Previous Terps Tumble Talks

Hello Terp Fans!

Welcome to December! Whew! I cannot believe how fast the time as gone. It seems like just yesterday that the freshmen were coming into the gym here at Maryland for their very first practice as a Terp. Then, they were coming in shorts and t-shirts, and now, layers are starting to appear. Season will be here before we know it!

In order to kick start our season we had a 'closed-door' intra-squad last Friday.... just the girls and two local judges. Until now the girls have been doing nothing but numbers in the gym and this intra-squad gave them an opportunity to begin training the much needed confidence behind the routines. This intra-squad was their first opportunity to test all their preparation thus far. For some, it was an opportunity to show that they are capable, and for others, it pointed out exactly where their efforts should be focused from here on out. What a great way it was for the girls to transition from 'just doing' their routines to 'performing' them, with confidence and perfection every time.

Here is a quick run-down of what we saw:

Vault
Abbey - yurchenko ½ on, front tuck off
Kaitlin - yurchenko tuck 1/1
Alyssa - yurchenko layout
Brandi - yurchenko layout 1/1
Candice - yurchenko layout
Gretchen - yurchenko layout 1/1
Lindsey - yurchenko layout 1/1

Bars
Abbey - shaposh immediate overshoot HS, tchev, double front
Kaitlin - giant 1/1 tchev, overshoot HS immediate toe up
Alyssa - giant 1/1 geinger, overshoot HS immediate toe up
Lisa - geiner, giant 1/1 overshoot HS
Kelsey - kip HS ½ back giant cal hop, front giant ½ back giant higgins, straddle back HS
Mo - shaposh, higgins straddle back HS
Brandi - stalder immediate tchev, giant 1/1 over the bar to straddle back HS
Candice - uprise HS giant 1/1 tchev, giant ½ overshoot HS, giant 1/1 double tuck
Michele - cal hop front giant ½ pac, lay open pike
Allie - giant 1/1 tchev straddle back HS toe up, ½ in ½ out dismount
Gretchen - giant 1/1 geinger, overshoot HS, double layout

Beam
Abbey - switch ring, front aeriel, bhs layout, switch leap sheep jump, gainer 1/1
Kaitlin - switch leap split 1/1, bhs layout, 1-arm bhs straddle jump, round-off 2/1
Kelsey - switch leap straddle straddle, bhs layout, split jump tuck 1/1, aeriel 1/1
Candice - switch leap straddle, bhs layout 2-feet, straddle ¾, switch side, front 1/1
Michele - side somi, switch switch side, bhs layout, popa, round-off 2/1
Brandi - George I, bhs layout, split jump double stag ring, Georg II, round-off double tuck
Gretchen - bhs bhs layout, switch leap straddle jump, straddle jump tuck swing down, gainer 1/1
Lindsey - bhs layout, pike jump wolf ¾, switch leap straddle, switch side, cartwheel gainer 1/1

Floor
Abbey - double pike, cat 2/1 cat 1 ½, whip ½ front layout, switch ring tour jete ½, 2 ½
Kaitlin - double tuck, switch side popa, whip ½ front layout, tour jete ½ wolf 1/1, 2 ½
Brandi - split 1/1 wolf 1/1, double pike, switch ring tour jete ½, fhs fr 1/1 ft pike, double tuck
Michele - front thru to double tuck, fhs ft lay lay, wolf 1/1 wolf 1 ½, switch side popa, double pike
Gretchen - whip thru to double tuck, double turn wolf 1/1, whip ½ front layout, switch side popa, double pike
Lindsey - double pike, tour jete ½ split 1/1, whip ½ front layout, double turn popa wolf 1/1, double tuck

Overall I believe we have a strong foundation to build a truly successful season upon. Now is the time to work on the little details; stuck landings, small form errors, making sure to hit every handstand, performing dance with a sense that pulls the audience (and judges) in, and most importantly, executing each and every routine with the knowledge that 'we're it!'

We ended the intra-squad with the girls drawing names for their Secret Santa. Each year they draw names and over the course of a week bring in little gifts for each other. It's cultivated with our team holiday party where they will reveal who they each had by bringing a larger gift with their name on it (although I'm sure they all cheat and tell each other before the party... I'm still waiting for the year that the secrets are kept!). I think it'll be a great way to make this week extra fun as they prepare for their second intra-squad.... which will take place this upcoming Friday at 7PM.

This intra-squad will feature guest coaches and celebrity judges from within our Athletic Department and is free to everyone. We look forward to seeing you all there where you as fans will get your first opportunity to get a peak at what the season holds for this year's 2007/2008 team.

See you then... and GO TERPS!

Vicki Chliszczyk