Hey there Pioneer Fans! Welcome back for another exciting week for the Pioneer Gymnastics team!

As finals and the holidays are approaching everyone is working hard to produce results not only in the gym but also in the classroom. We have a limited amount of time before the semester is over, so it is critical for us to continue to focus our efforts on what is important to us.

As a team we have continued to rise above the challenges in our path. We have been hard at work on our annual “Thanksgiving Challenge.” Each gymnast is given a set of goals for each event to reach before Thanksgiving. By reaching these goals we are one step closer to our preparation for season. As the goals are posted on yellow paper, each day we challenge ourselves to remove as much “yellow” as possible. Thanks to hard work and dedication most of our goals have been removed! As Jen Kingsbury mentioned last week, if all of our goals are met we do not have to practice the night before Thanksgiving break! What an incentive!

This Sunday we took part in a second practice Intrasquad in DGL; we stepped up the atmosphere by having a few guests and wearing competition leotards. The top eight on each event competed and produced some great results. We have a significant amount of depth on this team and I feel that the competition for spots in line-up is going to drive each of us to step it up a notch. At this point in preseason our routines are looking stronger, sharper, and more confident. Our goal is to be ready for season earlier than in past years, and by Sunday’s efforts and our hard work, I feel we can achieve this goal. We still have a few things to work on, but with the desire of this team I have no doubt that we will succeed when the time comes.

Special congrats to a fellow senior, Tonya Pipkorn! She was named our Pioneer of the Week. She has been working hard and has shown substantial amounts of consistency, leadership and heart both inside and outside of the gym. Yeah Wanton the Beam Bomb!

This upcoming week is a short one. Many of us will be making a trip home to see families and friends for the holidays. In keeping with the holiday spirit and continuing our community service efforts this year, we have “adopted” four families to help with Christmas gifts. We are especially excited to do this as the children we have adopted to help are part of our very our own TWU campus community!

When we return it will be time for the TWU Pioneers to put on our game face and prepare for season.

The week we get back from Thanksgiving will be filled with lots of great things for this team. On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will be receiving our 2008 USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship rings at the halftime of the TWU home basketball game!

In addition, I hope to see everyone on December 5th at 7:00 pm in Pioneer Hall for our annual Intrasquad! We are going to have a holiday theme with lots of surprises including an appearance by Santa Claus. We have a great team this year and I know we would love to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Though our eyes, you can see our hearts!

Amie Boles
Senior