Gymnastics # 9 {YMCA State}

Our gym had the privilege of hosting YMCA State. The only gyms that participated in this meet were YMCAs from the greater San Diego area and a couple from the greater LA area. As a mom, the meet was a lot of work and very tiring, but I think the girls enjoyed being at home.

Miss E had an amazing meet and finished the season really strong. Like I've said all season, I'm so very proud of my daughter. She has a goal and she is fighting for it. She dug deep and came out on top. I'm so excited to see what is next for her.

Miss E started the meet off a little bit shaky. As she was warming up for Beam, she fell off. She shook it off though and finished the meet on the Bars. She got her highest score for the season on the Bars and that pushed her to 1st place All Around. She was shocked!!

The meet was June 4, on Friday June 17 it was announced that she will begin practicing with the Level 4s. WOO HOO!!!

Gymnastics # 8 {Flower Cup Invitational}

The second meet of the season was her best meet to date. The Flower Cup Invitational was held at the Cameron YMCA in Santee on May 15, 2016. For our gym, she actually received the highest All Around score. I wished I was able to record her reaction as she saw her scores after each event. Excited is not a strong enough emotion. Miss E has worked really hard and it has paid off. I'm a really proud gymnastics mom.

Gymnastics # 7 {Spring Fling Invitational}

Here is the first meet of the spring season.

ENJOY!!

Spring Fling Invitation was held in Chula Vista on May 1, 2016. Miss E did a fantastic job. She improved all of her scores from the fall except for vault, which she still did great on. Her goal was to get an All Around score of 35. She exceeded that score and also had her first meet with three 9s. As we were leaving she asked me what celebration we could have because she did so well. I asked her what she wanted, preparing myself for something huge. All she wanted was a snowball from Baltimore Snowball. Easiest celebration ever!! (however, I was ready for Disneyland to be on the table.)

4 years at the YMCA

Facebook has an 'on this day' reminder and I was looking at my past memories from January 7.

4 years ago we joined the YMCA. Miss E was 4 1/2(ish) and Little Man was 2 1/2. Neither kid was in any kind of organized sport, but both kids were highly active. I remember walking through the YMCA and looking at the child watch place. Back then it was located in the gym. Someone told us that we could do one gymnastics class for FREE. Who would have ever guessed where that one class would lead us...

 January 2012

 This is the first gymnastic picture I could find, dated August 2012.
Miss E was 5 and in Super Tots.
Super Tots is a 'by invitation class only'.

Fast forward 3 1/2 years and Miss E is competing Level 3.

Here she is before her first meet, August 2015.

She promoted to Team in July 2015.

Wow!! In 4 years we started gymnastics and then progressed to team. Today, January 7, 2016 Miss E is starting her second season as a Level 3 competitive gymnast. I'm not sure how long we will ride this train, but I did say all those years ago that we would ride this as long as she wanted. I'm really proud of her and how much she has grown both in her ability and as a little person.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Gymnastics #6 {State Fall 2015}

The culmination of all of Miss E's hard work comes down to this one meet; the state meet of the season. There were 96 girls in her session so they split the session into three divisions of 32. Miss E held her own and did a fantastic job. She ended up with a medal for the vault, tying in 10th place and getting a personal best score. She also ended this season with a personal best score on the bars.

** I apologize that the videos are so jumpy.**

SoCal South State Championship

San Diego Convention Center

November 21, 2015

Level 3, Division 8

So, what is next?? We have a break from competitions until the spring. She will still be in the gym 10 hours a week and will be working on improving her skills. I wished that I had a way to record all the conversations that go on with her. One of the coaches shared how she can take a situation and find the positive in it. She is a natural when it comes to encouraging others. My heart is full. As a mom, I'm looking forward to seeing what this next season will bring... after this long awaited break. 

Blessings,

Elizabeth

Gymnastics #5 {Sectionals}

This girl...

qualified for State at the sectionals meet. She had her best meet of the season!!

Our gym ended up competing in Torrance, CA. Torrance is over 100 miles north of us. I will say it is in LA but people who knew the area will disagree with me. We made really good time getting up there; it took just under 2 hours. The trip home was a little bit longer.

Miss E was the only girl from our gym competing in her session. One of her teammates decided to make the meet extra special and gave Miss E a teddy bear with a sweet little note. This teammate was able to sit with us as we cheered Miss E on and then we brought her home. This momma's heart was filled to see the love these two have for each other.

Saturday, November 7, 1015

West Sectional Championship, Studio West Gymnastics, Torrance

Vault

Due to the placement of the vault and where we are seated, I didn't get video of her vault this time.

She got a 9.025, which made her extremely happy. This is the second time she scored a 9 on the vault.

Bars

This routine was not her highest scoring routine of the season, but it reflects a lot of hard work over the past few weeks. Her score improved over 5 tenths of a point from the last two meets.

Beam (PR)

Unfortunately the camera ran out of memory and I only got the beginning of her routine.

Of course this would be the time she received her highest score.

Floor (PR)

This is her best scoring floor routine of the season.

To advance to the state meet she need an All Around score of 32.000; she scored 34.275!!

The last meet of this season is State. The state meet is the culmination of all the hard work she has put in this season. She will be competing solo again with over 90 other girls in her session. Stay tuned for updates...

Gymnastics #4 {Spooktacular}

Sunday, October 18, 1015

Spooktacular, Cameron Family YMCA, Santee

This was Miss E's third preliminary meet. This was a pretty good meet for her. Overall she finished right in the middle of the pack as far as scores go. She was pretty happy.

Vault #1

Vault #2

Bars

Beam

Floor

The next meet is sectionals. To qualify to compete at the sectionals meet, the gymnast has to have a minimum all around score at one of the preliminary meets. Miss E qualified at all of her meets!!

Blessings,

Elizabeth