GYMN-L Digest - 7 Sep 1995 to 8 Sep 1995

 

There are 14 messages totalling 773 lines in this issue.

 

Topics of the day:

 

  1. A slightly odd request

  2. Gymn-to-skate / Re: Axels

  3. Gymnast/figure skater

  4. USA World Trials: pre competition

  5. OLYMPIC PREVIEW (3)

  6. Ilse Roets

  7. Olympic Preview Criticism

  8. Gymn Guru

  9. USA World Team Trials: Men's Compulsories (2)

 10. USA World Team Trials: Comments on Men's Compulsories

 11. USA World Trials: Women's Compulsories

 

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Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 00:36:34 -0400

From:    ***@CORNELL.EDU

Subject: A slightly odd request

 

        Can someone out there with a good sound-editing system grab a .WAV

or .AU of some (any) interview with Shannon Miller?  Not too much, just a

quick quote, and mail it to me (as a BinHexed, uuencoded, or Mime

attachment).  I've got a picture of SM as my Windows wallpaper, and it would

go well with a startup sound from the same person.

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 01:13:17 -0400

From:    ***@CAPITALNET.COM

Subject: Re: Gymn-to-skate / Re: Axels

 

Ilene wrote:

>I used to do something in my fx routine that was a bit like an single axel.

>I'm not sure I remember it right, but here's my best reconstruction.  It

>had a one foot, forward-moving take-off and was supposed to be a tucked 1

>1/2 twist in the air with a one foot landing.  If I recall right, it was

>_so_ hard to do on the floor in my gymn, but _much_ easier in meets where

>there was usually a spring floor.

 

If your landing foot is different from the take-off foot, then it's an

"Axel".  But if it's tucked, it sounds more like the Garrison (Kelly)

leap.

 

>Come to think of it, tumbling was also much easier on a spring floor, which

>meant that no one on my team ever got nervous before competing fx.

 

Yep. Wish I had spring/air floors when I was competing provincial stream

(circa 1980), especially front handspring-front salto combinations. Front

tumbling

looks so easy now.

 

>I've always wanted to take skating lessons.  Perhaps this year.  How much

>of your skill do you find transfers from gym to fs?

 

Gymnastics certainly helps to accelerate the learning of skills in figure

skating.  I didn't need any time to determine my spinning/jumping direction

which unfortunately is clockwise -- skating traffic seem to all go counter-

clockwise for no particular reason.  I've had a few tirades on rec.skate

about this.  Certainly the centering of spins is easy if you have double or

triple turns on beam.  Getting more than three rotations in a spin before

bailing takes some getting used to.  Landing on one foot (which for me is

the opposite foot from backward acro) is a bit of a kludge to begin with;

but landing solidly and tightly comes from beam and dismount landings.

I find that I don't fall much because of the balance sense.  Skating also

seems to require that you hold your arms at about waist-level for control,

which is a lot easier than, say, holding your arms up on beam.  Doing

figures is like beam complex, free skating is like tumbling, and ice dancing

is like compulsory floor.  ... barrel jumping is like vault ...? ;^)

 

Actually, now that I've been skating for about a year, I'm anxious to get

back to the gym to do off-ice work and maybe introduce some skating skills

to gymnastics.  I'll let you know...

 

Grace

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 01:13:21 -0400

From:    ***@CAPITALNET.COM

Subject: Re: Gymnast/figure skater

 

Yep.  Definitely.  Having the kind of flow in movement from figure skating

is a great and rare asset.  Continous movement on beam is seldom seen and

most exemplified by the Romanian girls and Svetlana Boguinskaya.

 

I photograph gymnasts and figure skaters too.  I find most shots end up

still, but have some great action shots that I am very satisfied with.

I use Kodak Ektapress 1600 -- it's great film for stopping action and no

distracting flash required.

