! I made everything else, but I didn't connect my straddle jumps. I got an 8.45, which I thought was pretty good!! :) Next was floor. Usually the floor scores here are very high, but this year my whole team (the level 7s had competed earlier) got scores that seemed a bit low to me!! I got a 9.1, I was very happy with the routine!! My barani was much higher that usual!! Vault was great in the meet, they totally SUCKED in warm-up!! I got an 8.675! :) Bars was ok, I missed every double flyaway in warm-up, and sat down in the meet. I ALMOST stood it up but I was way back on my heels. :P I got a 7.25, so if I had made it it would've been close to an 8! :) I placed on every event, again, my age group was the biggest!! I was 2nd on vault (!!!), 8th on bars, 7th beam, 5th floor, and 7th AA. The medals here are so cool, they Mardi Gras beads. :)
2000 Cupid Classic, Jackson, MS. This meet was VERY small!!! But it was fun, I got to be with my teammates for a change!! They are all in level 7. We were in 2 rotations (me and the 2 oldest 7s in one, the rest in another), and only one of our coaches was there!! She would have to run back and forth between routines. I started on bars. I stood up my double flyaway!! :) I almost stuck it, just a little hop forward!! :) :) I thought the rest of my routine was pretty good (for me), not great form but I made everything!! I thought my score was very low, I was hoping for maybe an 8.0 or so, and I got a 7.45. :P My SV is 9.5. I stayed on beam, not my best but not too bad!! Again, my score seemed very low to me, 8.15. Again, :P. hehe My score took FOREVER to come up!!! Then on floor, I had to wait for AT LEAST 5 minutes, probably more, to start. I landed my passes, made all my dance stuff, and got a 9.25. Again, it took a LONG time for my score to come up!! I had already gone to vault and done a touch warm-up before I finally saw it!! I made both vaults, almost stuck the 2nd!! I haven't stuck a vault in a meet since like level 5 LOL! I got an 8.4, AGAIN kinda low, compared to my other meets. My vaults at both meets were not a good as these, and I got 8.5s both times! But I can't complain, my SV on vault is only 9.1! There was only 1 other level 9, and for some reason they put us in different age groups!!! There were only 2 level 8, and they were listed as different ages but they put them together, so I thought the 2 9s would be too!! So, obviously, I won all events! They only gave each level 9 1 gold medal and a trophy. I have been by myself in my age group before, and I've gotten 5 medals, so I don't know why they did it like that. I wish there had been more people, or at least the other 9 with me!! If we had been together, I think we would've tied on vault, she'd win bars, and I would have won beam and floor, and I'm pretty sure the AA. :) But I had fun at this meet, it was nice not to be by myself (no teammates I mean). The level 7's did awesome, and we won as a team!!! :) GO WIMBLETON!!!!
