University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Alicia Talucci Blogs For PittsburghPanthers.com
11/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
Nov. 15, 2010
It's been a busy preseason with so much improvement, and that's just in the last couple weeks! In our first bar intersquad, we made five out of six full sets. Not too shabby! Our bar line up this year is becoming a real competition between our team. All of our bar routines are different and have a variety of unique skills with fantastic technique as well.
In addition to our current line-up, we have our junior, Amy Varela, doing her first full set after a year and a half recovery from wrist surgery. She definitely has the potential to be our anchor with flawless lines and original elements. Also, our freshman, Maya Ketner, began half sets after a back injury and is ready to be in line-up contention.
In our floor intersquad, our line-up hit all their routines with ease. With only a couple of minor and easily fixable mistakes, I think this event definitely is a confidence booster for our team. Several of our line-up members have upgraded passes including junior, Kelsey Ainsworth and her new Rudi and senior, Shannon Vafiadou's full-in, just to name a few. As usual our beam and vault line-ups have major depth. It would definitely be a fight to see who will be in the line-up come time for the season. We actually have the opportunity to pick and chose who will go into the line-ups on each event. This is a huge improvement from years past.
On this year's recruiting weekend we had seven recruits! Probably the biggest group of recruits we have had since I have been at Pitt. The girls went to the football game (which we won!). Afterwards, we all got together and in the Halloween spirit made candy apples and watched the World Championships. What a nice team bonding activity.
Overall, we're moving at a fantastic pace. This season should be fun and exciting. Get ready to see some new and exciting gymnastics, folks!
Hail to Pitt!
Alicia
