Kate's 1st Meet

Kate started gymnastics exactly one year ago.  She signed up for a recreational class once a week.  Her coach immediately commented to me that Kate was really good.  Within about 3 weeks, she moved Kate up a level.  Then she started mentioning the competition team to me.  At first, I ignored her because Kate did ballet and violin and I don't really believe in specializing in a sport so young.  Also, the gym seemed so crowded and disorganized to me at that time.  The coach would ask us to stay late to have Kate evaluated and then no one would be there to evaluate her.  So, we just kept doing recreational gymnastics once a week and I was glad we were not on the team.

Then over Christmas break or in January, I took Kate and Harry to an open gym one night.  Kate climbed the rope to the top and a coach noticed her.  The next week at her recreational class, Kate came running out and said, "Mama, I have an important decision to make."  They had asked her to be on the team.  I had serious reservations about letting her do it.  It is a big time commitment.  It is a big financial commitment.  I don't believe in kids becoming so specialized so early in life.  But because Kate loves gymnastics and I felt it would be good for her confidence, I let her do it.

Kate works out at the gym with her team 3 days a week for 3 hours and there is no off season.  They practice on holidays.  She goes straight from school on MWF and does not get home til 7 p.m.  These girls are like a second family to her.  And very soon the hours get longer for her.  She will practice from 4-8 pm three days a week.

So, she has been on the team since the very end of January or beginning of February.  Again, within weeks, they moved her from level 1 to level 2.  She has trained for 6 months for these meets.  And when I saw her compete and how happy she was, I knew we made the right decision to let her do this.


Kate's competition season is September and October.  So they train ALL YEAR for about 5 meets at her level.  Kate was very nervous about the first meet.  She had no idea what to expect and neither did we.  But she did great!

I was very nervous about getting the hair correct.  Kate's hair falls out at every single practice.  If it falls on her face during a meet, she could lose points  (or so I was told).  This hair was GLUED to her head.  It did not move:)

When we got to the meet, Kate was so excited to watch her Level 1 friends compete and meet up with her teammates too.





Once Kate saw her friends in Level 1 compete she was not nervous.
 It was good we got there a little early.



Kate and some of her teammates.

Kate started on the beam and she rocked it.  She scored a 9.4!  

Harry videoed it from the balcony.  It is a little hard to see her but it is what I have. Look in the back of the gym and you can see her little silhouette do her beam routine.

Beam 1st meet from Kim S on Vimeo.

Next, she moved onto the floor routine. Usually, Kate does very well on her floor routine.  She had a little too much excitement and overdid her handstand and a few turns.  She did good job and got a 8.1.

The next even was Kate's vault.  She has really struggled with vault.  See the vault is all about strength and speed.  As you will see, Kate is very graceful and she is super flexible.   She is slow and precise. But strength is something she is working on.  She is trying to build it.  Many girls are very strong on her team.  Last week, Kate still had not gotten her vault right in practice.  She came home from practice one day and she had finally did it!!!  She said, "Mama, I asked Mary to help me."  I was confused.  I know the coaches and none of them are named Mary.  I asked her if there was a new coach named Mary.  She said, " NO! MAMA!  "  I said, "then who helped you named Mary."  She said, You know, Jesus' Mary."  How sweet is that?  I bought her a miraculous medal a few weeks ago and she wears it constantly (except at the gym).

Anyway, Kate was terrified she would get a 0 on vault because in practice she often does.  We were thrilled when she did it (for the most part) and got an 8.3.  Her vault still has a long way to go but she did it!!!

For the final rotation Kate had bars.  I was not sure how she would do on bars.  I never watch her practice.  But she did great.  In fact, she got the highest score. Another 9.4!  She is really good at the bars and she has worked SO hard to get there.  I remember just a few months ago she could not even do the chin-up pullover to get on the bars!

Kate warming up on the bars.

Below is her little bar routine.  It is really short.

Bars 1st Meet from Kim S on Vimeo.


At the end, each girl got their medal and ribbons.  Kate got two blue ribbons (for 9's)  and two red ribbons (for 8's).  She was thrilled!!

These are behind glass but I love Kate and a few of her teammates waiting with their arms around each other.

Overall, It was such a great evening.  After years of watching the boys excel at their sports and activities, it was so nice to see Kate shine in her own way.

Coach Kim

Coach Jamie

Harry had oral surgery in the morning and we did not expect him to come cheer Kate on but he did.  He was able to offer her great advice from his Judo tournament experience.  When we got in the car after the meet, Kate said, "I am so glad you came, Harry!"  And he agreed.  Unfortunately, due to school and swim practice, Will could not go to the meet but he will come to another one this weekend.

I know this is a very long post with a ton of photos but it was a really special night. Kate has worked so hard and I am most proud of that...her effort and her determination.  We do it all over again this Saturday!!!  It will be a busy month for us!


There is no flash photography allowed at USAG meets so many of these are I-phone pictures.