Our favorite posts from 2014!

Listed below are some of our favorite blog posts from this year. You can click each title for a link to the article! Thanks for all the support this year, we hope you will continue to follow us as we have lots of exciting stuff planned for the future. Have a happy new year!

Carly Patterson Interview
This was our first interview of the new year and we couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out! Carly was very candid with us about her experience at the Olympics and her rivalry with Russian favorite Svetlana Khorkina. Carly has always had a bubbly personality and a great sense of humor, which I think is evident, even in writing! Our favorite part of the interview was when she talked about her first experience at the ranch and being "initiated" by the other national team members. I was glad she shared that little tidbit with us, because I had never heard of anything like that until then!

Emily Wong - Leader and Champion
This feature was really special to us because we wanted to show our readers how strong of a person Emily truly is. Just a few months before the interview took place, Emily's father passed away. Despite mourning his loss (and competing every weekend during her senior year at Nebraska) Emily took the time out of her busy schedule to talk with us. I thought that was very nice of her! Emily Wong's leadership and maturity left us inspired. Emily was an exceptional gymnast with a big heart and even bigger smile! We hope this article left you loving her even more!

Nastia Liukin Interview
We were very excited when Nastia agreed to do this interview with us! As we all know, she's a very busy women, so for her to take time out of her day to answer our questions meant a lot! The main focus of this interview was her experience at the Olympics and life after. I'm glad we we're able to go into depth about the highs and lows of her entire Olympic experience,

Simone Biles Skype Interview
This was by far the most fun interview we have ever done! Despite having technical difficulties (our power kept going out and ending the Skype call!) we still managed to piece together a pretty decent interview with the reigning World Champ! (And for our first audio interview too!) Simone was super cool about having to repeat a few answers for us! We were a little stressed out because we weren't sure how much audio we were losing, but some how it all worked out just fine! It was so incredibly cool/crazy to interview her face to face. I kept thinking to myself "I can't believe this is really happening!" Simone was super bubbly and friendly and we we're so thankful for the time she spent with us.



Betty Okino Interivew
This has to be one of the most in-depth interviews we have ever done! Without having to be prompted (or pushed to give more details), Betty opened up to us about her coaches, rivalries, and the high and lows of her career. I almost felt like I was reading her autobiography, just because she gave so many little details and quotes to support her answers. Betty was so open and willing to share everything with us; this is every interviewer's dream and truly makes for an amazing article! We really couldn't have asked for a more perfect interview, thanks Betty!

You Know You're A Gymnast When
This feature was really fun for us! We got to ask some of the best level 10/elite gymnasts from around the world for a funny, but also very true, scenario for "you know you're a gymnast when..". I'm sure this is something that every gymnast can relate to, as they've probably done many of these things on the daily!


Vanessa Atler Interview
This was with out question the most popular interview we did all year. I'm so thankful that Vanessa was able to open up to us about the struggles she faced throughout her elite career. After reading her responses I felt inspired. I think it's amazing that she was able to admit to the mistakes she made and learn from it. Vanessa came out a stronger person and I feel like it sends a great message to anyone who's struggling, even if you're not a gymnast! I think it will be hard for any interview to top this one as my favorite!

Elena Arenas' Monthly Journals
Junior elite, Elena Arenas, has been kind enough to write a journal entry for us every month; documenting everything that happened in competition, training, and of course in her everyday life! This feature has been a favorite amongst our followers because it provides gym fans with an inside look at the life of an up and coming elite gymnast. Through her journal entries, we get to follow Elena though every step of her elite career (in her own words!) and hear all of her cool experiences. We hope this is a feature that we can continue as Elena trains for the 2020 Olympics!

Buckeye's Dynamic Duo Aim Towards Rio
This was probably one of our favorite story-type articles that we did this year. Usually we keep interviews in the "Q&A" format, but this time we decided to use the quotes from Kittia Carpenter and write an article about what it's like coaching two of the nation's top gymnasts. Kittia gave us an update on Gabby Douglas' training, as well as goals for both Gabby and Nia in the future.

Let us know what your favorite post was this year! Thanks again for all the support and we hope you will continue to read our site in the future.

Dear Gymternet- Journals from Elena Arenas (Entry #7 December 2014)

Dear Gymternet,

This month has been very fun and exciting! I went to the Make it Right camp in Las Vegas and I had a great Christmas! 

Elena and Mailie O'Keefe in Vegas

The Make it Right camp was so much fun (on the plane to Las Vegas I watched If I Stay and almost cried on the plane!) Some of my teammates went to the camp too and some friends from developmental camp were there, so it was great to spend time with all of them. One of the rotations we had to do was trampoline, which is not my strongest thing! We had to do this thing called an airplane that I just could not figure out! Other than that though everything else went really well and I got a lot of training in with some amazing coaches! 

Elena and her teammates in Vegas

The first day we got to Las Vegas we did some sight seeing. My friend Lila, and I made a deal that if she rode on a roller coaster, then I had to go on a ferris wheel. Last year I rode the roller coaster which is on top of the hotel New York, New York, and it was so much fun, so I wanted her to experience it too ... but I was so scared to go on the ferris wheel because it is the biggest one in the world! (High Roller, 550 feet high!) Lila ended up riding the roller coaster and I rode the ferris wheel and I think we both enjoyed it! I also convinced my dad to ride the roller coaster and we rode in the very front! We also saw Zarkana, a cirque show! It was amazing!

After the camp I was excited to get home and celebrate Christmas with my family! A few days before Christmas I made a graham cracker house that I saw on a DIY account on Instagram. I had to cut the graham crackers and everything. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but it ended up looking pretty good. On Christmas I got a lot of nail polish, a blue tooth Bose speaker that I can take to the ranch with me, and some drawing stuff. I also got a new coat and a gingerbread (not actually gingerbread) house for my dog, Brantley, that I had to make myself. It was edible and she loved it! 

~ Elena

2014 Illinois Gymnastics Exhibition: Dancing and Debuts

December is an exciting time for college gymnastics fanatics, as it’s the finally time to see teams across the country debut their new, full routines to fans for the first time in exhibitions and intrasquads.

On December 8, the University of Illinois men’s and women’s gymnastics teams held their annual Orange and Blue Exhibition, arguably the most fun gymnastics meet held in Champaign’s Huff Hall. The men and women both split up into Team Orange and Team Blue to compete in head-to-head match-ups.

