Freshman Focus

...the PBA's discussion of the 2006 freshman class continues

Routines Viewed/Reported on during 2001-2005:

Amanda Montgomery

Vault: During the 2005 Level 10 Region 8 Championships, the Jacksonville, Florida native threw a very confident front entry tuck with a ½ twist (tuck out) and scored a 9.450. The coaches will likely have her train a front pike with a ½ twist in college to have a chance to break into the line-up with a competitive 10.0 vault.

Uneven Bars:Main highlights included a toe-on straddle release to the high bar, a laid out Gienger release (very nice height) and a triple twisting flyaway. Amanda returned to competition in 2005 after sustaining an injury in 2004 and once she is in peak condition, this could prove to be a high-scoring routine for the Tide.

Balance Beam: Full turn with leg extended horizontal, front aerial to side aerial combination, switch split leap-switch split leap-tuck full leap combination, gainer one-arm back handspring to wolf full, split leap full, dismounted with a 1 ½ (Rudi).

Floor Exercise: Round off to 2 ½ twist, front handspring to a double full, front-front full-front tuck.

Ashley Ford

Vault: Front entry ½ twist (tuck on) with a ½ twist (tuck out). Nice run and explosion off the vaulting table, excellent landing but needs more distance to maximize her score. We expect the coaches to have her lay this vault out in order to challenge for a position in the line-up.

Uneven Bars:No major release moves observed but she had nice giant work (rotated quickly, confidently, legs together and toes pointed) and dismounted with a reverse tuck off the high bar.

Balance Beam: Flight series consisted of a back handspring to back tuck, switch split leap-straddle-straddle combination, switch side leap, gainer back tuck dismount. Ashley was pretty confident in her execution of all skills and showed good rhythm and pace in the routine.

Floor Exercise: No information available regarding skills on this event.

Bianca Puello

Vault: Front ½ on ½ off; she was working on upgrading to a Yurchenko entry vault at the time of this report.

Uneven Bars: Free hip blind, Stalder shoot, giant full turn, Gienger release move, ½ in ½ out dismount. Working on a double twisting dismount back in 2001.

Balance Beam: Switch side leap; flight series: back handspring to layout- layout; front handspring to a tuck full combination; dismounted with a 2 ½ twist. She was upgrading to a 1-armed back handspring, Strug, wolf ½ leap, and a chin flick.

Floor Exercise: Whip, whip to 2 ½ twist; double pike; front handspring - front handspring - double full twist. She was upgrading on this event in 2001 as well: full in, whip, whip to triple twist.

Melanie Banville

Vault: The 2004 Canadian Olympian has several vaults that she can bring to the Tide for 2006 but at the recent Canadian National Championships she threw a Yurchenko 1 ½ twist and a Yurchenko ½ on - front pike - ½ off (pike out), the same vault that Terin performed in 2005 for Bama. Banville has also thrown a Yurchenko 1/1 and a Hristakieva (Yurchenko ½ off front layout).

Uneven Bars:Lots of pirouetting in this routine on both the low and high bars. Highlights include a toe-on toe-off to full turn to another full turn to a Tkatchev release on the high bar, a giant ½ turn on the high bar followed by a transition to handstand position on the low bar, toe-on straddle release to the high bar and a double layout dismount. Melanie has performed two release moves (Gienger, Tkatchev) in a routine and a pak Salto transition as well.

Balance Beam: Her routine is jam-packed with difficulty. Flight series: back handspring to layout-stepout; she throws lots of leaps and jumps, including a wolf full, a split leap full, and switch split leap to switch side leap combination, and a pike full (very difficult). A punch front and a side Somi are additional elements and she dismounts with a 2½ twist. She is very focused and confident on the beam, especially with her jumps and the dismount.

Floor Exercise: Four passes competed at the international elite level this past year included: pike full in to open, triple twist, a 1 ½ twist to 2 ½ twist, and a double pike to close. Double turn to straddle Popa, cat leaps, split leap Popa are a few of her dance and leap elements. Choreography tends to be very sharp and dramatic. It will be interesting to see what music Dana Duckworth comes up with for Melanie; she plays very well to the crowd and should be an immediate hit with the fans.