 

Thanks for sharing,

 

Grace

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 07:47:00 MDT

From:    ***@RMII.COM

Subject: Re: USA World Trials: pre competition

 

I was asked the following question and thought it best to reply to all of Gymn:

 

>>Amanda Borden * (Cincinnati) [withdrew due to toe injured at

>Nationals]

>>Kristy Powell * (Colorado Aerials) [withdrew, I think becuase of a sprained

>ankle]

> 

>Are Kristy and (in particular) Amanda both definitely competing at Trials?

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear in the original messages.  The above refers to why

they have withdrawn from World Team Trials, not why they had withdrawn from

Nationals.  Borden's toe is worse than they thought.

 

I have not heard of any withdrawals yet on the men's side.

 

Rachele

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 13:32:06 -0400

From:    ***@AOL.COM

Subject: Re: OLYMPIC PREVIEW

 

You asked for comments, so here they are:

 

>Subj:  OLYMPIC PREVIEW

 

I think this should be titled "American Olympic Preview."  To read this you'd

think there was one country competing at Atlanta.

 

> 

>OKie. Due to popular demand, here is the Olympic Preview I wrote.

>I think, for the most part, it is pretty accurate. I tried to

>frame it like Street and Smith did theirs in 1988, which is what gave

>me the idea in the first place. Enjoy.

> 

>START TEXT

>        In 1992, expectations for the U.S. Woman's Gymnastics team couldn't

>have been much higher. After coming up with a surprise team silver medal at

>the 1991 World Championships, plus riding the wave of Kim Zmeskal's

>all-around gold, the team was expected to challenge for the team gold.

>        They were brought back down to Earth with a somewhat disappointing

>third place bronze medal after Kim Zmeskal fell off compulsory beam and

>several other team members were not at their best.

 

If you look at the top three teams, expecting the US to finish higher than it

did would have been a miracle or a joke (see Indianapolis in 91).  Any not

only that, what you say is not even true.  Actually, US team did very well

and hit practically everything.  Kim fell off beam, but that was there only

major break in either compulsories or optionals.  IMO they were overscored a

lot as well (especially Okino).  You can't say they didn't get gold or silver

because they had mistakes, because really they didn't get gold or silver

because they were not the best or second best team in any way.

 

Dawes can

>be considered not only a threat on every apparatus, but in the all-around

>as well. After finishing a dissapoitning fourth in the all-around at the

>recent US Nationals, she came back to win both the uneven bars and floor

>exercise with sensational routines, showing the mettle of a champion.

 

You call her bars routine sensational?  I cannot think of a routine I dislike

more unless it is Gina Gogean's.  At 18 she should have learned how to point

her toes by now.  It's boring, slow, choppy, and messy.  See all her events.

 

  Although she

>is lacking a 10.0 start value vault, she is among the top US athletes on

 

Now that the Hristiekeva vault is 9.9, so are Strug and Fontaine unless they

do a 1.5 twist now.

 

 

>        Borden's Cinncinatti teammate, Jaycie Phelps, 16, has come a long

>way in two years.

>Possessing the form and line of Shannon Miller, and the grace and beauty of

>the great KAthy Johnson, Phelps' gymnastics is consistent, clean and HARD!

 

"Grace and beauty of the great Kathy Johnson?"  Her gymnastics is not

particularly beautiful, and if it were, Kathy Johnson would not come to mind

unless I was trying hard to think of an AMERICAN gymnast who had any sort of

artistic quality.

 

Did you guys know that there are other countries that do the gymnastics?

 Yes, as a matter of fact, America didn't even invent it.  And you know what

else, the other countries do gymnastics BETTER than the American gymnasts.  I

can't think of a quality the Americans have that make them better than the

Russian team, or even the Romanian team.  Unless you count money as a reason

for big scores.

 

>She throws a double front on floor, a two-release bar set ending with a

>huge double front, and a 10.0 start value vault. Look for her to keep on

 

Wow, two releases.  That's only been common since what, 1983?  Help me here.

 

>climbing.

>        Also not to be excluded are Doni Thompson and Kristy Powell,

>teammates of Strug in Colorado. Powell won the 1995 American Cup, while

>Thompson won the 1994 Olympic Festival and is the US beam champ.

