However, this year, we were not so lucky. When the email came out, we learned that Ella was being asked to repeat Level 4 again. This was very disappointing for Ella since her closest friends had all been told that they were ready to move up to Level 5. In addition, we were being asked to pay a ton of money for Ella to repeat a level that she had already mastered and also being asked to lock away the Level 5 skills (like the back tuck that she had worked so hard to learn in the last two months) for the next 10 months until the State meet was over. None of this sat well with Ella, Ron, and me. So, after two weeks of talking, thinking, and praying about it, Ella attended an Xcel practice three days ago to see if she was ready to transfer to the Platinum program that works on Level 4, 5, and 6 skills. After the trial practice, we learned from the coach that Ella was ready to transfer to this level is we chose.
On the way home from this trial practice, Ella enthusiastically told me that this was the most fun that she has had at a practice in a year and the most fun that she has had on beam in over a year due to finally being free of her head coach (who is also her beam coach) who has been so negative, rude, and unsupportive of Ella for the past three years. This coach has been slowly crushing Ella's gymnastics spirit over the past three years, and it was so liberating to be free of her. So, as hard as it was going to be to say goodbye to Ella's gym and team of the last three years, we made the difficult decision that she would attend two more practices this week before saying goodbye for good.
After I texted the head coach and the mothers of Ella's closest gymnast friends, Ella wrote cards for every single one of them and included a picture of her doing gymnastics on the beach in Bahamas that I had printed out for her. It was definitely a bitter sweet goodbye. Ella has absolutely loved going to gymnastics at the Auburn gym and has made so many wonderful memories. This gym became her home away from home and several of her gymnast friends became like sisters. In addition, I also became really close with several of the gymnasts' mom. We were both not planning on leaving this gym and team this early, and so it was really hard to say goodbye to everyone tonight. But we both know that this decision was for the best and hope and pray that this change to the Sumner gym and the Xcel program will bring about many wonderful opportunities for growth and development for Ella this coming year!
May 30th:
Ella's final practice with her beloved Level 4 team. They all decided to wear their competition leos to match for this final practice together. Of this group, six were allowed to move up to Level 5 and six were told that they needed to repeat Level 4; however, a few chose to transfer to the middle of the day practice and the oldest decided to move to Xcel, like Ella. As sad as it was to see this tight knit group of girls split up, it made it easier for Ella to leave knowing that they would not be together again.
A picture of Ella and her dear friend, Ava, walking out of the gym after their last practice together in Level 4.
June 5th:
I managed to take a picture of a few of Ella's friends after her final practice tonight. She was in good spirits as we left the gym, while I was the one fighting back tears.
From left to right:
Avery, Shy, Ava M, Ava H, and Ella
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