I am senior Alexa Brennan with another update on the TWU Pioneers gymnastics team and the 2010 season.

After our poor performance in Kentucky we came into the gym with a fire in our eyes. We wanted to work even harder to make sure our next meet turned out better. The coaches upped the pressure in the gym by putting us on the spot more. We trained events by who was in line up at the time in order for the teams on that event to work together. I have never seen a team work so hard. On beam we were given the challenge to HIT 7 out of 8 flights. After 7 rounds we kept getting 6 out of 8 which is good, but we wanted to do it. After 15 rounds we hit 8 out of 8. Now that sounds like we were really off and having some trouble, but Lisa demanded hits not makes. We actually made 90 percent of our flight; we just raised the expectations. This type of training went on throughout the gym all week.

Come Friday we knew we were ready to rock at Centenary. We came in for a light conditioning and cardio practice before we left. By 2 pm we were on the road in our bus headed for Shreveport. By 4pm it sounded like a bomb exploded as one of the back left tires blew. All of us were a little freaked out. What a good way to start a trip, right? Well the bus driver handled it and we were back on the road. We got to Shreveport, ate and checked into our hotel. The next morning we all awoke and started to get ready and such. We had to sit around for a while and got to be relaxed for most of the day.

Warm ups went great. Everyone was together and fully prepared. We swung, tumbled, balanced and hurdled with confidence. Before we marched out we realized that the last time we competed in that gym we became the 2008 USAG Collegiate National Champions. In coming to that realization we got really excited.

We love competing at Centenary because it feels like home to us. It is right in our back yard and a lot of our fans can come. We had a great meet - 193.2, a great big improvement over last weekend and a good comeback for the Pioneers! Some of the highlights were sophomore Chaynade Knowles winning bars. Bars also did a great job hitting handstands and sticking dismounts. Freshman Kristin Edwards won vault. On floor we had so much fun! Everyone did awesome! Kristin Edwards won again with a big score of a 9.825. On beam junior Caroline Hilpisch took first. We were all very excited at the end of the meet. We travelled home late at night and made it thankfully without any bus troubles.

This was a great leap to a potentially great year for the Pioneers. We had a great meet, but we know we can be even better. Coach told us we did a great job, but there is still room for improvement. That is the team’s attitude when we train. We can always be better. After this weekend the confidence has been boosted as we saw the true potential we had. We came into the gym on Monday (last day of break before school starts) to finish up “Camp Kudlac.” We are excited for our first home meet!

Tune in next week to read more about our first home meet because we all hope you’ll be there to watch. Thanks for supporting the Pioneers in their quest for 10 in ‘10!

Alexa Brennan
Senior