2000 St. Louis Classic, St. Louis, MO. I have never been to this meet before, and it was pretty fun!! I started on beam, :P but it turned out to be good!! I usually hate that rotation! I stuck everything, but I had a few bobbles. I did my dismount oretty well, probably the best that I've ever done it!! I got an 8.7! :) MUCH better than the last meet!!! Then floor. I made everything, I was really happy with it and I got a 9.325!!!!!! That's one of my highest floor scores ever!!! I made my first handspring-full vault, but it wasn't great, and then I TOTALLY messed up on the 2nd and only did a 1/2. Somehow I still got an 8.5!! Last was bars. :P :P I kept hitting my feet on the bar on my straddle back in warm-up, but I did it pretty well in the meet. The first half was actually pretty good, but then it got not-good LOL!! I casted, then came back to the bar and casted again, this time to handstand! My giants pretty much sucked, and I landed my double back on my face! Well, at least I landed on my feet for a second, then fell LOL! I wasn't too upset, it's still a fairly new skill for me. My AA was 33.625, higher than last time!! :) I hope to get a 34 in the next meet! I placed 4th on vault, 2nd on beam and floor, and 5th AA! First place on floor was 9.35, .025 higher than mine!! :P hehe I'm really happy with this meet, except bars!!! :)
2000 Ozark Mountain Invitational, Springfield, MO. This was my first level 9 meet!! I was so nervous going into it. I started on vault (my favorite event to start on :). I did pretty well, but I can do my vault better. I got an 8.5 out of 9.1 (handspring-full) so I thought that was pretty good!!! :) Next was bars. I just got my double flyaway less than 2 weeks before this meet and it was still VERY inconsistent. I fell on one and made one in warm-ups, both under-rotated. Well, one of the cables on the bars everyone was warming up on fell, so we had to move to another set to finish warm-up and compete. In my routine, I made my uprise, straddle back (almost kept my feet from hitting :) and my giants. I went for the double and MADE IT!!! I came close to sticking it!!! I was SOOO EXCITED!!! :) My start value was 9.5, I don't have a direction change so that is .2 and no bonus. I got an 8.2, which I was very happy with!! On beam, my warm-up was ok, not great. I made my series in the meet but fell on my leap pass--switch leap, wolf 1/2. My straddle jumps were good, but I bobbled on my gym-acro, and took 2 steps on the dismount--NOT my best routine LOL!!!! I fell in warm-ups on floor, on my front through to 1 1/2. I made it in my routine, and the rest of my routine was pretty good!! My barani was low but I think I can fix it. :) I got an 8.55, I thought it was a little low. But I am very happy with this meet!!! My AA was 33.1, higher than my first level 7 meet. :) I placed 4th vault, 5th bars, 3rd floor, and 4th AA!!! My age group was the biggest too--it's usually one of the smallest!! I'm really happy, and can't wait til the next meet!!!!!
Level 8--age 16.
1999 Regionals, Clearwater, FL. This, of course, we my first time to go to Regionals! I was very excited and nervous. I practiced at the gym the day before the meet. I didn't like the beam or floor, so that made me more nervous! At the meet, I started on vault. My vaults were ok, not as good as State. I barely made the twist around and I got an 8.325. Most of the scores I saw were between 8.3 and 8.5, which I thought were kinda low. Then bars. I did a great routine (for me :) and got an 8.1. During warm-up for beam, I missed my hand on my series and hit my chin on the beam, not hard though. It scared me SO BAD, but I made myself do another one before I finished my turn. In the meet, I STUCK my series with no wobble or anything! It was definitely the best I've done all year. The rest of my routine was pretty good, better than State, I think. I stuck my gainer dismount, but I only got an 8.95. I was a little disappointed. On floor, I did my best routine of the year and only got a 9.125. I was really hoping for more there too. I ended up getting 7th on beam, and the winning score was only about .2 higher than mine. All the scores were VERY close and there were a lot of ties. There were over 40 people here, and a big age difference, 13+. So I am not really happy with my scores but I was happy about my routines, except vault. But my main goal was just to make it here. Now it's time to start working on new skills! :)
1999 State Meet, Memphis, TN. WOW this meet was awesome!! :) I started on bars, which was good because I got to get bars and beam out of the way first. Bars kinda sucked, I held my feet up on my straddle cut on the low bar but my hands were way to close together and I had to cast twice to do the squat-on. I also hit my foot on the bar on my straddle cut on the high bar. I got a 7.7 :P But after bars everything went great!!! I did one of my best beam routines and got a 9.0! Then floor, and I got a 9.3!!! My music sounded really weird and I ended too early so I made up a little dance at the end. Vault was not good in warm-up but I made both of them much better than usual in the meet and got 8.9!! My vault is a handspring-full and it's only worth a 9.1! There were several people in my age group and I wasn't sure if I was going to place very high. But I got 1st on vault, beam, and floor and 4th on bars!! And finally, after placing 2nd AA 3 years in a row, I won my first State AA!!!!!!! My AA was 34.9 and I won by 2 full points. :O Needless to say, I was SO incredibly happy! Also, I qualified for Regionals!! This was only my 3rd level 8 meet, I couldn't believe I made it!! The top 6 made the Tennessee team, the next 2 are alternates, and the next 8 compete as individuals. I was 1st of the individuals, all age groups included. So I am ranked 9th of all level 8 gymnasts, any age, in the state!! I don't mean to sound stuck-up, I am just extremely happy!!