 

Wow, she won the American Cup.  That is prestigous competition.

 

 

>Fontaine is a veteran of two world championships,

 

Ha.  Since when does competing in two worlds make you a veteran?  ESPECIALLY

when they were in the same YEAR and in fact between six months

 

 

>        One thing is for certain, though. The picture for the US in Atlanta

>couldn't be brighter.

 

Of course.  It will be in America, they will be even more overscored.

 

>Okie. There it is. Criticism and commentary is always welcome. I'm a

>journalism major, so i tried my damnedest to be up to par. Hope you all

>enjoy it.

 

Well, your writing style is not that good.  It does not flow and certainly it

is not of much interest or offer anything that nobody knew.  A lot of

mistakes but you would have a editor for that.  Mostly it is goopy and like a

wanna-be John Tesh (very scary).  If you were a real journalist you would

probably have talked to gymnasts to find out something new.

 

Just my opinion

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 20:13:13 -0200

From:    ***@LSS.CO.ZA

Subject: Ilse Roets

 

Ilse Roets is one of South Africa's best gymnast. On the 23 of

September, her father and stepmother were killed in a tragic car

accident. On the 25 and 26 of September was South African National

Championships. She won this competition superbly without sympathy from

the judges, she really deserved it. In the award ceremony she and her

team members, who will compete in the All Africa Games in Zimbabwe

this month, Heidi-Marie Oosthuizen (2nd) and Tanya Steenkamp (3rd),

shared tears of joy and sorrow in a very emotional moment. Heidi-

Marie (18) has won the event for two years in a row thus her hopes of

a hattrick destroyed. I will send full results soon.

 

 Helen.    :)

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 13:15:21 -0500

From:    ***@VAXA.CIS.UWOSH.EDU

Subject: Olympic Preview Criticism

 

Date sent:  8-SEP-1995 13:07:02

 

I just received the commentary from one person regarding my Olympic

preview. I'd just like to say a couple of things, though, for the sake

of younger children who read this, I am keeping my language clean.

 

I don't remember all the commentary, but I would like to address a couple

of things. First, the United States, I feel, was in contention for the

silver in barcelona. While Kim had the only major break, several other

athletes had a number of minor breaks. The only event the US really hit

in options was vault. As for being overscored, what would you call Bontas

and Gogean in compulsories.

 

Second, I was angling this article for an American magazine. I patterned

it after one written by Street and Smith for the 1988 Olympics. For what

it intended to do, I think it succeeded quite well.

 

Third, I am sorry for the lack of quotes, but I didn't feel like waiting

for letters to return from athletes or trying to track down the gymnasts

or coaches. On the same line, this would need to have quotes to be publish-

able.

 

Which brings me to my next point. This was designed for the fans of this

gymn-list. Except for the commentary I just received, many of the comments

I've received have been quite favorable. If this were designed to have been

published other than something LIKE Street and Smith, I would have taken a

different approach. Since it was not, I did not.

 

Which brings me to my final point. If you wish to flame me and my writing

style, and for that matter, the entire US program such as you did (I

suspect this is the person who was so critical of the US championships)

please do so in private. Although, as a journalism major, i am used to

have matter critiqued, it is normally done so in private, without 366

people having access to that critique. The criticism I received from you

while, in your opinion might have been warranted, was not exactly public

knowledge stuff.

 

There, I kept it clean. A challenge considering how my stomach is boiling

right now. If Katie Dyson can see this, I can definitely identify with

ya.

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 13:29:59 -0500

From:    ***@MAIL.COIN.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Re: OLYMPIC PREVIEW

 

I usually lurk around, but I feel compelled to write.

 

Ms. R and fellow Gymners, here are a few comments:

 

On Fri, 8 Sep 1995, Svetlana wrote:

 

> I think this should be titled "American Olympic Preview."  To read this you'd

> think there was one country competing at Atlanta.

