Tide fans turned out in force on Friday, October 29, 2004 to get a peek at the 2005 Alabama Gymnastics Team during the annual Ghosts vs Goblins intra-squad meet.  This festive competition serves as a barometer of the team's progress to date and confirms for the coaches where they need to focus their efforts for the remaining weeks of the Fall practice season.

PBAs can report many positives from this intra-squad competition as well as some areas that will require more work over the next two months.  Keep in mind that the team has only been practicing officially since Thursday, September 23^rd, and, as a whole, they are not as far along on certain events as they have been in the past at this point.  This appears to be partly due to the surgical recovery schedule of freshman Mindy Weber and freshman Kaitlin White's delayed return to optimal fitness following knee-scoping in the off-season.  Both of these gymnasts are nevertheless showing good effort in the gym and Mindy especially appears to be running a race with time to get her skills back on bars and beam by the Christmas Holidays.  And just about everyone is aware that freshman Terin Humphrey will not arrive on campus until December 26^th, which will only allow her about 3-4 weeks of voluntary practice at GAGE (her club gym) prior to arriving at the Capstone.  While her skills are truly world-class, Coach Patterson noted that Terin will likely require several weeks in the practice gym to recapture her timing on each event. So where she will fit into the line-up come January 2005 is anyone's guess at this time.

Another factor potentially impacting the team's progress as a unit involves the recent suspension (indefinite) of sophomore Brittany Comeaux, which the coaches had earlier disclosed to PBAs but was not formally reported in the media until this week (by Tommy Deas of the Tuscaloosa News).  Brittany was a solid performer on the uneven bars and vault in 2004 but never challenged for a position in the beam or floor line-ups despite strong skills on each.   She has now been challenged by the coaches to increase her commitment to this team and their post-season goals or her suspension will likely become permanent.  As Coach Patterson stated recently to the Tuscaloosa News "I am not sure what our final roster will be, but I am looking for people that want to contend for another national championship."  Here's hoping that Brittany decides soon that she wants the same thing and returns to the team with renewed dedication and a competitive fire in her belly. 

Other challenges that the team will face over the next two months are in terms of skill-building, polishing and execution, which we will discuss below.  Most of the routines will be going through additional changes as new skills are added and fresh dance elements replace old ones.  The coaches encouraged us to critique the routines frankly, so here we go.

The Goblins were victorious over the Ghosts on this date, led by junior, 3-time National Champion Ashley Miles and senior All-American Shannon Hrozek.  The uneven bars were showcased first, with a member of each squad alternating their performances. 

Shannon Hrozek: Her routine is almost complete.  She threw the Shaposhnikova release very confidently, followed by a reverse giant to a ½ turn to Gienger release combination.  Dismount of a half turn to double tuck that later was replaced with a full out (nice height and form).  Timing was a tad off on one of her giant uprises (had a slight bend in the elbows) but she muscled up and completed the routine with no major breaks.

Michelle Reeser: Her routine highlights consisted of a giant full turn to giant half to Tkatchev and a dismount of a reverse tuck off the high bar.  Michelle rotates very fast but needs to upgrade her dismount to have a more competitive routine that can help the team.  She has been working on a full in dismount and even a double layout would be nice to see with her smaller, more compact frame.

Ashley Miles: In a word, "Wow".  She is noticeably slimmer after losing weight in the off-season and is already in amazing competitive shape for 2005.  Her new bars routine was debuted today and included a Shaposhnikova and Hindorff as her new major release moves.  Both were executed beautifully and she dismounted with a double layout.

Dana Pierce: Two reverse giants to a half turn to Tkatchev release, double layout dismount.  Dana's dismount has excellent form and distance but needs work on the timing and landing.  She has been a steady back-up on the bars in the past two years and now needs the more difficult dismount to challenge for a regular spot in the line-up.  She will likely be called upon to compete for the team early given the graduation of Jeana Rice and the uncertainty of when the freshmen can provide competitive routines.  If she can master the double layout consistently, look out.