The Illini don’t determine the winner of the meet using traditional gymnastics scoring. A pair of student-athletes is assigned to judge each event. At the end of both gymnasts’ routines, each student-athlete holds up either a blue flag or an orange flag, denoting who he/she thinks had a better routine. In the event of a tie, the audience cheers to determine the winner.

While gymnastics is generally one of the more serious sports in the world of athletics, collegiate gymnastics definitely brings more fun to the table, and Illinois’ Orange and Blue Exhibition was no exception.

It was a close meet, as the Blue Team won 11-9, but there were several moments and things that stuck out.

Highlights and tidbits:

Freshmen boys impress: Several Illini gymnasts competed in the orange and blue for the first time. All freshmen from both the men’s and women’s teams competed. Half of the freshmen men were victorious in their match-ups. The youngest gymnast, Brandon Ngai, 16, a pommel horse specialist, competed an impressive pommel routine to beat fellow freshman Harry McLellan. Dennis Minton prevailed on rings to defeat junior Max Mayr, and Aussie native Tyson Bull showed high-flying release moves in his win over fellow international student Tom Gibbs.

Women’s debuts and returns: On the women’s side, Jordyn Givens returned from an arm injury suffered in her final J.O. season and competed on vault. Givens competed the same vault as her matchup and fellow Texan, redshirt freshman Sarah Lyons. Both vaults were clean and simple Yurchenko layouts, but Lyons was declared the winner.

The second freshman on the women’s team, Wisconsin native Bridget Hodan, also competed one event. But unlike Givens, Hodan was victorious. Hodan’s presence and excellence on beam were exquisite. Her routine includes an aerial to back handspring and a rare and difficult, but well-executed, illusion turn. The unique combinations and skills gave her an impressive triumph over beam and bars specialist Sunny Kato.

Senior captain Gaby Nguyen also returned to competing. She has yet to compete in a non-exhibition meet and was not in the lineup for last year’s exhibition, so it was great to finally see her show off her uneven bars skills.

New versus old: A new year means a new floor routine, at least for some of the Illini women. Two of the three floor matchups pitted a new routine versus an old routine.

The ladies first competed on floor at the end of the first rotation, ending with a bang. Sophomore and Big Ten Gymnast to Watch Mary Jane Horth finally returned to floor after her Achilles injury suffered in her final J.O. season in 2013. Her dramatic and classical floor music and choreography combined with her long lines proved to be victorious against senior Kelsi Eberly, who performed the same exercise from last season. Watching Horth tumble and perform after over a year was a sight to see. It will be exciting to see her routine again if she makes lineup, which shouldn’t be a problem.

The final floor matchup was between second team All-Big Ten members Giana O’Connor and Erin Buchanan. Buchanan’s routine is the same as last year’s while O’Connor revealed her new routine for her junior season. O’Connor’s unique and dramatic music is similar in style to what she used last year, complete with distinctive choreography to match, but what was most remarkable and was the highlight of her routine was her tumbling. O’Connor’s first tumbling pass was full of combinations and connections, like a less difficult, but still impressive, Aly Raisman beginning pass.

Battle of the blondes: In the second floor matchup, junior Heather Foley and senior Jordan Naleway both revealed their new routines. Foley’s music is a remix of Danza Kuduro by Don Omar, a Latin influenced song that would probably be found in a dance club, and another piece that pumps up the crowd. Danza Kuduro definitely makes the crowd want to get up and dance while the remainder is enticing with the beat. Foley had solid tumbling and a great performance, but Naleway came away with the victory.

Naleway’s senior floor routine begins with some bluesy/jazz-sounding music and transitions into a remix. The choreography was fitting, and the tumbling gave Naleway the win. Despite being spotted on her double pike ― it looked like she didn’t need it ― her landings were good and more controlled than Foley’s.

Horth upgrades on bars: Sophomore Mary Jane Horth debuted her new uneven bars routine in a matchup against senior and beam/bar specialist Sunny Kato. Horth’s height of 5’7” gives her lovely lines on this event, but that’s not the only thing to admire. This season’s routine includes a few new skills, including a full out dismount, a Gienger and a Maloney half. Horth defeated Kato in this bars matchup in a unanimous decision, as Kato uncharacteristically fell off the low bar during her transition.

All-around potential: While most of the women only competed on one or two apparatus during the exhibition, sophomore Erin Buchanan competed on three: uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Fellow sophomore Suren Kanchanavaleerat was scheduled to compete on bars against Gaby Nguyen, but a lineup change was made, and Buchanan replaced her. She hit both events and even won the bars matchup.

Last season, this Big Ten Gymnast to watch competed in all of the Illini’s meets on floor and vault, where she hit 100-percent of her routines. Buchanan was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times, the first time for an Illini women’s gymnast. With the addition of beam and bars, Buchanan has the potential to be a great all-around competitor. There’s no way of telling if she will compete all four events this season, but it’s certainly a promising option.

Men dance it out: The most fun and crowd-pleasing part of the meet came at the end, in the final rotation, when two of the Illini men started a mini dance party.

U.S. National Team Member and NCAA All-American C.J. Maestas kicked things off at the beginning of his rings routine. Maestas sported a black puffer vest while waiting to be assisted by assistant coach Ivan Ivankov. While Boyfriend by Justin Bieber filled the Huff Hall gymnasium, Maestas began to dance and removed his vest to reveal only a pink bow tie on the upper half of his torso. Cheers instantly erupted from the fans as he showed off for the crowd. Even with the addition of dance to his routine, Maestas hit a great rings routine in typical fashion. Watch Maestas’s routine below.


Later in the final rotation, former NCAA vault champion junior Fred Hartville amused the crowd with his imitation of Giana O’Connor. Hartville performed the beginning choreography of O’Connor’s floor routine across the floor from her. It was a funny moment, evoking laughter from all of the gymnasts and the audience. Hartville was spot on with the dance and did it as well as O’Connor! Unfortunately, there is no video of this hilarious moment.

Overall, the Illini are looking good. The men look to build on their fourth place finish at NCAAs this past season while the women look to build off last season, one that was full of record breaking and historic moments.