 

   To create a preview of all of the competeing teams would be a very

time consuming effort and most likely it would be so long that it would

exhaust the resources of the Listserv. Since the gentleman is an

American, it is only natural that he would cover his country's team's

members.

 

> major break in either compulsories or optionals.  IMO they were overscored a

> lot as well (especially Okino).  You can't say they didn't get gold or silver

> because they had mistakes, because really they didn't get gold or silver

> because they were not the best or second best team in any way.

 

     Every team throughout competitive gymnastics history has probably

been a little overscored. The example of Tatiana Gutsu in the '92 Olympic

all-arounds comes to mind. Visibly Miller's vault was better, more solid.

 

> unless I was trying hard to think of an AMERICAN gymnast who had any sort of

> artistic quality.

 

     We do not need personal cuts such as this, Ms. Rukhina. Constructive

critisism is always appreciated, however. An American gymnast can be just

as artistic as a Russian or a Romanian. Shannon Miller comes to mind as

being a very artistic gymnast.

 

> else, the other countries do gymnastics BETTER than the American gymnasts.  I

 

     Each gymnast is different; so there will be ones that are better

than the others. It is not just a "Russian thing," or a "Romanian thing."

 

> Russian team, or even the Romanian team.  Unless you count money as a reason

> for big scores.

 

     Ms. Rukhina, I am a journalism major also. I am also a collegiate

gymnast. In journalism school we have a term for the above statement:

libel. If you can prove that Americans "paid off" judges, fine. But these

people can sue for that statement. Statements such as that are not needed

in a forum such as this.

 

> Wow, she won the American Cup.  That is prestigous competition.

 

     My sister is a gymnast, and one of her dreams is to compete in the

American Cup. Granted, it is not an international competition, but many

athletes draem of going and competing there.

 

> Of course.  It will be in America, they will be even more overscored.

 

     Do you know this for fact? Do you remember Kim Zmeskal? She won the

world's all-around in Indianapolis. They said it was home-court

advantage...then she won the two golds in Paris, I believe.

 

> Well, your writing style is not that good.  It does not flow and certainly it

> is not of much interest or offer anything that nobody knew.  A lot of

 

     For the third time, flames such as this are not needed and have no

place in this forum. Perhaps he is learning good writing techniques, I

don't know. As a fellow journalist, I know that it can be hard to write

the best possible story.

 

> Just my opinion

 

     And so it is...and this is mine.

     Thank you.

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 11:49:33 -0700

From:    ***@U.WASHINGTON.EDU

Subject: Re: OLYMPIC PREVIEW

 

I found your comments on Jennifer's article to be very rude and

inappropriate.  Constructive critisism is always welcome on the forum,

but insults and mean comments like those that you have stated against

Jennifer, many world class gymnasts, and the USA Gymnastics federation

that they are all a part of are very unnecessary.  I liked the article,

which was primarily aimed towards Americans (which the Gymn forum is

mostly made up of).  It was bright, hopeful, and optimistic.  I am sorry

you feel this bitterly about American gymnastics and I hope that you

change your mind about us someday.

Corrie

 

> You asked for comments, so here they are:

> 

> In a message dated 95-09-05 12:10:18 EDT, EISENJ06@VAXA.CIS.UWOSH.EDU

> (Jennifer Eisenbart) writes:

> 

> >Subj:  OLYMPIC PREVIEW

> 

> I think this should be titled "American Olympic Preview."  To read this you'd

> think there was one country competing at Atlanta.

> 

> >

> >OKie. Due to popular demand, here is the Olympic Preview I wrote.

> >I think, for the most part, it is pretty accurate. I tried to

> >frame it like Street and Smith did theirs in 1988, which is what gave

> >me the idea in the first place. Enjoy.

> >

> >START TEXT

> >        In 1992, expectations for the U.S. Woman's Gymnastics team couldn't

> >have been much higher. After coming up with a surprise team silver medal at

> >the 1991 World Championships, plus riding the wave of Kim Zmeskal's

> >all-around gold, the team was expected to challenge for the team gold.