1999 Mardi Gras Gymfest, Baton Rouge, LA. This was the 2nd I've been to this meet, and I love it! It's so much fun! I was by myself--no teammates--but I still had a good time. I warmed up pretty well, except beam. I only went for 2 series, and I tried about 8. I started the meet on floor. I don't like that, because the 2 hardest events are last. :P When I marched out, I got to throw beads again! That was cool. I went 4th on floor, and did probably the best floor routine I've ever done in a meet. I got a 9.3! :) On vault, I competed my handspring-full for the 1st time and almost stuck it!!! I messed up on the 2nd one though. It is still not as good as I would like, but I was happy that I made it! I got an 8.4 out of 9.1 or 9.2. Bars was fine, I did pretty much the same routine as I did at the last meet and got the same score, 8.45!! I was really nervous about beam (and I had to go last in the whole meet!!!), but I stayed on! I made my series!!! But I got really nervous after that because I didn't want to fall on something easy after I made the hardest part. So I had a few bobbles, but I got an 8.65! They were scoring very low on beam all day, so I was surprised to get that high! I was 3rd on vault and bars, 2nd beam, and 1st floor!!! :) I was also 2nd AA! My AA score was a 34.8, one of my highest. I feel really good about this meet, because I hit every routine and scored higher on every event than my first level 8 meet. Only bad thing about this meet, they announced me as Heather Gobson, and that is how it's spelled on the t-shirt! LOL! The next day, we went to a Mardi Gras parade again! It was cool, I got a lot of beads! :)
1999 Ozark Mountian Invitational, Springfield, MO. This was my first level 8 meet!! There was only 2 age groups, 13- and 14+. So there were quite a few people in my group. I had 1 teammate, Bohne, competing with me, so I wasn't by myself. I started on beam. I was so scared to do my series in warm-up but after I went I was fine. I stuck every one then, but fell in the meet!! I went for it at least! I kinda rushed it. The rest of my routine was pretty good (I even stuck the dismount!!) and I got a 8.55!! I thought that was pretty good with a fall!! Floor was fine, hit all my passes and got a 8.875. Vault SUCKED in warm-up--I missed every single handspring-full. So my coach told me just to a handspring first so I could have a decent, but not very high, score. So on the first one, I over-rotated AND tripped over the mat! I didn't fall but it had like 5 steps. So I just did another handspring and got a 8.075 out of 8.5! :) Then bars. I messed up on my straddle back in warm-up and landed in a front support LOL! Held on a LITTLE too long!! But in the meet, I made it and the rest of my routine too! It was the best routine I have ever done, at least in a meet. I got an 8.45! :) That's my highest bar score ever!! I was so happy after the meet, before awards even. I got all 8s, something I didn't do in level 7. I never got an 8 on bars then. Plus bars wasn't my lowest score!!! :) Then awards! I was 7th on vault, 2nd beam and floor, and 1st bars and AA!!! I couldn't believe it, I'm still in shock!! I've never done this well in my first meet of a level before. This meet was also fun, there were some level 10s competing in the same session as me and they were fun to watch! There was one girl that did the HIGHEST vault I have ever seen!! Also one girl did a beautiful layout mount on beam. So that was cool to get to see them. After awards, all the gymnasts that placed in the AA got a ride in a limousine!! It lasted about 15 mins. That was fun, we watched tv in it and when we got back to the gym everyone was watching--I felt like I was famous LOL!!! :)
Level 7--age 15.
