Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Khederian and the rest of the Tigers are getting ready for another season

 
Ashley Khederian's Journal Entry - Dec. 3, 2007

Tigers Look Forward to Black and Gold Intrasquad Mee

Dec. 3, 2007

This preseason has been very different than any of my past three. We stepped up our training earlier, we've worked harder, and want it more than ever. We've never been this good this early, and are more prepared than ever to show everyone we mean business. It really is amazing how quickly 3 months of preseason goes by, I can't believe intersquad is only six days away. Although it may not seem like a big deal to most, to us, black and gold is the start of another season. It means putting skills on hard landings, doing dismounts and last passes on our own, and competing in front of our family and friends in our own arena. Its our first chance to show everyone how good we are. And believe me when I say, WE ARE VERY GOOD.

This weeks practice began with a lighter workout on Sunday night. Everyone showed they had been working hard to maintain their skills and conditioning while at home, and we picked up right where we left off. The assignments were difficult, and we struggled through sore and tired muscles near the beginning of the week. Tuesday we began the daunting task of putting all our passes on the real floor, and continued vaulting onto a hard landing. We also moved bar dismounts over to a hard landing surface to prepare our bodies for this weekend Everyone handled the transition well, and looked confident and solid with the new challenge. With a much appreciated day off on Wednesday, we were able to return strong for Thursday and Friday practices.

Friday we had a three event intersquad in the gym. We've been doing bar and beam intersquads every friday for the past month, and we've gotten better and better every week. Intersquads are key because they allow us to practice routines when the pressure is on, and help us learn to cope with adrenaline and nerves, which can often negatively effect our performances. The more pressure sets we do, the better prepared we are to handle the stress of competition, eventually routines under pressure become like second nature. Some girls shine when the pressure is on, others don't perform quite as well, the goal is to learn how to take those nerves and turn them into a positive energy, so every girl thrives under pressure.

Our Friday intersquad went particularly well, especially with the addition of vault. We put up 8 10.0 vaults (5 yurchanko fulls, 2 hand pike halfs, 1 yurchanko half front layout), and went 8 for 8. Traditionally, vault has been an event we've struggled to put 6 strong vaults up, but this year it will be one of our deepest thanks to the addition of 4 new vaulters and one excellent new vault coach (Rob,you were excellent as well). We then moved to bars where we went 5 for 6 in the first group and 4 for 5 in the second group, and finished well on beam.

Its definitely that time of year when everything starts to come together. Most of the initial hard work has been done, the daily grind of preseason workouts and conditioning are nearing an end, and now the fun begins; the big finishes, the pretty leotards, the glitter, the cheering, the dance offs, the long bus trips, and the performing. This year we promise to be better than ever, but don't take my word for it, come see for youself. We'll be showing our stuff this Saturday at 7pm at the Hearnes Center. You'll be sorry if you miss us!

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