> >        They were brought back down to Earth with a somewhat disappointing

> >third place bronze medal after Kim Zmeskal fell off compulsory beam and

> >several other team members were not at their best.

> 

> If you look at the top three teams, expecting the US to finish higher than it

> did would have been a miracle or a joke (see Indianapolis in 91).  Any not

> only that, what you say is not even true.  Actually, US team did very well

> and hit practically everything.  Kim fell off beam, but that was there only

> major break in either compulsories or optionals.  IMO they were overscored a

> lot as well (especially Okino).  You can't say they didn't get gold or silver

> because they had mistakes, because really they didn't get gold or silver

> because they were not the best or second best team in any way.

> 

> Dawes can

> >be considered not only a threat on every apparatus, but in the all-around

> >as well. After finishing a dissapoitning fourth in the all-around at the

> >recent US Nationals, she came back to win both the uneven bars and floor

> >exercise with sensational routines, showing the mettle of a champion.

> 

> You call her bars routine sensational?  I cannot think of a routine I dislike

> more unless it is Gina Gogean's.  At 18 she should have learned how to point

> her toes by now.  It's boring, slow, choppy, and messy.  See all her events.

> 

>   Although she

> >is lacking a 10.0 start value vault, she is among the top US athletes on

> 

> Now that the Hristiekeva vault is 9.9, so are Strug and Fontaine unless they

> do a 1.5 twist now.

> 

> 

> >        Borden's Cinncinatti teammate, Jaycie Phelps, 16, has come a long

> >way in two years.

> >Possessing the form and line of Shannon Miller, and the grace and beauty of

> >the great KAthy Johnson, Phelps' gymnastics is consistent, clean and HARD!

> 

> "Grace and beauty of the great Kathy Johnson?"  Her gymnastics is not

> particularly beautiful, and if it were, Kathy Johnson would not come to mind

> unless I was trying hard to think of an AMERICAN gymnast who had any sort of

> artistic quality.

> 

> Did you guys know that there are other countries that do the gymnastics?

>  Yes, as a matter of fact, America didn't even invent it.  And you know what

> else, the other countries do gymnastics BETTER than the American gymnasts.  I

> can't think of a quality the Americans have that make them better than the

> Russian team, or even the Romanian team.  Unless you count money as a reason

> for big scores.

> 

> >She throws a double front on floor, a two-release bar set ending with a

> >huge double front, and a 10.0 start value vault. Look for her to keep on

> 

> Wow, two releases.  That's only been common since what, 1983?  Help me here.

> 

> >climbing.

> >        Also not to be excluded are Doni Thompson and Kristy Powell,

> >teammates of Strug in Colorado. Powell won the 1995 American Cup, while

> >Thompson won the 1994 Olympic Festival and is the US beam champ.

> 

> Wow, she won the American Cup.  That is prestigous competition.

> 

> 

> >Fontaine is a veteran of two world championships,

> 

> Ha.  Since when does competing in two worlds make you a veteran?  ESPECIALLY

> when they were in the same YEAR and in fact between six months

> 

> 

> >        One thing is for certain, though. The picture for the US in Atlanta

> >couldn't be brighter.

> 

> Of course.  It will be in America, they will be even more overscored.

> 

> >Okie. There it is. Criticism and commentary is always welcome. I'm a

> >journalism major, so i tried my damnedest to be up to par. Hope you all

> >enjoy it.

> 

> Well, your writing style is not that good.  It does not flow and certainly it

> is not of much interest or offer anything that nobody knew.  A lot of

> mistakes but you would have a editor for that.  Mostly it is goopy and like a

> wanna-be John Tesh (very scary).  If you were a real journalist you would

> probably have talked to gymnasts to find out something new.

> 

> Just my opinion

> 

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 12:27:21 -0700

From:    ***@ENG.SUN.COM

Subject: Gymn Guru

 

Once more, with *feeling*...