1998 Atlanta Crown Invitational, Atlanta, GA. My first optional meet!! :) I LOVE doing optional routines--I hate compulsories!! We started on vault, and I got a 9.25!! I did a handspring and a 1/2 1/2--my coach said my handspirng counted, but I got a 9.225 on the 1/2 1/2!! My teammates did good here too--all high 8s. The level 7s are a very close team--there are only 5 of us. As I've said before, I'm the oldest, then Mallory, then Hollis, then Danielle & Lauren. Anyway, then we went to bars (the whole team is pretty weak here), and I was expecting to get a 6 or something--I got a 7.4! I was happy (yes it's low, but better than I expected!!). I fell on my series on beam :P and got a very low score. :( Too low, IMO. On floor, I had been falling a lot on my front pass, but I made it here! My whole routine was really good, the crowd was actually watching me, but then I stumbled on my jumps! They're at the end of my routine, and I was a little too confident--I wasn't thinking. I got an 8.875 though--it would have been a 9 without that mistake!! I did get through the whole meet without crying--something Hollis teases me about. I get a little too serious sometimes. I got 5th on beam and AA, and 2nd floor!! I was really surprised, and happy! It's rare that I'm completely happy after a meet--I'm usually mad at myself. I'm such a perfectionist!! Also during awards, we all got to eat Dippin Dots!! YUM!! I love those, but they don't have them here. :(
1998 Vulcan Challenge, Mountain Brook Gymnastics, Birmingham, AL. This meet was ok. A few days before it, I bruised my heel on a vault. They had a really hard floor so it hurt some. We did warm-up, then compete each event, instead of warming up every event, then competing. I don't like that. We started on floor (don't like that rotation either--I like to start on vault). I was VERY worried about my handspring front, so I went extra-hard on it. I thought I was under-rotated, but I over-rotated a LOT and landed with my legs straight! Didn't hurt, just freaked me out a little. I got an 8.55. My team is very good on floor--we usually get the highest floor scores--but we all got 8.5s or 8.55s. When I was about to do my last warm-up vault, the electricity went out!! Part of it came back on, but it was too dark to do anything. (I don't know what made it go out, no rain or anything.) After about 10-15 minutes, we started the competition again. We got extra time because of the lights. On my last warm-up, I fell on my face! I went over to my coach in tears. She said don't worry about it, but I was still upset when I saluted. I made both vaults and got a 9.2! :) Then to...bars. :P I caught my straddle cut with the VERY tips of my fingers, and somehow hung on. Then I did something I have NEVER done before! I hit my toes on the bar on my layout!! That hurt!! I got a pretty low score. On to beam. Well, my feet were killing me then, and of course on beam, you have to be on your toes a lot! Fell a LOT in warm-ups. But somehow, I managed to do a good routine--I got an 8.65. I finished...2nd vault, 5th floor, 3rd AA, and...1st on beam!!!! :)
1998 Mardi Gras Gymfest, Gymnasiana, Baton Rouge, LA. I LOVED THIS MEET!!! First of all, the gym was really nice--they had it decorated in Mardi Gras colors (purple, green and gold). It was very relaxed here. Even the judges were nice!! :) When we marched out, we threw some beads to the audience, like at Mardi Gras! It was really fun! We started on...beam. :P I did something really stupid, and got an 8.4. Then on floor, my coach told me "Smile. The judge likes smiles." So I smiled as much as I could (I usually concentrate too much to smile) and I did one of the best routines I've ever done!! I got my highest score EVER--9.475!!!!!! Danielle also got that score. Wimbleton kicks BUTT on floor! We all got 9s. I got a 9.45 on vault. On bars, I caught my straddle cut kinda crooked (my grip was rolled under my hand!), but I connected everything, and got 7.55. My AA was a 34.875! :) I..won..every event!!! The medals were on beads--they're awesome!! I stayed and watched the level 8--they did great!! My friend Trista got a 9.1 on floor and an 8.75 on bars! :) The next day, we rode a bus to New Orleans and went to Mardi Gras!!! SOOO fun!! :) Me and Holly caught TONS of beads and stuff. I even got a little umbrella! LOL This was probably my favorite meet, and I loved Baton Rouge. It was really cool, and all the people were really nice. We ate at Joe's Crab Shack one night, and our waitress's name was...SHANNON MILLER!!!! Seriously!! She was really cool. I got her to sign something (just to be funny), and she even wrote like Shannon! She asked me about my medals (I still had them on!) and then she wanted me to do a flip or something. IN THE RESTAURANT!! hehe everyone was watching. I did cartwheel, back walkovers, and back handsrping (killed my wrists though) It was fun to show off hehe. :)