There are, of course, a few things that need to improve, but there’s still some time to work on those, and both programs look to progress throughout the season. Illinois may miss the graduated seniors from last season, especially Amber See, Liz McNabb and Sarah Fiedler on the women’s side, but there appears to be no problem filling their spots with up and coming stars in Buchanan and Horth who were both named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch. Most of the women are veterans and have experienced competition on the big stage before, so they have a multitude of experience to bring and help them be even better than they were last year.

The women kick off their season at Central Michigan on January 11 while the men begin in Chicago at UIC on January 9. View full highlights from both the Illini men and women below.





All pictures belong to me and are watermarked, so please do not take them. Thank you.

Written by: Amanda

Interview with Lisa Spini, coach of Mykayla Skinner

Can you start by talking about how Mykayla's season went overall? What were some of the ups and downs she faced throughout the year? 
We are all, of course, very happy with how MyKayla's season went. Being a member of the gold medal World Championship and Pan Am team is a dream come true for any gymnast. She did well in Jesolo, her 1st meet this season, winning the gold on vault and floor, and helping Team USA win the Team gold. Then we wound back down to prepare for Classics and Championships, with the goal to make the Pan Am and or World Team. She had a slow start at the Classic, but then got a little better in each following competition, culminating with the Pan Am team, all-around, vault and floor golds and of course Team USA's and her own amazing performance at World's.

How would you sum up Mykayla's experience at the World Championships this year? Do you feel she accomplished everything she set out to do? 
I can imagine that the only better feeling than winning the team gold at World Championships would be to win it at the Olympics! MyKayla and I both felt like the years of hard work and tough times had finally paid off. Yes, we accomplished what we set out to do, which was help the USA earn a team medal and win an individual medal, if possible. Not medaling on floor after doing such a great routine in floor finals was very hard on her, but the positive feedback that she received from all over the world and knowing that she had done her best really helped her through that.

Since coming home from the World Championships do you feel that Mykayla has more confidence? How has this effected her training, if at all? 
Worlds was a great confidence booster. Winning team gold, vault bronze, fourth on floor and sixth all-around in prelims, really helped her realize that she is currently among the best gymnasts in the world! In training, it has helped because not only is she more confident, but she is more focused on her form and flexibility--she realizes that's what she needs.

Photo belongs to Silvia Vatterroni

Has Mykayla been working any new upgrades in the gym that you can share?
We have been working a Cheng with an extra full twist on vault--so round-off 1/2 on, 2 1/2 off. She is doing it on mats in the pit, but still a little lower than competition height. We've also been working triple twisting Yurchenkos in the pit. On bars, she is training a new shaposh to pak combo, double double dismount and wyler 1/2. On beam she is training a punch front to jumps, tour jete 1/2, double turn and full in dismount. On floor she is hoping to put a 1 1/2 step out to triple in for her second pass and full in at the end. We are also playing with a tucked triple twisting double on the rod floor.

Which vault can fans expect to see in competition first? Both have been highly anticipated! 
I think that MyKayla will compete the Cheng with the added full turn before the triple twisting yurchenko because she is further along on it at this time. It should also have a higher start value than the triple twisting yurchenko because it's adding a full turn to a Cheng and the triple yurchenko is adding a 1/2 turn to an Amanar.

Mykayla is known for throwing lots of difficult skills in practice. Is she the one who comes up with the idea of trying a new skill or do you usually bring it up?
 MyKayla has always loved difficult skills. When she was younger, I used it as a reward for doing what I wanted her to do first- basics, flexibility, drills. Now that she is older, she still enjoys them and also appreciates that the time she spends on flexibility, basics and drills will help her be better at the skills she wants to do. Sometimes she comes up with the idea for a skill and sometimes I watch men's gymnastics and power tumbling for ideas for skills and how to teach them since there aren't women doing them yet.

What has been your biggest challenge with coaching Mykayla? 
MyKayla loves the big skills. Getting her to focus on form and flexibility has always been the challenge. In this past season, I saw her change quite a bit in that area--she was much more willing to work in those areas. After being at Worlds, and seeing the best gymnasts from all over the world, she is even more focused on improving her execution. Much of her execution errors are due to her lack of flexibility, but her tightness also makes her very quick and quickness and air-sense are two of her best attributes. She will never be a flexible gymnast, but her flexibility has definitely improved.

How do you keep Mykayla motivated day in and day out? Does she ever have days where she doesn't want to come to practice or wants to quit? 
I used to keep MyKayla motivated with skills, but now, she can see the big picture a little clearer and that motivates her. I just help her time it all out--we need to be doing this by this date, and then this by this date, etc., so that we can be ready for competitions and not be burned out or injured. Gymnasts of this level do need to have quite a bit of self-motivation. They have to love the process as much as the result, or they won't last long. I think every gymnast probably wants to quit at one time or another and MyKayla is no exception. The gymnasts that realize that it's just a phase or a response to something negative that happened to them and work through it are the ones that make it in the end.

With so many talented gymnasts moving into the senior ranks and lots of returning Olympians, how do you think Mykayla will fare this upcoming season?
As far as MyKayla's ability to compete with the new seniors and the returning Olympians, only time will tell. The results from Worlds and Pan Ams prove that she can compete with the best. Whatever gymnasts are healthy, have the skills, fitness level and the mental toughness at the right moment will fare the best.

Thus far, what has been your favorite coaching memory? 
 I would have to say that winning the team title at World Championships is my favorite memory! It was so amazing--the gymnasts, the coaches and the moment! The girls and coaches all got along so well. We all worked as one for that result and when it finally happened, it was the most awesome feeling! I don't think I would change anything. In my 35 years of coaching gymnastics, I have worked with gymnasts of every level and every ability. I've loved almost every second of it--from pre-schoolers to World Champions!

Photo belongs to Aimee Boorman

Do you have any mentors or people you try and model your coaching style after? 
One of my first and best mentors was Roe Kreutzer, who was the 1984 Olympic coach and worked for USA Gymnastics for many years. I worked for her at The Arizona Twisters, one of the USA's first elite programs, for 15 years before opening Desert Lights. She is a wonderful coach and person and without her, I could never have coached at this level. My husband, John Spini, who was the coach at Arizona State University for 34 years, taught me so much about spotting, tumbling and bars. Of course, I am with some of the best coaches in the world every month at National Team Camp. Everyone there has something to offer. It's like being at the best coaching clinic in the world!

