Nov. 25, 2007

Auburn, Ala. - Greetings Tiger fans! This is Krissy Voss and Carmen Nelms. We are both sophomores now and having a great time with a year of experience under our belts. The month of November has been full of hard work in the gym and the classroom. Training has consisted of lots of routines so that we can gain confidence in our routines. We have also started working on perfecting our routines by only letting the "sticks" count or having to do "perfect" routines on beam. On Monday and Friday mornings at 6:15 a.m. we have started swimming for conditioning. This is because it can increase our endurance and strength without beating up our bodies. Our swimming sessions can be quite humorous because though we are skilled gymnasts, our talent doesn't transfer to the pool. Still, no one has drowned and our competitiveness has spilled over into our relay races. It is hard to include 6:15 a.m., laps, and fun in the same sentence--but it is a fact.

Outside all the athletic and academic work, we still find time for fun. In the locker room on Fridays after practice, there's a fluster of "Who's going to dinner?" "Let's go!" This started spontaneously but has sort of developed into a weekly tradition. We also did a team movie night and made some great desserts last week after school had let out for break. It's hard to describe, but our team definitely has a great chemistry this year, with the freshmen quickly becoming an integral part of the team.

The month of practice ended with our annual Thanksgiving intra-squad. This intra- squad was our first opportunity to test our readiness and prove to ourselves we are prepared for season. It seems all we have been doing is training over and over, but this intra-squad marks a new phase of training; we now train for competition--we work on polishing our routines instead or simply being able to do them. So going into the intra- squad was a challenge; we all are very prepared, but being in front of a crowd--small though it may be--creates a new level. In order to prepare for this nervousness, our coaches have been emphasizing that in the sport of gymnastics, there is no defense--we only have to work on offense because we are the only ones in control of our routines. We'd tell you our secret word, but it wouldn't be as cool if we let it slip.

With friends, family and local fans watching, the team stepped into the gym to debut their routines. We started on vault and had a great performance. Everyone hit their vault, but we can definitely work on sticking. We then went to bars. The team showed some great routines, but had a few mistakes--including one great crash by Karmen Pickney, that is sure to make it on our end of the year crash video. Determined to turn the meet around, the team went to beam and hit eight consecutive, gorgeous routines. This momentum carried and intensified onto the floor. We surrounded the floor and cheered our hearts outs. The entire gym had a great energy to it and made the last event seem far from work--it was tons of fun. From the jaw-dropping dance of Rachel Inniss to the sky-high tumbling of Julie Dwyer, the team felt on fire. The team again hit eight consecutive routines. Overall, it was a great first intra-squad because we are finally showing how great of a team we can and will be. Still, we need to work on such details as sticking landings, cleaning up form, and performing dance with enthusiasm every time. The team is very happy with the progress, but certainly not complacent. We will work harder because we want to win. With the passing of every day, we believe more and more that we will win.

At the end of the intra-squad, there was a mad rush to the locker room and a frenzy of hugs and goodbyes, as everyone prepared to head home for Thanksgiving break. It has been a long time away from home, especially for the freshmen, and we are so excited to get a rest before coming back for a few weeks of class, then finals, and some hard core training.

So, for now, the team is separated. We are stretched across the country from Seattle, Wash., to Webster, NY, but we remain connected because of how we have grown together throughout this year so far. We can't wait for what's to come!

War Eagle!
Krissy and Carmen