1998 Louisiana Cup, the Gold Dome, Shreveport, LA. Whew! Well, this was an...interesting trip. :Þ We left home at about 10 A.M. and didn't get to Shreveport til almost midnight--and it's only a 6 hour drive!!! LOL Looooong story here, so I'll skip that part! Anyway, I had the WORST warm-up of my life!! It was in this arena with a ceiling that resembled a honeycomb--ya know what I mean?? When you looked up, you lost all sense of where you were in the air. EVERYONE said that, not just me!! So I missed every straddle cut on bars--I could hardly see the bar--the ceiling was white too! Well, as you can imagine, I was just a bit upset, but fortunately, we started on vault not bars. On my first vault, I took about 4 running steps out of it! But I did the 2nd one much better and got a 9.25! Then...bars. Again, I missed all 3 straddle cuts I tried in the touch warm-up. I was LAST to compete too. LOTS of time to worry and cry. BUT...I MADE IT!!! I was watching the tape of it the other day, and my coaches and teammates were all jumping up and down when I caught it! They know how I get when I mess up LOL!! I THOUGHT I did a pretty good beam routine, but only got an 8.5. Then on floor I over-rotated my front a little but still got a 9.05. This meet had more level 7s than any other, so I didn't think I would place very high. But I won vault, was 2nd on beam and floor, 5th bars, and 1st AA!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) I was SOO surprised!!! And to top it off, Wimbleton was 3rd team!! We hardly ever get a "real" place! I was the only one still there when they announced the team places, so I got to bring it home with me to take to the gym!! :)
1998 State meet, Wimbleton, Memphis, TN.. My best meet ever!! But it got off to a crappy start. We had to start on bars and I FELL!!! :( On...you guessed it, straddle cut. But I got my highest level 7 bars score..ok, ok it was a 7.8. YES it SUCKS, but I was happy with it LOL. I don't know how I got that high with a fall when I had made all my other routines and scored lower. By the time I went to beam, bars was pretty much forgotten--my team finished before the other rotations so we sat around and talked with Diana. Meets are always more fun when she's there! :) I did the best beam routine I have EVER done--hardly any little bobbles!!! I got a 9.175 (at first a 9.75 was flashed!! I almost passed out LOL!!! :) We all hit great routines--Lauren got a 9.1 and Mallory got an 8.95! :) Then floor. We got RIPPED OFF here. Wimbleton ALWAYS scores the highest on floor, and the floor scores had already been high that day. But we all barely got 9.0s--I got a 9.05 and Lauren got a 9.0. I messed up a little on my 1 1/2 turn. :P Then on vault we ALL got over 9.0--Hollis got a 9.325 and I got a 9.225! :) I was 4th on bars, 2nd floor, and 1st vault and beam!!! :) I was 2nd AA...mixed feelings about that. Of course I should have been happy, but it was the 3rd year in a row I got 2nd AA at State--every year I got a higher AA than ever before (35.25 this time!), but never high enough. .3 from 1st...yeah I know I shouldn't concentrate on winning, but I'm competitive, I can't help it!! :)
1999 Sand Dollar Invitational, Orlando, FL. OK, for weeks and weeks I've been training level 8. But 2 days before the meet, my coach tells me he registered as level 7 for this meet and 8 for all the others. I was SO mad! I had to change all my routines, take out the harder stuff and put in easier stuff that I haven't done all summer!! Anyway, I started the meet on vault. We had to warm up in one gym and compete in another, which I didn't like at all. The equipment seemed different! I only did a handspring vault and got a 9.15. They were judging pretty hard--they usually judged elites. On bars, I had a crappy warm-up. I hit my foot on the bar on my straddle back. I made in the meet, but I let go HOURS too early LOL! Got an OK score. I stuck my beam routine with only like 2 bobbles and got an 8.8. Floor was pretty good, I got a 9.15! :) My AA was a 34.7. I placed 2nd on vault, 1st on beam and floor, and 3rd AA. I wasn't too nervous here, these routines were pretty easy for me. I think I'll be level 8 for the next meet!!