Finally what your goals in the future, both for Mykayla and for your future coaching career?
MyKayla has signed with Utah, but has deferred college for her first year to train for the 2016 Olympics. For the immediate future, we are looking ahead to the upcoming elite season, trying to get in a few upgrades, while improving flexibility and form, and of course, staying healthy is probably one of the most important things! If a chance at another World's or even the Olympics presents itself, that would be amazing, but we're just taking one thing at a time right now. As far as the future for me, I have a gym full of talented gymnasts and coaching all of them, as well as MyKayla, is still my passion. 

Photo belongs to Christy Linder

Thank you for your time Lisa. We wish you and Mykayla all the best!

Dear Gymternet- Journals from Elena Arenas (Entry #6 November 2014)

Dear Gymternet, 

 This month has been great! I went to the Pan American Gymnastics Union Camp (PAGU) and Developmental camp. 

PAGU was so much fun! I made friends with girls from all around North America, South America and Central America. All of the girls rode a bus from the airport to the ranch except for me and Maile. We got to the ranch before them and were anxiously waiting for the bus to arrive and when it did, we went outside and just kind of stood around not knowing what to say or do. We went back to our room and waited for our roommates to come. My roommates were two girls from Peru along with Maile. One of them spoke a little bit of English but the other one didn’t. In between practices Maile and I made a video star to Shake it Off that was sped up and sounded like a chipmunk voice. It was so funny! 

Practices at PAGU were great! The countries in my group were Argentina, Coasta Rica, and Canada. Valeri was USA’s main coach so he rotated with us everywhere. I was the second to shortest one there and I wasn’t used to that because at developmental camp I’m near the middle of the line up now. Since a lot of the girls didn’t speak English, Maile and I were the examples for everything, even warm up! My dad speaks both Spanish and English very well so he was able to translate. When we first got to the ranch and looked at the schedule, we saw that there was going to be an athlete party! We were so excited! On the second to last day, it was time for the party. I asked Maile to do something cute with my hair so she French braided it on the side and I had it down. When we went to the party, which was in the cafeteria, it was dark but there was a disco ball and strobe lights with music. We listened to music from different countries and learned dances. Overall, PAGU was such a fun and exciting experience!

November developmental camp was about 10 days after PAGU and also went very well. This time my friend Eliza was with me who is from my gym. Our flight was delayed and we literally walked in right as everyone was lining up ... we made it just in time! We had to show our skills this time and I did well on everything. Next camp I’ll have to verify routines. In between practices I got my new floor routine done! I absolutely love it and can’t wait to compete it! Also, I caught my ray on bars while I was there.

Elena with her teammate Eliza

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I don’t have much coming up the month of December, but I hope something exciting will happen!

~ Elena                                                   

Meet The Elite: Alexis Vasquez

Alexis Vasquez is one of the few up and coming stars from Chows Gymnastics. A few years ago she packed her bags and moved far from home just to train with Chow and chase her Olympic dream. Now she prepares to enter the senior ranks as one of the top gymnasts in the country. In 2014, which was only her second year at the elite level, she improved her ranking at the P&G Championships from 15th all-around to 5th all-around! She also claimed the national title on beam and was named to the junior National Team. That's pretty impressive for a girl who's only fourteen years old!

We recently did a Q&A with Alexis. Check out what she had to say down below!

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

You moved from California all the way to Iowa to train with Chow. How did you make this decision? 
I made the decision about three years ago. I was already going to quit my old gym, but I still wanted to pursue my Olympic dream. My first thought was to train at Chows Gymnastics! After continuously talking with my parents, we decided it would be worth it.

Can you describe training with Chow and your teammates; Victoria, Norah and Rachel? 
Chow is a great coach. He knows how to make working hard everyday a fun and enjoyable experience. It's great having Victoria, Norah and Rachel as teammates. They are all very hard workers and very fun to be around. We all cheer each other on and push each other when we need it most!

Photo Credit: Christy Ann Linder

How would you describe yourself, in and out of the gym? 
Inside and outside of the gym I'm pretty serious, but I'm more talkative outside of the gym.

Can you talk about your experience at Championships last year?
I'm very pleased with how I did on each event. Ultimately making the National Team and winning beam was a great experience.  

Going in to Championships did you have any idea that you could potentially win the beam title? 
No, I didn't think winning beam was possible at the time. Mainly because I only started full routines about two weeks before the meet due to my hip injury, I was very surprised and happy that I won beam!

In what ways do you hope to improve for next year? 
Next year I would like to keep healthy and improve my execution and difficulty on all of the events.

Are you nervous to be joining the senior ranks? What are some of your goals? 
Yes, I'm a little nervous. My goals being a senior are to be given an international assignment and to stay healthy.

What are your long term goals? 
To be on the Olympic team and to be accepted into a great academic college!

Do you have an idea of where you would like to go for college? 
Well, I'm not sure yet. Right now I'm just concentrating on my debut as a senior.

What do you like to do when you're not in the gym?
Well other then having to do homework; I like to paint canvases, bake, and play with my poodle.

If you could have the career of any gymnast who would it be and why?
I'd like to have the career of Elizabeth Price because even though she didn't make the Olympic team, she had a very successful elite career and got a scholarship to Stanford.

Out of all the leotards you've worn, which one is your favorite? 
My favorite would be the red one that I wore this year at P&G's. Probably because my favorite color is red!

Photo Credit: Christy Ann Linder

What was the hardest skill for you to learn?
The hardest skill for me to learn would probably be a blind change on bars, like a giant half!

If you weren't a gymnast what sport would you do? 
I would probably do short distance running and pole vault!

What is one thing you asked for for Christmas? 
I asked for a Plum Leo!

Let The River Flow (Holiday Gift Idea!)

The 1997 U.S. National Champion Vanessa Atler has published her first children's book just in time for the holidays! So if you are the parent of a young athlete and you're looking for the perfect gift to get for your child, consider Atler's book, "Let The River Flow."

"Let The River Flow" is a book that was written based off Vanessa's own experiences as a young gymnast and is geared towards young athlete's ages 5-10. The story is about a girl named River who struggles after losing a competition; an obstacle that every gymnast must face. The book teaches an important lesson to young kids that the road to success isn't always easy. Winning and losing is a part of the journey. 