Mari-Christine Bayer: She is in excellent pre-season shape as well and it showed on the bars, beam and floor on this date.  Her uneven bars routine included a giant ½ turn to pike Jaeger release (nailed) and a perfect handstand transition to the low bar and a double layout dismount. Very nice giant uprises to handstand positions throughout. Mari's rotation is more confident now on the new dismount skill.  This routine is almost ready to compete.

Alexis Brion: Excellent giant uprises to handstand positions and a full turn to immediate Tkatchev release.  Dismount at this point in the pre-season remains the reverse tuck off the high bar, which was nicely executed on this date.  The coaches would also like to see Alexis upgrade her dismount to have a realistic chance to compete on this event because she has very nice lines and overall presentation on the bars.  A double tuck out of a full turn or a double layout are well within her skills repertoire.  

Dana Filetti: Toe-off release to the high bar was a little close, causing her to break her swing rhythm; a full turn to a Gienger release, very nice height and form; double front dismount had nice height but the landing was downright sloppy (bounded forward, bent at the waist, touched mat).  However, Filetti has come into the pre-season in wonderful shape and has a clear desire to compete on every event.   She is close to having this routine ready to compete as well.

Kaitlin White: She executed several skills on the bars that give her a realistic chance to make the line-up at some point in 2005.  She has a powerful and confident swing; she threw the Gienger and Pak Salto release moves and dismounted into the pits separately with a full turn to double pike.  She has thrown a full-in dismount in the past.  This is one we will be watching closely over the next two months.

The squads next moved to the vault and balance beam for alternating routines.

Michelle Reeser: Same routine from last year: flight series of bhs-layout-Korbut (slightly off the landing of the third element); switch leap-wolf combination; switch leap-straddle jump combination; round off ½ down onto the beam; bhs-full twist dismount off the side, nice landing. She's great as a lead-off for the Tide, missing only two routines in two years (first day at Nationals) but this routine just needs more pizzazz; perhaps by adding a punch front or a more difficult leap or dismount. 

Meredith Laxton: She threw her Hristakieva vault into the pits and then on the soft mat, where she touched down forward.  She appeared to frequently rubber-band her body to compensate for a weaker push off the vault table, so there is much work to be done here before she can start landing it on the hard mats.  Her enthusiasm and excellent physical conditioning put her in a strong position to contend for several line-up spots.

Dana Filetti: Nice strength mount of a press handstand to double stag pose to split pose before turning ¼ on the beam for her stand up.  Flight series of a handstand to immediate layout was nailed (beautiful form) and she is working to add a second layout.  Straddle-straddle-wolf leap series looked a little tentative; she then threw a bhs to Korbut but paused after the first element and had to bend to the side, one leg lifted up, to regain her balance before completing the second element.  She dismounted with a super tight double twist, no steps.  Nice dance elements throughout.  Much more confident on this event.

Mari-Christine Bayer: She threw her new vault into the foam pits, a Yurchenko ½ off front pike with nice form. She also threw Yurchenko layout timers.  The new one needs more reps but its great to see Mari doing vault again.  She threw the Yurchenko 1/1 during her freshman year and scored a 9.90 at Denver, so she potentially has two vaults for 2005.

Dana Pierce: The only problem with this routine was her flight series, a two-footed back handspring to back pike (one foot just landed on the edge of the beam and she fell on the second element).  Nice side switch leap and a switch leap to wolf and straddle-straddle-wolf combination.  Dismount of a round off to full twist off the side looked solid, excellent distance from the beam as usual.

Erin Rightley: Yurchenko 1/1, stood it up on the medium spring mats.  Excellent height and her twisting was on time for most of the vaults thrown.  This could be a great vault for the Tide in 2005, similar to Shannon's accomplishment last year with the same vault.

