October Camp & News 2012

It's camp time again, kids! 

Property of Heather Maynez

Kyla Ross tweeted earlier today that she'd be returning to the ranch this weekend as well. This certainly seems like a good sign for her 2013 prospects. It's my understanding that the other 4 Olympians will remain on tour.

Nia Dennis, who has a "very close" Amanar will be attending as well. The '99 born gymnast was injured this summer but is working on some pretty impressive skills. 

Although I do not have confirmation on if Rebecca Bross will be attending camp, The Couch Gymnast reported that she may be competing at the Mexican Gymnastics Gala in November. My 
guess is, if she will be competing then, she'll attend this camp as well.

Here's a list of who is going. This is not yet complete and will be updated as I receive more information: 

Kennedy Baker
Simone Biles
Bridget Dean
Nia Dennis
Peyton Ernst
Ariana Guerra
Nica Hults
Bailie Key

Maggie Nichols
Katelyn Ohashi
Elizabeth Price
Lexie Priessman
Kyla Ross
Ragan Smith

The October camp may serve as an opportunity to add gymnasts onto the National Team, although additional members may not be added until January. I will keep you updated with any information that I can find.  

The 10 prettiest moments of 2012 Jr. US Classics

10. Amelia Hundley on floor. It's a full twisting split leap and it's sky high. I love it! 

9. Ashley Foss on floor. It's not the highest ring leap, but I think it's pretty beautiful

8. Nica Hults effortlessly pulls a sheep jump out of nowhere after a switch leap-back tuck combo.

7. New comer Lauren Hernandez with an almost Dougie-like Tkachev. She missed the catch, but was beautiful in the air. 

6. Katelyn Ohashi's ring leap on beam. If it weren't for her toes, she'd be even higher up on the list.

5. Polina Shchennikova's sheep jump. It's prettier in motion than it is as a still. 

 4. Bailie Key's Layed out Gienger that easily rivals Nastia's. LOVE. I hope she can keep it once she grows.

   

3. Shannon McNatt's stag ring jump on beam. I don't feel like we see this jump a lot. More people should do it. 

2. Megan Skagg's ring leap on floor. It's only #2 because it's on floor and not beam. 

1. Bailie Key's ring leap on beam. If this isn't gorgeous, I don't know what is. 

American Classic Preview - The Seniors (and some bonus girls)

With only 5 competing gymnasts, the Senior Division is quite a bit smaller than its Junior counterpart. 

Casey Jo Magee (Western Michigan? Independent?) is by far the most experienced gymnast in the division. She's the only gymnast in the division old enough to have a driver's license, let alone a college degree! After a strong career at the University of Arkansas, Magee made the decision to try to qualify as an elite. Not only did Magee qualify, but she's been impressing fans with her phenomenal beam set.

Kennedy Baker (Texas Dreams), a current Senior National Team Member, is also set to compete. She is, in my opinion, the most under appreciated gymnast in the country, and is excellent on bars. Her flair on floor consistently makes me smile.

Property of Jessica Frankl

Fresh off of winning the WOGA Classic, Mackenzie Brannan (Capital), seems to have adjusted well to growing a few inches in the off season. Although Mack's never been one to compete "cutesy" routines, this year, she seems more mature than ever. Watch for her gorgeous lines and beautifully stuck tumbling passes.

Abby Milliet (pictured right) of Denton has always been one of those gymnasts whose name I've known, but I've never really paid much attention to. After watching a few of her routines, I wish I had. Abby won last year's American Classic as a junior and her strongest events are floor and vault.

Ericha Fassbender (Stars) was on the 2010-2011 Jr. National Team and was the 2010 Top Gym UB Champion. Ericha has big skills that she sometimes struggles with, but when she hits, she's fabulous. I'm personally a fan of her beam routine.

The USAG release says that Claire Hammen also will compete, but she competed today and didn't score high enough to qualify. I'm not sure what's up with that.

I also wanted to mention that 7 juniors not mentioned yesterday qualified based on today's scores.

Property of USAG

1. Nica Hults (Texas Dreams) - If you've been under a rock, watch her beam set tomorrow!
2. Maggie Nichols (Twisters) - Won Vault today, following teammate Jessie DeZiel?
3. Lauren Hernandez (Monmouth) - On the National Team Training Squad, Strong BB & FX
4. Jessica Wang (Winners) - Qualified to Classics last year, strongest event is UB
5. Alexis Beucler (CGA) - "Poof", the newest one of MLT's prodigies, decent AA
6. Taylor Lawson (Parkettes) - Nice Lines, doesn't seem to be "chucking" like many Parkettes
7. Ashton Kim (Texas Dreams) - This poor girl has been injured too long. She's fab though.