Level 6--age 14.
1996 Qualifier, Wimbleton, Memphis, TN. This meet was held just for my team, because none of the level 5s that had just moved had qualified for State--there was 1 sectional we were supposed to be in, but no one from Memphis could go because of SNOW! I must say this was my worst meet ever. In level 5, when I did a good vault, I got a high 8 or 9.0--in level 6 I got an 8.25 for the same vault! On bars....let's just say it was my LOWEST SCORE EVER--by FAR!! :P Beam was ok, floor was ok--can't remember my scores, I think they were both about 8.6. I did qualify for State. :)
1996 State meet, KGTC, Knoxville, TN. I had to start on bars here :P It was a crappy routine and a crappy score! LOL Then I fell off beam for the first time ever!! I wasn't too upset--I knew I would do it sooner or later!! It was on the straddle-down--I never could do that right. I got a high 8 on floor and a low 8 on vault. I was REALLY surprised when I got 2nd on floor!! I had only been doing the level 6 routines for about a month, so I was very happy!!
1996 Judges Cup, Wimbleton, Memphis, TN. This was the next season of level 6. I don't really remember much about this meet, except that is was really relaxed--we wore workout leotards, whatever we wanted!! (I am the "Leotard Queen" at my gym--I have tons of SM leotards!) I did ok here--nothing real good, nothing real bad. :) I got my highest score (so far)--9.25 on floor. I also got my highest bar score. :) 1996 East Sectional, KGTC, Knoxville, TN. This SUCKED!! In warm-up, I almost missed my foot on the springboard on vault, and hit my foot on the low bar on my flyaway and landed on my face. Then on beam (in the meet) I made the DUMBEST mistake in the history of gymnastics. I will NOT say what it was :) but it was STUPID and I could just DIE that I did it!! I had never gotten a 7 on beam, and I got a 7.95 here. I was really mad at myself, and cried through the rest of the rotation. I was still very upset when I went to floor, but I got a 9.05. My vaults weren't very good, but bars was and I got over an 8. :) I can't remember how I placed here--3rd on something (maybe AA) and 2nd or 3rd on floor.
1996 Fall Round-Up, Golden Circle, Jackson, TN. This meet was pretty fun, but LONG. Only 2 events going at a time, and it was all age groups. :P Bars was ok, vault was ok, beam was ok, and floor was great!! I got a 9.1. I won floor, 2nd on vault, beam and AA, and 3rd bars.
1996 West Sectional, Lausanne, Memphis, TN. I HATE THIS GYM!!! It is not even a gymnastics gym--it is a school-gym, with basketball stuff and all that. They practice on a STAGE--the gym is usually used for other things!! They don't normally train on a full floor or hardly ever vault. I had to start on beam--it was terrible! I didn't fall, but everything was wobbly. I got like an 8.2. The floor was really bouncy, but I got a 9.05. I don't even remember my vaults. On bars in warm-up, I was doing GREAT!! Then in the meet, right from the first kip I could tell it was off. I didn't fall, but it was FAR below what I had been doing in practice. I was 2nd on floor. 1996 Middle Sectional, Masters School of Gymnastics, Gallatin, TN. This was held at a civic center--I don't like that. I would rather be at a gym. I started on floor and got my only 8 in level 6 (this year I mean)--I got 9s every other time. My coaches protested the score, but they didn't change it. I got an 8.95 on vault--my highest vault score then!! Bars wasn't too good--a mid-7. :P Once again, I did great in warm-ups and bad in the meet. Also on beam. I did these really controlled straddle-downs, and rushed it and fell in the meet. I have NO IDEA how I placed here--2nd on 2 things and 3rd on one or two. I wasn't very happy with this meet.