Kaitlin White: Excellent focus throughout her routine.  Flight series on this date was a bhs-bhs (still working on the layout) and a switch leap side (nice amplitude and extension on the straddle element).  Straddle-straddle-wolf combination leap series had just one balance check after the third element.  Her best leap combination was the switch leap to straddle Popa, which she nailed.  Dismount was a layout out of a round off and will be upgraded to a double twist and possibly a 2 ½ once she is in peak condition.

Shannon Hrozek: Yurchenko 1/1, stood up on the medium spring mats consistently.  Nice height, twisting and landing, one foot slightly checked for balance.

Mindy Weber: She demonstrated a bhs-bhs-bhs combination with Bryan Raschilla spotting her on the lower beam. Very nice extension and toe point, no stumbles. Skills are increasing each week.

Ashley Miles: No vaulting on this date as the coaches have seen her consistently stand up the Yurchenko 1/1 and 1 ½ in practice.  She has a small bone spur in one ankle and the coaches are resting her on the pounding events like vault and floor several times each week since they already know what she can do on both.

Alexis Brion: She bailed out of the layout (bhs-bhs-layout) on her flight series but the rest of her routine looked pretty good: switch leap to ¾ straddle; punch front; switch leap to wolf jump and a gainer back pike dismount.  A more challenging dismount would add spice to this routine as well.

The squads switched events at this point, with Ghosts on vault and Goblins on the balance beam.

Alexis Brion:The front pike ½ twist was vaulted into the foam pits and then on the soft mats.  She is about two weeks behind on her execution and timing of this vault.  We'll look for significant improvement by Thanksgiving.

Mari-Christine Bayer: She threw her complete routine on this date, which included some new dance elements. New leap of a tour j'ete; flight series of a front aerial-back flic flac-Korbut; her signature scale (right leg lift until standing full split next to the right ear, hold for 2 seconds) and a press forward, one leg caught from behind and lifted to another split scale; switch leap-straddle-wolf jump combination looked very strong; dismounted with a switch leap to gainer back pike, no steps. 

Dana Filetti: Yurchenko full twist on - back pike off: she stood it up solidly on the medium spring mat, one foot back for balance.

Erin Rightley: She has shown a lot of maturity on this event and now throws a wolf full (very nice extension and landing), a bhs-bhs-layout (stood up all three elements and then just needed to step back to stop her backward momentum but ran out of real estate).  She hopped back on with a huge smile and threw a very nice switch leap-switch leap to Korbut combination and a straddle-straddle-wolf leap series.  She dismounted with a round off - full twist off the side.  Her confidence on all events has greatly improved in just one year.

Dana Pierce: Yurchenko 1/1 had better height but a little more push off the vaulting table is needed to comfortably complete the twist without piking down. 

Shannon Hrozek:A new flight series of bhs-layout-layout was thrown, one balance check (left leg lifted briefly).  Switch leap-wolf jump combination and a hitch kick to sheep jump; dismount of a double twist.  Shannon has also been working the round off double tuck for her dismount and practiced timers on this date.  Lots of new dance elements make this a refreshing routine for her senior campaign. 

Kaitlin White: Yurchenko layout timers were thrown into the foam pits and she then moved to the soft mats.  Her blocking off the table was much better compared to last Sunday's practice.  The next two months should tell us whether Kaitlin will compete on this event early or later in the season.

Meredith Laxton:She opened her beam routine with a ¾ wolf (originally intended a wolf full), slight balance check on the landing; her flight series was very solid: bhs-bhs-layout. She also threw a switch leap to ¾ wolf and dismounted with a round off full twist that was supposed to be a 1 ½ (Coach Patterson teased her about that one).  She was throwing the 1 ½ pretty consistently during warm-ups.  Meredith needs more reps but has very nice lines and seems a natural on the beam.

Ashley Miles: Very strong, confident routine from beginning to end. Mounted with a round off layout-step-out onto the beam (nailed).  Wolf full (slightest of checks at the shoulder on landing), a switch leap to wolf full and a gainer bhs-layout flight series (very solid). She dismounted with a gainer full twist but is expected to combine with a bhs or round off combination.  Ashley is in such good shape that she may go for a double tuck dismount by mid-season.  We feel confident that she will be in the beam line-up for 2005. 

