Spring Fling 2013...

Well.... this first week after Spring Break was quite the roller coaster ride.  Ally returned from Florida a bit injured as I mentioned before. We aren't exactly sure how it happened.... it could have been anything. A round-off in the sand... a quick turn on that left leg... something laying dormant from practice just before she left... or how she sat the entire 20 hour ride home in the car.  Whatever it was... we dealt with an injury all week and that made for some pretty big letdowns.

Ally went to the gym Tuesday and was only able to do things that didn't require the use of her knee. So... basically, she conditioned and did bars for a few hours.  Thursday, she had the Jordyn Weiber dinner so missed practice (which was for the best, timing wise).  Friday, she was approved to attend practice Saturday and just go at it... see what she could do and what her knee could handle. So... that's what she did.

Floor up first - first round-off. Instant tears.  Ok. Not ready to tumble on the floor.

Running doesn't go well either... no vault.

Let's see how beam goes.....

While she couldn't land anything on the beam... she could do it.  It wasn't really pretty.  Her bars were okay, but she hadn't even attempted her squat on (squat on the low bar and push off and jump to the high bar).... but it was decided she could go to the meet and compete the two events.

She was over the moon excited.  She told us, no matter what... just like Jordyn did in the Olympics when she didn't make the finals, Ally was going to be her team's biggest cheerleader out there.

But... she also got out there on her first event.... and rocked it! Rocked it!  (Even with only practicing her squat on in warm ups!)  She scored a 9.075 on bars. Her very first score above a 9 - ever.  All that time focused on bars had paid off. It was amazing to watch... just her reaction  at the end of the routine and then, even more so, her reaction upon seeing her score.  Big smiles.  Awesome stuff.

Beam went well in warm up... but Ally couldn't hang on for the real deal. She fell off twice... once on her cartwheel and once on her full turn.  Her knee is not allowing her to have the full balance she requires.  But... a bad beam routine could not overshadow the amazing bar performance she had!  All smiles, all day for my baby girl!!!!

Could not be more proud of her attitude, hard work and acceptance for what she could and could not control.  She got out there and did her very best with what God gave her that week....and what she could not do... she cheered for..... and she was her team's biggest cheerleader!

The team had a GREAT meet.  Our good friend, Lanie took first All Around for her age group and Mary Grace took second. Many, many girls medaled.  Way to go SASGC!!!

(more pics to come off the read camera! for now, enjoy the few I snapped on my phone... and those Ally took of herself and her friends while at awards... love the selfie!!!)