Lia's First Gymnastics Meet

After participating in the recreation gymnastics program at the YMCA for two full school years, I cancelled Lia's membership and pulled her out last June in order to enroll her at the closest, legitimate gymnastics facility in our area.  Although Lia loved her time at the Y, I did not.  Their recreational gymnastics program is a J.O.K.E.  I quickly started calling it "romper room" due to the fact that the coaches (who change every month) do not teach any proper technique, form, or skills.  It's a great chance for little ones to exercise, socialize, and have some fun, but they really do not learn any real gymnastics.  And although several people thought I was being an over-the-top mom, I felt really strongly that if Lia was going to participate in a sport, she should actually be taught properly and progress throughout the months.  As a result, we walked into Roach Gymnastics last June and quickly fell in love with the facility, their coaches, and the preteam level where Lia was placed.  Over the past five months, Lia has really started to blossom.  She has gone from only being able to do a somersault, to doing cartwheels, handstands, pullovers, and backward rolls with confidence.  I am so proud of how hard she has worked at the gymnasium and at home and the progress that she has made.
Last night she competed in the Harvest Show--her first competition held at Roach with the other members of the noncompetitive gymnastics program.  Lia got to wear her new team leotard for the first time and looked darling!  She competed in all four events--vault, bars, beam, and floor and performed a memorized routines on all of them.  Although Lia was super nervous all day long about competing in this event, she was brave and did a great job!  In fact, her overall score was the highest out of all of the girls in her preteam level.  Afterwards, her coach told us that it is due to the fact that Lia is such a good listener that she has progressed quicker than the other girls who started out more advanced than she was this past June.  Lia had such a great time and loved getting her medal at the end of the evening that she ran up to me afterwards, gave me a big hug, and said with a giggle, "Are you ready to celebrate?!"  (We had promised her an ice cream cone from McDonalds after the competition to help motivate her to do this).  It was the cutest thing.  Good job, Lia!  We're so proud of you!

A nervous Lia waiting to begin their warm-up in the gymnasium before the competition began.

Lia and her fellow teammates stretching.

And some more stretching.

Luckily we found seats near some unused mats and bars which allowed our crazy, two-year old to run around wild during most of the competition which kept him entertained and Ron and I happy.

Lia and her teammates walking in to start the meet.

Lia waiting for her first event--the vault.

At this level, the girls jump off of the spring board and onto a huge mat instead of an actual vault.  Here is Lia "sticking" her landing...

and going into a handstand before finishing her "vault."  This was her highest score--she got a 9.2 on this event.

The preteam girls competed on the bars next.  Here is Lia waiting her turn to go.

Lia competing on the bars with the help of her coach, Cadence.

Next Lia performed on the beam.  She did such a good job remembering her routine and took it so seriously.

Lia working her way down the beam...

and finishing up with her dismount. :-)

Lastly, Lia and her teammates ended the night with their floor routine.  Lia has been practicing this every evening for many weeks in the open area at the top of our stairs while I gave Ella a bath.  It's been fun to watch her improve so much.  Here is Lia going up for a handstand at the beginning of her routine.

Look at those pointed toes and straight arms!  The ballerina in me just loves this attention to technique that Lia is being taught.

Lia finishing up her routine and walking back to...

salute the judges!  Good job, Lia!  You did it.

Lia and her other teammates posing on the award blocks at the end of the competition.

A close-up of Lia as the entire group gets ready for a picture.

Lia with the coaches and the rest of the group that competed in the Harvest Show.