Rachael Delahoussaye:  As impressive as Ashley's routine was, we must admit feeling rather disappointed in Rachael's performance on the beam. She opened well with a wolf full before prepping for her flight series.  She is striving to upgrade from a bhs-layout to a bhs-bhs-layout and unfortunately was way off the landing of the third element on this date.  Subsequent skills were not executed with the focus and concentration we have come to expect from her (very weak side switch leap, almost no amplitude, resulting in a labored landing and a balance check).  However, her new dance elements were creative and elegant and will blend well with her gym-acro skills once her execution improves.

The team's tumbling on the floor exercise was definitely the highlight of this intra-squad.  Everyone seemed to be eager to showcase their passes and it was clear that the Tide will once again have exceptional depth on this event in 2005. 

Dana Filetti: She was bringing out all the ammunition on this date.  Triple twist, double pike, front handspring to two front layouts, and a huge double front Arabian.  Filetti is clearly demonstrating her desire to compete on the floor in 2005 by not only adding another "E" tumbling skill but by perfecting her execution of each. 

Erin Rightley:We told you about her double layouts at last weekend's practice and she had more to showcase on this date.  Bryan Raschilla initially spotted her lightly but was able to step away comfortably on her final tumbling runs.  After a deep bend on landing the first one, Erin easily stood up the rest with incredible amplitude and form.  She also threw her huge double pike effortlessly and the front through to a Rudi-layout-step-out (even Coach Patterson said "Wow!" at this point).  She also threw a front-front full-front layout with ease on the hard floor.

Dana Pierce:We bragged about her incredible double pike during last year's floor competitions and this year she has added a whip through to the double pike for maximum scoring.  Her amplitude is not yet as great with this added element but Dana seems determined to master it completely to improve her chances of making the floor rotation as a regular.  She also threw much tighter front layouts (3 in succession) and a very nice double twist (no punch front out of this yet).

Shannon Hrozek:Her tumbling highlight was also the double front Arabian and this fired up the fans in attendance as well.  She was very confident in executing this skill and her double tuck and double pike had better amplitude as a result.  Her front tumbling pass will be the front-front full-front tuck. 

Michelle Reeser:She was throwing all of her old skills, including the double pike, front handspring-front layout-whip ½-layout-step-out and a front handspring-front layout-front full-front tuck (lots of tumbling in this last sequence).  Apparently, it's gonna take a cat fight to keep Mouse off the floor for her senior season.

Rachael Delahoussaye: We were happy to see how much more confident Rachael's tumbling is this year, which included a front-front full-front tuck and a front through to a Rudi.  Her new floor routine will no doubt showcase some of the most elegant dance skills we've seen at the Capstone in a long time.

Kaitlin White:Nice tumbling sequence of a whip full - whip full - front tuck.  She has lots of tumbling power and we look forward to seeing what else she can throw over the next several weeks.

Mari-Christine Bayer: Very impressive tumbling of the double pike, front-front full-front tuck and three front layouts (timing and form on this last pass has improved dramatically compared to last year).  Overall, Mari seems stronger on all events compared to past Fall practice seasons.

Alexis Brion: Whip through to a back handspring to a very high double tuck; whip full-whip full-front tuck had better amplitude with each successive run and she also threw a front-front full-front tuck. 

Meredith Laxton: Round off double pike into the foam pits only on this date.  After ACL surgery in 2003, the coaches do not want to bring her along on this event too quickly.

And we still have Ashley Miles, Terin Humphrey, Mindy Weber and hopefully Brittany Comeaux to add to the mix.  We're pooped from all this reporting and will now bid everyone adieu.  See you right before Thanksgiving for the next full report on the Tide's progress in the gym.  Roll Tide!