 

-George

 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 NOTE: This is intended to be satirical and a take-off of the popular

 "Emily PostNews" UseNet article.  Please realize that this is meant to

 highlight what *NOT* to do, and is intended to be educational, yet fun.

 And who on Gymn doesn't like fun?

 

                           "Dear Gymn Guru"

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Q: I want to unsubscribe?  Should I send my request to the entire alias?

 

 A: !!! YES !!!  Make certain that EVERYONE on Gymn knows that you will be

 unsubscribing: We'll all appreciate it. If you send your request only

 to LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU, and in the BODY type:

 

        unsubscribe GYMN-L

 

 then you will be unsubscribed promptly.  No one else will even hear about

 it.  Now what fun is that?

 

 Q: I sent a post to GYMN-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU, but I got back a couple of

 bounced messages.  Do I need to resend it?

 

 A: As soon as you can!  The bounce msgs that you receive when you post

 mean that a small handful of people did not receive your msg.  It's

 worth posting to Gymn again to make certain that they get it -- the

 other five hundred won't mind getting the same message twice.

 

 Q: My dog ate my homework this morning.  I'm upset. What should I do?

 

 A: Hey, why not *flame* a total stranger on the Gymn list?  That's

 what I'd do.  Don't even think about it.  Just do it.  You see, on a

 computer etiquette and manners don't apply.  That's why they're so much

 fun!  So get out that old flamethrower and TORCH AWAY!

 

 Q: Somebody just flamed me. What should I do?

 

 A: Why, flame them back, of course!  And the sooner the better.  If you

 let them have the last word, what's to keep them from walking all over

 you?  Next thing you know they'll be hitting you up for money.

 

 Q: Are there any etiquette guidelines to follow when engaged in a flame

 war?

 

 A: I can tell you are an especially insightful reader and appreciate the

 importance of flame wars on Gymn!  Flame wars are like a good mud fight:

 They're the glue that keeps us together as a group!  The only real guidance

 I can give is to keep them going as long as possible.  When the flames

 start to die down, fan them again.  Pick up a minor thing that may have

 bothered you awhile back and publicly ridicule someone for it.  When

 all else fails, simply ridicule an elite gymnast or coach, or an ENTIRE

 GYMNASTICS PROGRAM!  You'll get extra points for this.  Don't worry

 about them finding out. (See below)

 

 Q: O Wise Guru, no one really reads Gymn, so it doesn't matter what I

 post, right?

 

 A: No one on Gymn really gives a hoot what you think, so post away!

 We're all here just to blow hot air -- we don't actually LISTEN to each

 other. We've got better things to do!  Gymn is composed entirely of

 people who know beans about gymnastics, so you can pretend to know

 everything and get away with it.  Gymnasts, coaches, and judges never

 EVER read the forum.

 

 -- The Gymn Guru

 

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 This article was based on "Emily PostNews", a UseNet article written

 by Brad Templeton which appears on news.announce.newusers,

 news.answers, or new.misc.  It can also be found via ftp at:

 <ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/usenet/emily-postnews/part1

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 15:00:14 -0600

From:    ***@RMII.COM

Subject: USA World Team Trials: Men's Compulsories

 

1995 World Team Trials

Standings after Men's compulsories

Frank Erwin Center, UT campus

Austin, TX

8 September 1995

 

Scores are weighted 40% Nationals, 60% Trials.

 

At Trials, compulsories are weighted 60%,

and optionals are 40%.

 

1. John Roethlisberger (Minnesota),  85.534

2. Mihai Bagiu (Gold Cup),  84.562

3. Blaine Wilson (OSU),  83.984

4. Jair Lynch (Stanford),  83.544

5. Josh Stein (Stanford),  83.18

6. John Macready (USOTC),  83.128

7. Kip Simons (OSU),  83.088

8. Steve McCain (UCLA),  82.916

9. Brian Yee (Minnesota),  82.58

10. Chris Waller (UCLA),  82.194

11. Casey Bryan (Oklahoma),  81.892

12. