Let's Get This Quad Started

The first camp of the Quad!! Woo!
Let's see who showed up...

From USA Gymnastics

Full Roster:
Shania Adams, Buckeye
Sloane Blakely, WOGA
Jordan Chiles, Naydenov
Christina Desidero, Parkettes
Olivia Dunne, ENA Paramus
Norah Flatley, Chow's
Colbi Flory, Texas Dreams
Margzetta Frazier, Parkettes
Morgan Hurd, First State
Sydney Johnson Scharpf, Brandy Johnson's
Madeleine Johnston, Hill's
Shilese Jones, Buckeye
Sunisa Lee, Midwest Gymnastics
Lauren Little, Everest
Emma Malabuyo, Texas Dreams
Victoria Nguyen, Chow's
Maile O'Keefe, Salcianu Elite
Abby Paulson, Twin City Twisters
Gabby Perea, Legacy Elite
Lexy Ramler, KidSport LLC
Emily Schild, Everest Gymnastics
Alyona Shchennikova, 5280 Gymnastics
Trinity Thomas, Prestige
Olivia Trautman, Twin City Twisters 

I'm so happy to see Norah Flatley back in action. I so badly wanted to see her in Rio but it was not to be. I'm hoping her and teammate Victoria Nguyen have success this quad because both are lovely gymnasts with great form. I'm also partial to Gabby Perea and Emma Malabuyo so good to see them there too. I guess this camp they're only doing conditioning and half routines so there won't be any exciting news about new skills and whatnot. I'm just ready to see what the girls above have in store. It's really weird/exciting to think that some of them will be on the next Olympic team.

Last Camp (The Road to Rio)

Here we go! Last camp before Classics, Nationals, Trials and RIO! Happily, Norah and Bailie are back! Maddie K is also there, Maggie is not but hey, gotta give the girl some time to recover.

I'm pretty pumped for all of the action coming our way. Classics are June 4th, Nationals are June 24th, Trials are July 8th and 10th! And I'll be at Trials! Now that the tickets are sold out, my dad informed me that I could probably sell mine for upwards of a thousand dollars. Ok, so that is tempting to college student in need of a car but guys, MEMORIES ARE PRICELESS! Right? That's what I'll be telling myself when all I have to show for my experience in San Jose is a lot of pictures and maybe a t-shirt.

My plan for this blog during the "Road to Rio" (always and forever spoken in a Al Troutwig's voice), is to cover Classics and Nationals plus any bits of news along the way. I'm undecided about whether or not I want to bring my laptop with me to California. You see, it's kind of an old laptop and I don't want to damage it during the trip or (God forbid) lose him along the way. I'm a writer and have nearly four written novels on here, if I lost those I'd probably have a mental breakdown. So I'm leaning toward leaving the laptop at home and doing small updates about my experience form my ipad and then a bigger one, with pictures when I get back.

Sound good?

The Final Countdown!!

Well, tonight is the nigh folks!! The World's team announcement is drawing ever near and I can't wait to finally find out who will go to Glasgow. The picture above is from yesterday's first night of camp competition. Everyone looks pretty happy, what could this mean?? 

As far as final predictions go, I suppose I'm going to stick to my initial one. Perhaps because I think it's most likely or perhaps because I don't like to go back on my word! Here it is: Biles, Douglas, Key, Nichols, Raisman, Kocian Alt. Skinner.. 

Now, in a perfect world I'd replace Douglas with Dowell but I just don't see that happening. 

We will know soon enough!

January Camp

Well it's the first camp of the year and I for one am excited!! Videos are expected and fun speculation will ensue :).

Picture from usagym's instagram

The lineup from left to right: Kyla Ross, Maggie Nichols, Ashton Locklear, Sabrina Vega, Madison Desch, Megan Skaggs, Polina Shchennikova, Aly Raisman, Bailie Key, Felicia Hano, McKenna Kelley, Ashley Foss, Margzetta Frazier, MyKayla Skinner, Alyssa Baumann, Nia Dennis, Jazmyn Foberg, Grace Quinn, Emily Gaskins, Laurie Hernandez, Deanne Soza, Emily Schild, Lauren Navarro, Christina Desidero, Olivia Trautman, Norah Flatley, Simone Biles, Alexis Vasquez, Sydney Johnson-Scharpf, Laney Madsen, Victoria Nguyen, Ragan Smith

So it's pretty much the expected crew. Madison Kocian, Rachel Gowey and Gabby Douglas aren't there. No word on why Rachel and Madison didn't come but Gabby is apparently sick. I'm going to repress my skepticism because it is the time of year when everyone seems to be getting hit by the flu. I really hope Gowey isn't injured again though because I was rooting for her this season. Nichols is back though, which is good and I'll be interested to see how she's coming along, I think she added some upgrades.

Nia Dennis, Bailie Key and Alexis Vasquez are all making their debuts as seniors. I'm pretty excited to see what they'll do this year. Key obviously has quite a reputation that precedes her but I also see Nia being a big asset to the team. I'm not counting Alexis out either!

I was also glad to see Deanne Soza back in action after her medical problems this fall, yay for her for getting back in the gym and working hard.

Maddie Desch being there surprised me for some reason, I sort of thought she might go away after worlds but here she is. I have to say, though all of her inconsistencies, I have this weird soft spot for her. I think I've mentioned this before but she was such a promising gymnast as a junior that I can't seem to write her off.

Vega is back at camp too and I'd really like to see some videos of her training. I think it's great that she's attempting this comeback because her 2011 gymnastics were really quite lovely.

Still injured and home are Lexie Priessman (recovering first from a broken ankle and now shoulder surgery), Nica Hults (recovering form hand surgery) and Mckayla Maroney (first recovering from knee surgery, now from an unknown medical problem).

I've got a couple posts planned for this week, stay tuned!