2001 Ghosts vs Goblins Intra Squad Competition

Pooh Bear's Assistants and 50 plus fans were packed into the gymnastics practice facility on Sunday, October 28, 2001, to witness the latest spooky competition between the Ghosts and Goblins. The fans were treated to some fine gymnastics despite the fact that Alabama is in the early stages of their training season. We will note several highlights on each gymnast but overall, the top all around performers were clearly Jeana Rice (sophomore) and Kristin Sterner (junior). They were followed closely by Alexa Martinez (senior), Shannon Hrozek (freshman), Raegan Tomasek (senior), and Natalie Barrington (senior). Note: Erin Holdefer, Whitney Morgan, and Alexis Brion were held out or limited to only one event (skills demonstration) due to ongoing injury recovery or rehabilitation.

The Ghosts started out on vault. The pike barani (pike with a laid out twist) vaults were thrown by Stephanie Kite and Kristin Sterner. They stood up both vaults and Kristin retains her nice explosion and form throughout. Stephanie is still working on her push off the horse for greater height, as well as her form in flight. Sara Scarborough threw a nice Phelps and a Tsukahara with a full twist into the pits. Raegan Tomasek was experiencing mild back pains and was held out of the vaulting.

The Goblins began on uneven bars. Jeana Rice threw her entire routine, including beautiful reverse giants to a Tkatchev and a full in dismount. Her form and toe point have improved over the summer and she is in terrific shape. Andree Pickens threw 90% of her routine, nailing her release moves of Hindorff, Gienger, and Shaposhnikova (ending with a soft dismount of single layout). Michelle Reeser threw a full pirouette to a Gienger release and Alexa Martinez electrified the crowd with her excellent form on two reverse giants, a Tkatchev, a full pirouette and a double layout dismount. Shannon Hrozek completed several pirouettes, some nice giants, a Gienger release and a soft dismount of single layout. Lauren Holdefer demonstrated her Voronin release with flair and Tiffany Byrd threw a Tkatchev, nice giants and a full pirouette, dismounting with a double layout.

The Ghosts moved to the uneven bars and Natalie Barrington demonstrated her elegant pirouetting, along with her signature pak Salto release and her new dismount of a double front. Sara Scarborough struggled with her Gienger release but showed good extension and toe point. Raegan Tomasek showed off her pike Jaeger release to a toe-on, toe-off to half turn combination, ending with a double front. Kristin Sterner threw both release moves (full twisting Tkatchev followed by a Tkatchev) and has added a reverse giant straddle prior to her double front dismount. She later demonstrated her latest skill, a stalder on the low bar. Whitney Morgan completed a pike Jaeger release and a pike dismount (laid out the first salto).

On vault, the Goblins showcased Shannon Hrozek, who threw a high and powerful front pike while Jeana Rice threw her Yurchenko half off/half on front full layout. Alexa Martinez is back in the vault line-up, throwing a pike barani in the tuck position with excellent height and distance. Helen Burgin threw a front pike, showing strong explosion off the horse but landing low several times.

The floor exercise was up next for the Ghosts. Natalie Barrington showed renewed confidence on this event for 2002, throwing consistently strong double pikes, a double tuck, and a front layout to front full to a front punch. Stephanie Kite was tumbling a front layout to front full to immediate barani (laid out), as well as a front handspring to a 1½ twist to a punch front. The "ah-h-hs" rose from the crowd for Kristin's debut of a double layout and the return of Raegan's double front Arabian (she threw two and stood both up with no struggle whatsoever!). The layout was piked down a bit on the second salto but Kristin is definitely throwing it with power and confidence already. Raegan's double front Arabian appears to be much improved, perhaps due to some technical adjustment or maybe because she is stronger this year due to her competitive running. Regardless, they both looked awesome showing off these more difficult skills so early in the training season.

Moving to the balance beam, the Goblins exhibited some nice difficulty as well, including Tiffany Byrd's leap combo of a switch leap-straddle-pike, a switch leap to gainer and a flight series of ff,ff, layout. Andree Pickens debuted her shoulder roll down low on the beam, as well as a switch leap to pike jump, and her signature flight series of ff, ff, layout. Shannon Hrozek has some unique skills, mounting with a straddle to handstand, a beat jump to ¾ straddle, ff to Korbut (fish flop), and a flight series of ff, layout, layout. Alexa Martinez retains her same routine (front roll to stag leap, back handspring to two-footed layout, straddle full and a wolf full, switch leap to two straddle jumps combo, a rudi dismount) but has added new dance elements and was very solid throughout her entire set. Helen Burgin demonstrated a lot of difficulty, including a punch front mount, a back handspring to layout, side switch leap, a straddle jump to Korbut, another punch front, and a cartwheel to full twist off the side for her dismount. Jeana Rice showed elegance of form on her flight series of ff, layout, layout; she also threw a wolf full, a gainer and a double twist for her dismount.

Seeking to scare the pants off their adversaries, the Goblins pranced to the floor exercise and showcased Jeana Rice with her pike full in, a whip to a 2½ twist to immediate punch front, and a double pike. Tiffany Byrd threw a double pike and a double tuck, as did Shannon Hrozek. Alexa was mastering two front layouts to a 1½ twist. She will be competing four passes this year, including a double twist.

On balance beam, the Ghosts were pleased as punch with the efforts of Kristin Sterner: a punch front mount, ff,ff, layout, straddle jump to immediate straddle full, side switch leap, wolf to standing back pike and a double pike dismount - all on October 28!!! Alexis Brion showed amazing confidence on the beam as she exhibited two switch leaps to ¾ straddle and a beat jump to split jump with heavenly amplitude and extension. Can't wait to see her 100% healthy. Natalie Barrington had a very complete routine of ff, ff, layout, switch leap to two straddle jumps, ¾ wolf jump, switch leap to Korbut, and a layout full off the side of the beam. Stephanie Kite mounted also with a punch front, ff to two-footed layout, a switch leap to ¾ pike, front walkover to beat jump, and a wolf full that she nailed perfectly. She dismounted with a rudi as well. Raegan Tomasek mounted with a punch front, ff, layout, ff, two switch leaps to straddle leap combo, front aerial, pike to ¼ dive to handstand, Valdez to switch leap and she is working on a back handspring to double twist dismount off the side of the beam.

All the ladies performed with enthusiasm and determination on this date and the Tide fans in attendance certainly got their "tricks" worth (Boo-Hoo!). Look for the next practice report (for November 3) later this week.