My 11 Favorite Routines of 2011

11. Ana Sofia Gomez on Beam at the Pan American Champs Event Finals

10. Nica Hults on Beam at the US Classics 

9. Aliya Mustafina on Bars at The American Cup

8. Diana Bulimar on Floor at World Championship Qualifications

7. Kyla Ross on Beam on Day 1 of Visa Championships

6. Aly Raisman on Floor at World Championships Event Finals

5. Viktoria Komova on Bars at World Championships Qualifications 

4. Katelyn Ohashi on Beam on Day 1 of Visa Championships

3. McKayla Maroney on Vault at World Championship Team Finals

2. Jordyn Wieber on Beam on Day 2 of Visa Championships

1. Sui Lu on Beam at World Championship Team Finals

Merry Christmas!

MERRY 

CHRISTMAS!!! 

Fresh Face Friday - Nica Hults

(Property of the Hults Family)

Quick Facts: 
Name- Veronica "Nica" Hults 
D.O.B. - June 16, 1998 (Senior in 2014) 
Gym - Texas Dreams Gymnastics 
Former Gym- AOGC 
High School Class of - 2016


Nica Hults started grabbing the attention of gymnastics fans way back in 2007, when mom Emer began posting videos of her compulsory routines. In a TOPS Testing Video, we witnessed Nica receive perfect scores on 6/7 events that perfection is attainable and nearly reach the national best on the 20 meter sprint. Thus, I highly doubt anyone was surprised when she made the Tops A Team. After Nica won the Level 9 Regionals and the Westerns Floor title in 2010, a job opportunity moved the family to Allen, TX where she joined the Texas Dreams "Dream Team". 


In 2011, Nica's elite career began to take off. After winning beam at the WOGA & Orlando qualifiers, Nica prepared for the US Classics and hoped to make it to the Visa Championships. Nica went out and surprised the world by winning beam with a score of 15.05, only a tenth and a half behind reigning World Champion Jordyn Wieber at that same competition! 

(Property of Jessica Frankl)

Unfortunately, a minor injury prohibited Hults from competing All Around at Championships. While she didn't have a "big break" at championships this year, she did finish 5th on beam with a significantly watered down routine. 

This girl is one to watch. Not only does she have fantastic style and grace, but she's also an incredibly sweet and well spoken individual. Marta's taken notice too, as Nica was at last week's Developmental Training Camp. Keep your eyes open for Nica next season and for many seasons to come. 

Here's a fun little Q&A with Nica: 

What is your favorite competition you've competed in? 
"2011 US Covergirl Classic. It was my first podium meet and I won 1st place on beam!"

What do you think your biggest weakness as a gymnast is? 
"My biggest weakness is vault, it always has been. But I'm working on it so that all my events will be strong. "

What are your ultimate goals in gymnastics? 

"To take it as far as I can, hopefully that means making it to the Olympics."

Do you think you'll compete in college?

"Education is very important to our family. Yes, I hope to compete in college." 

(Property of USA Gymnastics)

Who is a gymnast who you really look up to? 

"Nastia Liukin. But I [also] have to say Kim Zmeskal-Burdette, she's the one making a big difference in my gymnastics career by coaching me and helping me to be mentally strong. She's awesome!"

Can you tell us about a funny/ embarrassing moment you’ve had? 

"During my very first competition ever, as a level 5, I jumped off the beam in the middle of my routine when the timer yelled out warning because I thought I wasn't allowed to finish my beam. My coach told me to go back up on the beam and I went through the rest of my routine crying. After that disaster, I competed floor and won first place!"

The National Team Warmup

Some comments on the McKayla Maroney Post, as well as on my Twitter prompted me to write this post about the National Team Warmup.


Many elite coaches swear on this. AOGC uses it (as McKayla told us), Texas Dreams does it on their Two-a-days, and John Geddert has said he uses it often as well. I'd suspect that more elite coaches use it than don't.

Gymnastike has a great video from Region 3 Camp about the Warmup:



Watch more video of Workout Wednesday, Season 2 on gymnastike.org



After years of not being able to find a complete video of the National Team Warmup for years Beechurst10 came to the rescue! Here is a video of a modified warmup from 2007 TOPs A Camp. Below the video is a list of the exercises. It does not perfectly follow along with the video so don't expect it to. I'm not sure is this is modified for TOPs, if the warmup has changed since 2007 or both. Many of the exercises are in the video though.


