Jan. 2, 2006
As preseason came to a close, it finally hit me that this was my senior year. It seems like only yesterday that I was living in the dorms and getting adjusted to college life. Now, three and a half years later, I realize how much I've learned and how fast time has gone by while being here at Mizzou.
Just like my first three years of college have flown by, so has this preseason. The last week of December was also our last week of preseason practice. Our winter break ended the day after Christmas, because we had to return to Columbia for practice at four. Although it seems like it would be hard to motivate yourself to workout the day after Christmas, everyone came into the gym with the same intensity they had before the break. Even our coaches noticed how good everyone looked!
Monday's workout was short and sweet; we went through each event doing basics and a few numbers to get our bodies moving again. Tuesday started our morning workouts, which, as you can imagine, everyone loves! Tuesday's workout started at 10:00 and again we did all four events. The team looked like we had never left the gym (which was a relief to our coaches, I'm sure!). Wednesday we had our first two-a-day of the holiday break. The first practice started at 10:00 with an intrasquad on bars and beam. Both events went really well, especially for a morning practice. For those fans who know how bars can sometimes be our enemy, fear not! On bars we went eight for nine routines (all with D or E dismounts)!! After the morning workout, we left to get some food and rest a bit before coming back to gym for the afternoon practice at 1:30. The second workout was both floor and vault and anything extra we needed on bars and beam. Thursday's workout was similar to Wednesday's having a bars and beam intrasquad in the morning.
Thursday night, Coach Rob and his wife, Joy, opened their new house to us and invited the team (and trainer!) over for dinner. Joy made all the food herself and it was fantastic!! On friday we only had one workout in the morning to make sure we could root on the Tigers in the Independence Bowl. After practice a few of us got together and went to Whitney and Amanda's house to watch the game. We had a blast cheering on Mizzou, especially when they made their comeback. (PS...if you ever watch a Tiger football game with Whitney, never give up on them...she won't let you!) Following the Tiger win, Lisa took me to get my car, which was finally fixed from the accident we got in before our Black and Gold meet. It's so nice to have my car back (also, thanks for everyone who drove me around!).
Saturday was our final practice of the week. It seems we had a bit of a virus going around the team, because Jodie was unable to attend friday's workout, and on saturday, Ashley couldn't train. Not only was it our sixth day of workout after an exhausting week, but we also had a vault, beam and floor intrasquad. All of the events looked GREAT, as we went seven for seven on vault (all 10.0 Start values and that's without Ash's vault), six for eight on beam, and seven for eight on floor! If doing three event intrasquads wasn't enough to get us pumped up for season, Kira played Santa and distributed all of our new leos and travel gear!! The last thing we did on saturday before we left the gym was puffy pant leos. This team tradition involves finding a plain colored leo and coming up with inside jokes or nicknames for each other and writing them on our leotards with "puffy pant" (fabric pant). It's such a fun way to bond with the girls. The reason we make these "puffy pant leos" is so that, on the last day of practice before a meet, we all wear the leotard. It lightens up the mood in the gym, which in turn helps us relax for our upcoming meet. After decorating each others' leotards, we all headed off in different directions with most of us going to Panera for lunch.
When lunch was over, Julie and I went around Columbia hanging up our posters and passing out schedule cards for the upcoming meets. The events of our New Years Eve were pretty low key, as we just had an Austin Powers movie marathon before watching the ball drop at midnight. And that brings me to Sunday...the last day of an "uncompeted" weekend until April. In three days, we will be traveling to LSU to take on some serious competition. From that meet on, it's non-stop practicing, competing, and traveling...and trying to fit school in there, too! I know this year will fly by just like the three years previous to it. This has been a wonderful year for Mizzou gymnastics and I hope that 2006 is just as great. We look forward to seeing everyone come out and cheer us on!! Happy New Year Y'all!!!
GO TIGERS!
Lauren "Bunny" Schwartzman
ps...if you can't make it down to LSU on the 6th, the meet with be tape delayed on ESPN2 on January 15th! Check it out!!