The book was published by USA Gymnastics and is available individually for $14.95 (plus shipping) or in groups at a discounted price. (Perfect for gym club owners who want to stock up their pro-shop!) You can purchase "Let The River Flow" by clicking here.

Vanessa is available for readings and signings that can be set up through USA Gymnastics.

For more information visit www.lettheriverflow.net

Seven tips for drafting your fantasy team!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! That's right, it's time to play Fantasy Gymnastics! This will be our third year playing and let me tell you- it's a blast! If you're looking for something to keep you busy during the long winter months, follow college gymnastics and play fantasy gym! You won't regret it!

You can sign up (here) if you haven't already!

Once you're all signed up and ready to go, you can begin drafting your team! This is the most crucial part to the whole game because if you don't draft a good team, it's basically game over. Last year we won our conference and finished second overall in the full rankings, this was mainly because we drafted a super strong team. We get asked lots of questions about the drafting process, so we decided to compile a list of tips that we've learned that will help you draft an awesome team for fantasty gymnastics! 

Happy drafting!

Photo Credit: Gymnastike

1. Don't draft girls just because they're from a top school!
The number one mistake I see people make while drafting their team is only picking girls from top schools like Florida or Oklahoma. For one, drafting a bunch of girls from the same school is risky because if that team sits out for the week you won't have many options for backup. (Yes, this has happend to people in the past.) Second, while the top schools have several girls you would want on your team, remember not every girl is capable of putting up a high score every week. A lot of the top ranked teams have so much depth, there isn't room for a lot of variety in their lineups.When you branch out to teams like Michigan, Georgia, or Utah, you'll still find a lot of girls who can consistently put up 9.9+ every week. It's not about what team they're on, it's about the gymnast and what they are personally capable of. Don't just pick a girl because she's on the national championship winning team!

2. Don't draft girls just because they have an elite past!
We made this mistake in our first year of playing fantasty gym. Just because a girl was an elite in the past, that doesn't mean she's guranteed to be an awesome college gymnast. We aren't saying that former elites arent good, because many of them are, but there are a lot of girls who excel in college gymnastics who were never elite. In fact, many of the best collegiate gymnasts from last season came straight out of the JO program. For example; Emily Wong, Kat Grable, Lloimincia Hall, Joanna Sampson, Haley Scaman and Lindsay Mable were (and are) extremely sucessful in their collegiate careers and never made a run at the elite level. While it's common for gym fans to draft familar names from the elite world, just remember that it's not necessarily the key to sucess when it comes to fantasy gym.

3. Do your research! 
This takes time, but it will be worth it! (Refer to tip #7) Pull up some rosters and research the girls; see who does what events and how well they typically score. Anybody who scores consistenly in the 9.8's or higher is someone you are going to want to draft in the top 70 for your team. The more familar you are with the team and their gymnasts, the more successful you will be in drafting and while making your lineups.

4. Know how to rank your draft list!
It's okay to put Bridet Sloan or Samantha Peszek on the top of your list, just realize the more popular the gymnast, that's more people that are going to be drafting her...which means the chances you are going to get her isn't as likley. (Of course there is still a chance...somebody has to get them, so by all means if you REALLY want someone put them first or second.) This kind of goes back to our previous points, you want to draft girls who can score just as high but aren't as "popular." The higher you rank those girls, the more likley you are going to get them. Last year we had Joanna Sampson, Kim Jacob, Taylor Spears, Lindsay Mable and several more girls who can all score 9.9+ on every event and that's because we drafted them in the top ten of our list. Because our team was so strong we easily won our conferernce and were not far behind the overall winner. It's all about smart drafting!

5. Be careful with freshman and girls prone to injury!

You are going to have to draft freshman, there is no way to avoid it, but you want to learn their strengths and weaknesses the best you can. We also reccomend not putting them as high on your list, just because you can never be sure how a freshman is going to handle the transition from club gymnastics to college. The freshman don't always make the lineups, exspecially towards the beginning of the season. It's okay to have them on your team, but we don't reccomend drafting them as one of your key players unless you have a lot of faith in them. Also be careful drafting girls that are injured or have a history of being injured. Nothing sucks more than drafting someone and not being able to use them all season. Of course injuries are unpredictable and can happen at any time, but don't intentionally draft someone that you are not 100% confident in.

6. Know that every school has at least one star! 
Don't be afraid to branch out and find the dark horses, because every team has one! Trust me, every single team on this planet has at least one girl that they count on to post a top score every week, whether that be in the all-around or on a few events. When a team is ranked really low (like out of the top 20) their gymnasts tend to score lower naturally, but you will still find girls who consistently score in the 9.8's or higher even on the lowest ranked teams. You can draft up to 150 gymnasts, so you're going to want look for all the top scoring gymnasts from every team, even if you just end up using them for backup. These are the kind of girls you want for when someone gets injured or rests for the week. Nebraska's Emily Wong and Minnesota's Lindsay Mable were always dark horse's for us in fantasy gym. They were putting up scores of 9.9+ on every event, every week and a lot of people probbably didn't even consider ranking them in the top five for drafting. We would put them up third and fourth and be almost guranteed a strong all-around gymnast (while everyone else fights for the top all-arounders from the top teams.) Think smart when you rank your gymnasts!

7. Don't wait until the last second!
Drafting a strong team takes time! It's not something that you have to do all at once. (Unless that's how you roll.) Take your time! Continue to research and update your team until the deadline!

CGA Strong

The 2014 season was all about staying strong for Mary Lee Tracy and her elite team. Despite some minor setbacks throughout the course of the year, the CGA elites managed to stay positive and finish on a high note. The gym's motto is "CGA Strong" which stands for strong bodies, strong minds, and strong friendships; something that each girl embodies on and off the competition floor. Amelia Hundley, a standout on the junior scene for many years, finally made the transition into the senior ranks placing fourth on floor at the Secret US Classic and sixth all-around at the P&G Championships. Although she wasn't at her best, Amelia still won the crowd over with her upbeat style and fun personality. There's no doubt that her performance, especially on floor, is always a fan favorite! Amelia's results from Classics and Championships were good enough to earn her a spot on the Pan American team- her first senior international assignment, where she helped Team USA win a gold medal. Not too shabby for someone who spent the beginning of the season sidelined by injury! "Amelia had a great season after a major ankle surgery," Mary Lee explained to us. "She felt great about her performance and how she finished at Championships and the World Selection camp. Pan Ams was a little disappointing, but Amelia learned a lot at her first senior international competition." Mary Lee added that while they are enjoying the off season, Amelia is planning to add more difficulty and improve her execution on every event. As the only senior member of the elite group, Amelia naturally fits the role of team leader. With five years of elite level experience and a recurring ankle injury behind her, she knows better than anyone what being strong is all about.