1997 State meet, TAG, Chattanooga, TN. This gym was cool!! Before the Olympics, the Ukrainian Olympic team trained there for a while!! They had lots of pictures up, and a whole wall was signed by all of them--including LILIA!!! :) I started on vault, and messed up my steps on the first one!! I went over, but didn't get much block. On the second, I did a much better vault and got a 9.15!! I did one of my best routines on bars and got an 8! :) Beam was ok--not too good. 8.65. Very tentative, if you know what I mean. On floor, my one-touch SUCKED, but in the meet I did good and got a 9.15!! I did my end pose right by the head judge, and she said "Nice routine!" when I walked off!! I was 2nd vault and AA, 5th bars, 3rd beam, and 1st floor!! :) I got my highest AA (then--it is still my 2nd highest)34.95!
Level 5--age 13.
1995 Judges Cup, Wimbleton, Memphis, TN. This was my first meet ever! It wasn't a real meet--no awards or anything. After your routine, you went up to the judge and she/he would tell you what you did need to work on, plus gave you a card with a score on it. I was 13, and I had only been in gymnastics about 9 months. It was at my gym (I was very happy about that!). We started on vault, and I got 8.5. Not too bad--2nd highest on the team. Don't remember how anyone else did here--I was too nervous to pay attention! On bars, I REALLY sucked then--I barely had a kip! Besides not connecting hardly anything, I fell on the squat-on! Got a 7.2. :P I shook through my whole beam routine, but didn't mess up too much--8.8! That was the highest on the team. Then floor. I always had trouble with the back extension roll in that stupid, annoying floor routine. I HATED THAT ROUTINE!! I made everything, but only got an 8.2. I hadn't known what to expect, so I guess I did OK. :) 1995 East Sectional, Sportsnet, Johnson City, TN. This meet kinda sucked. I had to start on bars, but I did an ok routine (for me--crappy for anyone else!). I did a GREAT handstand and cartwheel on beam, but I missed my foot on the assemble and almost fell! Then on floor I fell back down on the handstand-forward roll--you know, I didn't kick up hard enough. I almost landed on my face on my 2nd vault--it was a Spieth vault, I had never competed on one of those before. They're really different from my gym's vault. I still hate them! I didn't get any medals, but I was 4th on beam, and probably would've won without that dumb mistake!! :P 1995 Fall Round-Up, Golden Circle, Jackson, TN. This meet was pretty fun, but it was at a crappy gym. We did bars, then vault, then floor, then beam. Bars was ok and I stuck my first vault, but missed one hand on the second, which scared me really bad. On floor I got an 8.55 I think and a 8.8 on beam. And....I WON EVERY EVENT!!! And yes, other people were in my group. I couldn't believe it!! :)
1995 West Sectional, Memphis Centre, Memphis, TN. This meet was pretty good. We started on floor, and I got an 8 something--8.6 I think. Then vault (no clue what the score was or how the vault was LOL) then bars. I got my first 8 on bars!! I had gotten a lot better, but I don't really remember the routine--I don't remember this meet too much. Beam was ok--not too good. I got some medals--no gold, but I think I got 2 or 3 bronzes. :) The next day, Shannon Miller did an exhibiton at the gym!! I taped it (see pictures here). She did a warm-up with the gymnasts from there, then did a beam routine, then had a Q & A session. After that we got to meet her! I got a picture of her from 92 signed and also my ticket to the exhibition signed!! :)
1995 Middle Sectional, Masters School of Gymnastics, Gallatin, TN. This was one of my best meets in level 5. I got an 8.75 on vault--my vaults were pretty good. I made a dumb mistake on bars and got a mid-7. On beam, I had a pretty big wobble, but I got an 8.95! I also got an 8.95 on floor--I actually did a good back extension!! :) I won vault and was 2nd on floor--or maybe beam, I can't remember. I was 2nd or 3rd AA--I got my first 34!