Nica Hults and Nicki Shapiro (Sami's little sister who's going to be the best college gymnast EVER) are in this video (both in White), Polina Shchennikova is in Pink, and Bridget Dean is in Gold. Let me know if you find any other recognizable faces.

The owner of the video won't allow anyone to embed her video, but you can see a video of the warmup here.

The National Team Warmup based on USA Gymnastics' Website. 




Preparation 
Jump Rope (optional)
Variation of jumping 5 minutes
Walking Around Mat 
Head and wrist rolls 8-16 counts
Shoulder circles w/bent arms 8-16 counts
Arm swings Up, Down, Cross, Side 4 times each
Trunk twists arms in opposition 8-16 counts
Toe/Foot Stretches
Ball of foot lifts R begins then switch, quick 8 times
Top of toe lifts R begins then switch, quick 8 times
Repeat
2 steps rebound, R begins 4 times
Cardio
Running
Forward runs 3-5 passes
Backward runs 1 pass
Knee Lifts 1 pass
Butt kicks 1 pass
Prance, toes point, legs straight in front 1 pass
Power skips using big arm swing 1-3 passes 
WalksHigh toe 8-16 counts
Heel 8-16 counts

Stretching 
Arm Swings
R back, L back 4 each
R forward, L forward 4 each
Alternating R back first 4 each
Alternating L back first 4 each
Diagonal swings R then L 4 each
Trunk (stand in straddle)
Trunk twist, R begins 4 each
Pilé twist R Straight twist L lifting L leg 2 times
Repeat beginning with L
Hip push RLRL
Hip circle begin to R 1 time
Repeat to L
R lean, R hand on hip, L arm overhead stretching 2 times
L lean, L hand on hip, R arm overhead stretching 2 times
Forward lean, hands on hips 2 times
Backward lean, hands on hips 2 times
Arms through legs then thrust up overhead 2 times
Alternating arm lifts, body bent over, hand on floor RLRL
Repeat
Floor Stretching 
Join legs in pike stand
Pike, squat, pike, squat, 4 quick toe rises twice
Tuck roll to brief pike lay, roll down to pike sit
Sitting
Pike sit stretch with toes pointed 8 counts
Pike sit stretch with toes flexed 8 counts
Straddle legs, R reach 2 counts
Middle reach 2 counts
L reach 2 counts
Open and hold 2 counts
Repeat beginning with L
Lying
Reach back R to side, swing L leg up and around and allow body to follow to L.
As roll finishes, allow R leg to continue swinging back bent, as R arm swings forward then switches as R leg swings forward and R arm swings back.
Begin counting with R leg back then F,B,F,B,F,B,F and move leg up and over head as exercise began.
Repeat on L
Finishing on L side, Side stretches 8 counts
Roll to tummy, Seal stretches 8 counts
Roll to R side, Side stretches 8 counts
Roll to tummy, Quad stretches, R then L 8 counts
Feet 
Push back, sit on knees and lift body over top of toes 8 counts
Hop over toes, straighten legs, walk hands out
Achilles stretch R begins alternating 8 counts
R leg straight, L ankle at R ankle, stretch 8 counts
R leg bent, L ankle at R ankle, stretch 8 counts
Repeat above on L side
Ankle pops, pike stand, flat, then pop to top of toe 8 counts
Toe rises in pike stand 8 counts

Splits 
Turn to R, R leg in front, stride stand, chest to knees 8 counts
Deep lunge, toes pointing forward, back leg straight 8 counts
Wider stride stand, R foot flexed 8 counts
Deep lunge, toes pointing forward, back leg straight 8 counts
L knee on floor, pull L foot to hip (Hamstring stretch) 8 counts
Slide into R split, square off 8 counts
Lift L leg, hold it with R hand 8 counts
Release, L leg joins R in pike sit, turn over to knees
Repeat lifting L leg to stride position
From knee sit, step on L foot in lunge
Move to R side lunge, L,R,L slide into side split 8 counts
Wrist warm-up, top of hands, palms of hands - while in split
Pull legs together and bridge, push thru shoulders 2-4 counts
Tuck and roll 2 times
Repeat

Conditioning 
On last roll, roll all the way up to:
Straight jump, Tuck jumps (alternating) 5 each
Roll back to back, crunches 25
Alternating V-ups 10 each
Roll to R side for Arch ups 10
Repeat to L 10
Roll to tummy, Push-ups 15
Slide legs in to pike press, rebounds 5 each
Kicks 
In lines, step R, kick L front, step L, kick R side, step R, kick L back, turn
Repeat down the mat alternating legs
Bend over kicks, touch floor with hands, kick R back straight then bend
Repeat to L
Report to personal coaches for additional warm-up and conditioning as time allows.