Photo Credit: John Cheng

This year Mary Lee also brought two fresh new faces to the elite scene, Abigail Matthews and Aria Brush. Abigail competed in the Secret US Classic where she gained some experience competing on a podium and of course built her confidence leading into next season. Aria qualified to the P&G Championships where she placed nineteenth all-around and fourth on bars, a feat that was nothing short of successful! "They had a great season and accomplished their personal goals," Mary Lee said. "Adjusting to the level of intensity that comes with competing at this level fit their personalities!" Abigail and Aria are a work in progress for Mary Lee. While they didn't top the rankings this year, they still showed potential to grow and the ability to persevere. With the first year of elite now under their belts, we can hopefully expect to see two more confident and polished athletes next season.

Photo Credit: John Cheng

Mary Lee has a reputation of producing some of the strongest junior gymnasts in the country and she is always on the look out for girls who show potential. When asked how she knows when a gymnast is ready to make the transition from level 10 to elite, she admits it's a tough decision. "When an athlete truly knows why they want to be an elite and that matches their work ethic and attitude...it is time!" she says. Elite gymnasts not only have to be physically gifted, but they have to make a lot of sacrifices and be willing to work hard every single day. "One of the hardest things for a coach is seeing talent that does not work hard and hard workers that are not physically gifted." Mary Lee says. Once an athlete makes the jump to the elite level, they must continue to up their skill level while staying healthy- physically and mentally, something that Mary Lee says is the toughest part about coaching at the elite level. Many elite gymnasts struggle with injuries during their career and the CGA girls have been no exception. Unfortunately, many of Mary Lee's past gymnasts have struggled with an injury in the midst in their career, making it hard for them to peak at the right time. Staying healthy and on top of the elite scene for several years is not easy and since every athlete is different, the recipe for staying healthy varies from athlete to athlete. Mary Lee likes to make sure her girls are physically strong and as fit as possible, while reminding them that every turn counts. Less repetitions means less pounding on the body which is crucial to survive at this level. While training for 30 plus hours a week, keeping up on school work and trying to maintain a "normal" teenage social life, it can be easy to lose focus and motivation to keep going every day. One of the ways Mary Lee keeps her girls motivated is by reviewing their goals and the "whys" of competing at the elite level. Asking yourself "why did I choose to do elite gymnastics?" and reminding them of the goals they set is a good way to put any athlete back on track. She mentions that it's also good to change things up a bit and have some fun along the way, whether that be playing games or having contests with prizes. "They are kids!" she adds.

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for Mary Lee this season was losing two of her biggest stars Lexie Priessman and Emily Gaskins. Lexie, a former junior national champion left CGA a few months before the start of the elite competition season, a move that shocked many gym fans. Since departing from CGA, Lexie and Mary Lee have maintained a good relationship and have stated that it was for the best. However, a lot of people were worried about how Amelia would adapt to this sudden change. The pair are best known for their inseparable friendship both in and out of the gym and they really seemed to thrive off each other. From the start, Mary Lee had no worries. "Both girls are doing what they need to do and they respect each other for that. Outside of the gym they are still friends and they just leave gym at the gym. I knew Amelia would be fine, she is an individual with her own goals!" Shortly after the P&G Championships (where she placed 6th all around) Emily Gaskins, another budding CGA star, moved back to her hometown in Florida to train at Intensity Gymnastics with her former coach. There is no doubt it was a devastating loss for Mary Lee and the CGA team, however she is optimistic about the future stating that she is "always working on the next class" and looking to learn from previous mistakes. "I have always had an issue with keeping my expectations in line with each individual athlete," she admits. "It's challenging to keep your passions and desires in line with the athletes." Learning from the past, looking toward the future, and never giving up is what makes Mary Lee and her team truly "CGA Strong."

Photo Credit: Mary Lee Tracy

10 Things You Don't Know About...Delanie Harkness

1. My favorite color is black.

2. I recently went to the Dominican Republic. 

3. My best friend is Ashley Bremer!

4. I love my family.

5. I love the beach.

6. My favorite movie is "If I Stay"

7. I have two dogs.

8. I love to shop. 

9. My favorite animal is a turtle. 

10. I love Q'Doba!

Dear Gymternet- Journals from Elena Arenas (Entry #5 October 2014)

Dear Gymternet, 

I've had really fun and exciting times this past month!  I was selected to represent the USA at the Pan American Gymnastics Union camp (PAGU) along with one of my best friends, Maile O'Keefe.  I also went on my very first recruiting trip to UGA.

When I found out I was going to PAGU, I was so excited!  I was at the ranch for camp last month when I found out and I couldn't wait until I could tell my mom!  I knew they were only selecting two gymnasts to go and I didn't know who the other person was until the next day and when they told me it was Maile I was super happy!  I texted Maile after gym that night and we were both wondering what it would be like and hoping that some of the girls will know English. Haha!

Elena with Maile O'Keefe

A few weeks later I got my USA apparel in the mail and it was so much fun opening up the box.  My dad/coach was out of town visiting family when it came and he wanted me to wait for him to open it, but I couldn't wait to see what was inside!  I got three USA leos, a shirt, a bag and shorts.  My dream of representing the USA was coming true!  I am going to keep training really hard the next couple of weeks so I can be as prepared as possible for PAGU.

Going on my first recruiting trip was very exciting!  It was at UGA and I couldn't wait to see the campus.  It was fun to share this experience with my teammate (Sami Durante).  First we watched the Gym Dogs workout, then we took a golf cart to go eat. Sami and I sat on the back of the golf cart which was fun because I've never done that!  We then spelled out a word using our bodies around campus.  The next day we went to the football game and then we all hung out afterwards.  It was so much fun and I hope to get to explore other colleges in the future!