1995 State meet, Wimbleton, Memphis, TN. This was my best level 5 meet. I had to compete without any of my teammates though--they were all different ages. I started on floor (I liked that rotation then--but not now!). I got an 8.65. Then vault. I almost stuck both vaults and got my first 9.0!!! :) On bars, I almost had to take an extra swing, but I was DETERMINED not to!! I kinda hooked my foot over the low bar and stayed where I was supposed to be. I got an 8.0--good for me! Then on beam I got another 9.0!! :) I didn't really wobble any, but my legs were shaking really bad. I won vault and beam, I was 4th or 5th on floor, and 2nd AA!! My AA was a 34.95! Right after level 5 State, I moved up to 6 and competed in State! I have been competing for 3 years, and have been in 4 States!! :) Also in level 5 and that first level 6 meet, they didn't seem to mean as much as they do now and in my full year of level 6. If I made a mistake it was just like "oh well". But now I'm really serious about all my competitions.
I began on floor, my least favorite rotation. To top that off, I was the first person in the whole meet on floor. NOT a good place to be in on one of your best events, and I was REALLY hoping for a high floor score to make up for a low bars score that I would for sure get LOL. Well, I made EVERYTHING in my floor routine, landed all 3 passes very well, and connected all my jumps and stuff. Well, it took FOREVER to get the score--literally almost 10 minutes. Judges conference, everything. :P I knew that was a bad sign. FINALLY, I got an 8.75--not a bad score, but no where NEAR what I was hoping for. So i watched the rest of my rotation. The next girl was really good, and she got barely higher than me, so I thought they must just be scoring low. But the scores kept getting higher and higher on floor all day, so whatever. I just told myself forget about it, the routine was good and the score didn't matter. But I have to say that I was very disappointed. Next was vault, I landed both of them pretty well! I got an 8.65 out of 9.2. :) Next came bars, I actaully did my giants better than usual but still only did a single flyaway, so that killed my start value! I got a 7.0 out of 8.7. Finally it was time for beam and I always get so nervous!!! I had been missing my layout in practice all week. But in the meet, I stuck it, no wobble AT ALL!!! :) I really didn't have any wobbles in the routine and I even stuck my dismount!!! :O I got a 9.0, so the meet and this season ended on a good note. :) I placed 3rd on beam, which is now my best event. :) I didn't qualify for Regionals (I needed a 34.0 AA and I had a 33.4) but that's ok! NO MORE ROUTINES for a while!!! :)
I started on bars, which has become my favorite rotation! Get the hard events over and then not be very nervous for the last half of the meet!!! I made by bar routine, still only did a single flyaway. The routine was practically IDENTICAL to the one I did at my last meet, but the score MUCH lower-- :P That was the ONLY bad part of this whole meet! But oh well, I hit the routine and that's all that really mattered. In warm-up for beam, I fell on almost everything. My coach always says that I hold back on beam in meets, and she told me before my routine this time, "I'd rather you fall 50 times and go for everything than hold back and stay on the beam." So I went for everything, stuck everything with hardly any bobbles, and got a 9.1!! That's my highest level 9 beam score ever!!! Second highest of all time! :) On floor, I made everything and even landed my 1 1/2 at the end!!! I got a 9.075. :) I made both vaults, 8.55. I was SO happy about this meet!! I placed 4th on vault, 2nd on floor, 3rd AA :) and FIRST on beam!!!! :O :) DEFINITELY my best meet in a LONG time!! My AA was 33.175, higher than my last meet, and would've been a lot higher had I gotten a decent bars score!! hehe