Bama had an intense balance beam intra-squad work-out on this date, in between vault and uneven bars. On beam, Coach Patterson was putting the ladies through their 3-minute warm-ups to simulate actual competition conditions. Punch front mounts, flight series and critical leaps were being practiced over and over to mirror the intensity of a 3-minute touch. Some highlights include:

Helen Burgin: balance beam leaps were much better on this date, with excellent extension and toe-point. She landed her punch front mount but struggled on her flight series. Overall, her intensity and focus on the balance beam was much improved. Helen is still working a front pike vault and is trying to get her timing and form back.

Jeana Rice: vaulting was very solid on this date, as well as all moves on the balance beam. Her new uneven bars dismount (full out) is looking very strong as well. Jeana is striving for perfection on each event and seems to really be enjoying gymnastics this year.

Andree Pickens: she landed several full-in dismounts (uneven bars) on this date and achieved excellent distance on each. She was working extra hard to perfect her hand-stand positions after each release move, practicing to avoid giving away any tenth this season. Release moves were as solid as ever. On balance beam, Andree struggled initially with her flight series and then settled down after several repetitions. She also practiced her punch front mount and her timer for the double back dismount. We were also happy to see her working on her Yurchenko vault approaches (round off to straight leap upward, caught by David), with timers on the vault expected shortly. She remains the ultimate role model for athletic determination.

Erin Holdefer: very nice pike with a 1/2 twist vault on the soft mats, standing each up and getting very good height and distance. Her balance beam leaps and flight series are coming together well and she remains in excellent shape.

Lauren Holdefer: the pike with a 1/2 twist vault was being thrown consistently into the pits, with improved form and extension. She has the Voronin release on the uneven bars down solid and is now working on her combinations.

Natalie Barrington: uneven bars routine was highlighted by 1 1/2 pirouetting, inverted giants and her signature Pak salto release. On balance beam, Natalie is striving for consistency on her flight series and her switch leap to Korbut (fish flop). She was also working on her double pike on the tumbling runways for her floor routine, with nice height.

Whitney Morgan: the steady senior was doing vaulting timers and her uneven bars release moves and dismount (double layout).

Stephanie Kite: balance beam routine was much more polished and executed with confidence and determination on this date. Leaps were more aggressive, as was the flight series (back handspring to two-footed layout). She struggled a bit with her punch front mount but had a nice dismount of a rudi. Steph continues to struggle with her pike with a 1/2 twist vault (form and bent knees on the second salto are her main challenges) but overall is working this vault very hard.

Tiffany Byrd: she was working her Yurchenko timers on vault and had very nice form, extension and release moves on the uneven bars. Balance beam leaps and flight series have improved in terms of form and execution as well.

Kristin Sterner: pike with a 1/2 twist vault was landed consistently on the soft mats; uneven bars work focused on her dismount (double front) and her balance beam routine was solid except for a fall on her flight series (third salto). She threw her punch front and her double pike dismount comfortably.

Sara Scarborough: form on the uneven bars, and her release move (Gienger) have shown excellent improvement over the last few weeks. She was nervous on the balance beam and struggled mightily but did throw a nice punch front. She continues to practice the Phelps vault as well.

Raegan Tomasek: she fell on her punch front mount on the balance beam but was able to throw the rest of her routine without problems, including her front aerial, which looked really nifty. Uneven bars work focused on her toe-on, toe-off to half turn to release to the low bar, which is looking solid now.

Alexa Martinez: nice uneven bars work (reverse giants, Tkatchev, release back to the low bar) and yet she was uncharacteristically nervous on the balance beam during the 3 minute touch and during her routine. All big skills were handled with minor balance checks and her subsequent repetitions showed better focus and execution on moves that she had earlier checked.

Alexis Brion: she was noticeably happy to be working vault on this date, throwing a nice front pike into the pits and onto the soft mats with David Patterson's help. On balance beam, Alexis struggled with her punch front mount during the 3-minute touch but was able to execute it during her routine. Nice leaps were exhibited. She is building in her flight series and gym-acro combinations, which will include another punch front.

Shannon Hrozek: we noticed right away that her timing, form and extension on the balance beam and vault had improved considerably in just two weeks. Her 3/4 leap combination on the beam was beautiful in terms of toe-point and extension and this is a very difficult sequence in her routine. She performed the most solid beam routine next to Jeana on this date. On vault, the pike with a 1/2 twist was being thrown into the pits and she was landing her front pike on the soft mats with more confidence and distance.

Michelle Reeser: her balance beam routine is almost complete, most of which she exhibited today. She reminds PBAs a little of Gina Basile (UA national beam champion in 1991) in the way she performs on this event. Her moves are now smoother and more confident. Her uneven bars routine is also showing greater form and extension during giants and uprises to hand-stands. She was also working a Phelps vault timer on this date.

PBAs will not report again on practice until the Sunday, December 9th intra-squad meet (starts at 1:30 pm), which fans are invited to attend ( in the gymnastics practice facility). Let's show our support for the team before they head off to final exams and Christmas Holidays by showing up in large numbers. Remember, there will be no formal exhibition this year prior to the season starting and this is as close to a competition as fans will see before UGA rolls into town in mid-January 2002. This intra-squad meet promises to be very intense and competitive, as the coaches will be looking to see who is ready to "step it up" to make the 2002 competition line-up (a minimum of 8 gymnasts will be competing on each event). Roll Tide!