Right now I am on my way to the ranch for developmental camp.  I'm very excited to show what I'm working and see all of my friends!  Right when we get there, I always run to the bulletin board to see who my roommates are.  Today I have physical abilities testing ... wish me luck! :)

~ Elena

Note: Elena wrote this while on her way to the ranch. Due to poor service in the area, this entry is a few days late. Elena is now back home and training for the PAGU camp!

Elena also received her "Triple Twist" t-shirt a few weeks ago. It may be a few sizes too big, but she still rocks it!

10 Things You Don't Know About...Bailey Ferrer

1. I love seafood.

2. My favorite color is purple.

3. Country music is my favorite music.

4. I have to mark off my calendar every night.

5. I have three dogs and a cat.

6. I love scary movies.

7. I have a Friday leo and it's purple!

8. My favorite shoes are Jack Rogers.

9. I love watching Criminal Minds and Pretty Little Liars.

10. I can never have enough bathing suits!


10 Things You Don't Know About:
Sarah Finnegan
Laurie Hernandez
Ragan Smith
Ari Agrapides
Ellie Downie
Vanasia Bradley
Jazmyn Foberg
Deanne Soza

Chalk It Up - The next gymnastics film in the works

Who doesn't love a little fictional gymnastics cinema action? As hardcore gym fans, we can't get enough of watching our favorite sport on the big screen. That's why we know all the lines to Stick It and Make it or Break it was our guilty pleasure every week. Well gym fans, get ready, because there is a new movie in the works called Chalk It Up and it's bound to be a hit!

Apple with the Rugby boys.

The film was written by Maddy Curley who is best known for her role as Mina from Stick It. Maddy will star in the film as a "super girly girl" named Apple who's boyfriend is moving to England to play Rugby after finding out their Ivy League school is breaking Title 9. (Where there has to be an equal number of male and female sports.) Determined to win him and his rugby team back, Apple creates a gymnastics team. It works, but not for long. He dumps her and Apple is left to figure out what matters more now; her new team or boys.



Apple's gymnastics team is comprised with a few familiar faces in the gymnastics world. In addition to Maddy, who was a gymnast at North Carolina, the movie will feature Krista Jasper, (Former US national team member/University of North Carolina) Susan Jackson, (2010 NCAA Champion/LSU) Kim Jacob, (2014 NCAA Champion/Alabama) Britnee Habbib, (Canadian national team member) Jen Hansen, (1993, 94, & 95 NCAA Champion/Kentucky) and Tarah Paige. (elite in the 90's/ Tricia Skilken from Stick It) Unlike in Stick It, all these girls (except Kim Jacob) will actually appear in the movie rather than just being stunt doubles, so we can expect to see some good gymnastics! At the start of the movie the girls are just a group of misfits who have never done gymnastics, but eventually they get better and better and work their way to elite level skills. "The falls when they aren't good yet will be the really fun part!" Maddy joked.

The movie just wrapped up filming and the editing is expected to be finished by April of 2015. The distribution deal they get will determine when exactly the movie will come out and how fans can watch it. "I would love for it to be in theaters and I've always pictured it on  ABC Family." Curly said. Maddy was inspired to make Chalk It Up after realizing how many little girls couldn't watch Stick It or Make it or Break it because of the adult-like content. "I wanted to make a family friendly gymnastics movie." she said. As for her hopes for the movie, "I want it to be a staple in every gymnast's house so they can laugh and love watching the gymnastics over and over again." 

Buckeye's Dynamic Duo Aim Towards Rio

When Nia Dennis strolled into Buckeye Gymnastics at the age of nine, Kittia Carpenter knew she was something special. In all her years of coaching she had never seen a little girl who was so quick, fearless, and full of spunk. Nia's natural talent was also recognized by the national team staff at an early age. Kittia recalls watching her do the vertical jump during TOPS testing at the age of ten. Nia was immediately moved into the developmental program and in the watchful eye of Marta Karolyi.

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

Fast forward five more years and Nia is one of the top ranked elite gymnasts in the United States and a favorite heading into the 2016 Olympics. A junior elite since 2011, Nia has improved in the ranks each year and made it known that she would be a force around the world come Rio. One thing that sets Nia apart is her difficulty and how she attacks her skills. She currently has the highest difficulty of everyone in the junior division which makes it possible for her to place high in the standings even with mistakes. For example at the P&G Championships this year, she managed to place second all-around and just .450 behind the leader despite counting three falls. She also became the junior National Champion on her best events- vault and floor, which was the perfect way to end her junior elite career! There is no doubt that Nia is ready to make the jump into the senior division next year, however she won't be doing it alone.

Photo Credit: Chris Russell

As soon as Nia stepped foot into the world of elite gymnastics, the comparisons to Olympic Champ Gabby Douglas began. Just a few years later, the two are now great friends and find themselves training partners as they prepare for the 2016 Olympics. When Kittia Carpenter received a call from Gabrielle Douglas this past July, asking if she could train at Buckeye, she felt excited but also a little anxious. "I wanted to make sure it was something Nia and her parents thought would be good for Nia too," Kittia explained. "So before I had Gabby come workout I asked Nia her thoughts." Nia was excited to have Gabby come train with her, as was the rest of the team at Buckeye. "I think at first it was hard for them to believe that it was really "Gabby", but then she fit in so well, it seemed like she was apart of our team immediately." Kittia said.

There is no denying that Nia and Gabby are strikingly similar when it comes to their gymnastics style, however Kittia still sees differences between their personalities. "They are very similar in many ways and yet fairly different in others. Nia is a determined and hard working athlete. As a person, she is kind, caring, and loves to smile and make others laugh," Kittia said. "Gabby is a focused athlete with a goal-oriented work ethic. She is very kind, respectful, and appreciative in her words and actions. She always says thank you."

