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Post 24
PIONEER
POST from
Coach Kudlac |
Pioneer
Post 24 -- Week of April 11, 2005
Dear Fans & Friends
of TWU Gymnastics:
We are on our way to Ithaca, New York (Cornell University)
to compete at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate National Championship!
I want to give you some information about the trip so you can
be informed and perhaps help cheer us on to regaining the championship
title!
We have secured the number 2 ranking going in to the national
meet, fulfilling one of our pre-season goals. Most of the season,
we were ranked fifth or sixth and by the end of this season,
we moved in and out of the number one or two positions. We
struggled the first half of the season and then slowly but
surely, put it together to finish No. 2! Very impressive I
would say. Yes, we are once again in the hunt to win title
No. 8! Now we must go forth and compete to the best of our
abilities.
Teams that qualified in order of their National Qualifying
score (you can see just how close all the teams are!):
1. Centenary College 193.290
2. Texas Woman’s University 192.810
3. Rutgers University 192.230
4. Seattle Pacific 191.990
5. California - Davis 191.315
6. Alaska 191.000
7. Air Force 189.975
8. Cornell (Host) 189.160
I want
to remind you how the championship will run. The first day
of competition is Thursday, April 14th at 4:00 p.m. All
teams that qualified will compete together in one session in
a "capital cup" format. That means four teams plus
some individual all-arounders and event specialists attached
to the teams will be competing, and the other four teams and
some individual all-arounders and event specialists will be
warming up in a separate gym. They will then alternate each
rotation until the meet concludes. The all-around champion
and the top eight on each event (for individual event finals)
is also determined this day.
The top four teams from this competition will advance to the
second day of competition, to determine the national team champion
on Friday, April 15th, at 7:00pm.
The third
day of competition is reserved for the top eight gymnasts
from each event from Thursday’s competition
to determine the individual event national champions and All-Americans.
Saturday’s meet starts at 2 p.m.
Our goal will be to advance to the second day of team competition
so that we can be in position to bring the title back to Texas!
We certainly have our work cut out for us. In my opinion, we
have more experience (seven seniors!), confidence, talent,
depth, heart, desire and unity than any other team. We just
need a total belief in the goal. After we finish preparing
for New York, if any team can continue making history, this
is the team that can do it!
We know that most of you will not be able to join us in New
York to help strengthen the troops and cheer us on to victory.
We have been spoiled the last two years by being the host of
this event and having all our fans in the stands. There is
a way to show your support event though you may not be in New
York with us.
In the
past, when we have traveled to the national meet we received
fax after fax from our fans each day wishing us luck
and showing support! It means a lot to the gymnasts to see
this support!!!!! I hope you will all plan to continue to do
something special for our gymnasts as they represent TWU. Sending
the team your good luck wishes by phone or fax would be fantastic!
We’re staying at the Hampton Inn in Ithaca, New York,
phone 607-277-5500 and fax 607-277-5700.
These last few days of training have been spent fine tuning
all our routines and most of our coaching effort has been geared
towards the mental side of our training. I really believe that
offering your best wishes and support can only help in giving
us the added confidence we will need as we compete. Because
you may not be able to be there in person, we know you will
be there in spirit!!!!!!!
We have
stepped up efforts to get more publicity for our team. Our
sports information director, Melanie Robotham, has done
a tremendous job in increasing our publicity throughout the
area! Let her know (MRobotham@mail.twu.edu) if we can do anything
for your local papers. Perhaps a call to your local sportswriter,
TV or radio station will help get some attention in the news
in your area! If it’s possible, Melanie will stream live
stats during the meets on our web site at www.twuathletics.com.
Nothing is confirmed yet, so check the web at meet time.
I look forward to writing you again after our return to fill
you in on all the exciting things that happened in New York.
The team flight arrives at DFW Airport Sunday at 7:20 p.m.,
Northwest #699 from Detroit. We should arrive on the TWU campus
in the tennis courts parking lot by 9 p.m.
Thanks for your support this season. History awaits...again!
Go Pioneers!
Respectfully,
Frank M. Kudlac
Head Coach, TWU Gymnastics
1993,94,95,96,98,2000, & 2003 USA Collegiate National Champions
B e the best you can at all times.
E very success requires sacrifice.
L ive your life with enthusiasm and hope.
I ncrease your expectations of yourself with every success.
E ven your dreams must contain thoughts of your goal.
V aliant efforts toward perfection will not go unrewarded.
E ffort is important, but with every breath you take, you must
believe!
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