Photo Credit: Charlie Litchfield

It has now been a little over two months since Gabby joined Nia at Buckeye. Kittia says it's fun coaching two of the nation's top gymnasts. "Coaching an athlete with high goals that is motivated daily by achieving the goals of the workout makes the long hours of work feel worth it." she added. Kittia knows that Rio is on both of her athlete's minds and while she says it's "quite a responsibility to lead these two to their goals," there is no doubt that Gabby and Nia are on the right track. Despite not getting to compete this year, Kittia is pleased with Gabby's progress. "Gabby is doing great," she mused. "I'll let her share the news on her skills, but I can tell you that we are getting close to our start value goals on each event." As for Nia, she is working on confidence and consistency. Next year we can expect to see a new release and dismount on bars, a "few new skills" on beam to increase her start value, and a few tumbling passes that she has worked in the past that she hopes to bring back. "Nia is trusting her skills more and more," Kittia exclaimed. "She is more determined then ever and she is ready to make the transition to the senior division." Kittia hopes that Douglas and Dennis will have a successful national team camp next month and show Marta their improvements.

Photo Credit: Chris Russell

With the 2016 Olympics just two years away, Nia and Gabby are pushing each other every day to make it to the final stage. While they always offer each other quick words of encouragement throughout practice, Kittia has also seen them challenge each other with new skills or moving a skill to a connection. "If one does it, the other is close behind with a similar "push," Kittia explained. Right now it's one step at a time for Nia and Gabby has they prepare for what the next two years has in store. 2015 will be an important year for them both; it will mark Gabby's competitive return since winning two Olympic golds and it will be Nia's first year competing in the senior division, but still the goal remains quite simple. "Our goal is to be selected for a international competition in the Spring, then we hope to have a successful P&G Championship so we can be considered for the Worlds selection camp." Kittia stated. However looking at the big picture, Rio is the long term goal. Nia hopes to follow in the footsteps of her new training partner and friend, while Gabby is looking to do it all over again. If all goes as planned, the dynamic duo from Buckeye Gymnastics just may find themselves boarding the plane to Rio in 2016.

Julianne McNamara- Three decades after gold

Julianne McNamara was one of the pioneers for USA Gymnastics. At a time when the Soviets and Romanians dominated the sport, Julianne and her 1984 Olympic teammates paved the way for USA Gymnastics and proved themselves a force to be reckoned with. They set the stage for everything that USA Gymnastics is today and helped inspire a nation of young girls who would go on to do even bigger things. At the age of 14, Julianne became the 1980 National Champion and earned herself a spot on the 1980 Olympic team that would eventually boycott the games. An unfortunate situation for a young girl who seemed to be at her peak- but she didn't give up. Fast forward four years and Julianne found herself training alongside Mary Lou Retton with redemption in mind. Together they made the 1984 Olympic team and lead the United States team to a historic second place finish. At those games she also scored five perfect 10's and brought home the first ever individual event gold on uneven bars and a silver medal on the floor exercise. Upon retirement, Julianne took up acting and appeared in TV shows such as Charles in Charge and Knight Rider. She attended UCLA and stayed connected to the sport by doing TV commentary. The 1984 US Olympic team was recently honored at the 2014 P&G Championships and we caught up with Julianne to reflect on the games and life today. 

Photo Credit: Unknown

Can you talk about how you got started in gymnastics. What made you decide to stick with it for so many years?
My big sister Elizabeth was doing gymnastics and I wanted to be just like her! I started at the age of eight and had a natural ability for it. I immediately fell in love! It was that love and passion for the sport that kept me doing gymnastics for so long.

At what age did you realize that you had potential to be a star?
I never thought about being a "star" but it was obvious that I had a natural ability at the age of eight. When I was eleven years old, my goal and dream was to became an Olympian. I never thought about the Olympics when I first started out. It was only for fun.

Growing up, who did you idolize in the sport? Gymnastics wasn't very popular in the US during the 70's and early 80's so did you admire any international gymnasts?
The only gymnast I ever idolized was Nadia Comaneci. She was ahead of her time and truly embodied what gymnastics meant to me. She had it all... artistry, grace, power, technique and perfect form. To me, she is the Michael Jordan of gymnastics.

You won the 1980 US National title and of course made the US Olympic team that went on to boycott the games. Can you talk about the ups and downs of that time period? Did you feel like quitting after that?
In 1980, I was only fourteen years old and was so thrilled to be an Olympian. It was disappointing that we couldn't go to Moscow, but it motivated me to keep going and make a second Olympic team and be able to compete. As I got older, I began to realize the huge disappointment that boycott had on so many athletes. To this day, it saddens me that the Olympics became a pawn in politics. The Olympics has always been an event that transcends politics and brings the world and people together in the spirit of excellence and competition.

Of course in 1984 you made a second Olympic team and brought home three medals including the first ever US team silver medal and the first individual event gold! What was it like standing on the medal podium? What kind of things did you think about?
Standing on the podium at the Olympics was surreal. I remember thinking about everything it took to get there. All the hard work and the people that helped me get atop that podium. I remember feeling so proud to represent our country and being so grateful for all my teammates.

Photo Credit: Unknown

Going into the uneven bar final did you think you had a chance at winning? 
When I competed, I never thought about results- only about the routine and doing the very best one I could do at that moment. If I did that, I could walk away proud no matter what the results were!

How would you sum up your entire experience at the Olympics?
The entire Olympic experience was a high and something so special and different than any other experience in my life. It was really uplifting. I am so thankful for that!

The 1984 Olympic team was recently honored at the 2014 P&G Championships. What was it like being reunited with your teammates?
The recent 30 year reunion was a blast! It was our "high school reunion". Many of the girls have stayed in touch, but there were some of the guys I had not seen in probably 25 years so it was great catching up with everyone and reminiscing. We all have a lifelong bond that is so unique!

Photo Credit: USA Gymnastics

What kind of legacy do you feel that the 1984 Olympic team left on USA Gymnastics?
I think the 1984 team left the legacy that we were a force to be reckoned with and the USA wasn't going away any time soon!

After the Olympics you did a little bit of acting and attended UCLA. What was your acting experience like and did you ever consider doing college gymnastics instead? 
I never considered college gymnastics because I was busy after the Olympics with many different opportunities. I also needed more time to myself after so many years of such intense training. I loved acting though, it made me feel present in the moment like gymnastics did.

Looking back on your career, what was one of the funniest memories you have? Something you will never forget...
The only thing that stands out in my mind was when there was a power outage at the '84 Olympics... that was surreal!


Lastly, what have you been up to these days?
I am first and foremost a mother of four children. They are the loves of my life and such a blessing! Professionally, I have been drawn to creative outlets. I have dabbled in the fashion industry, home remodeling, and design.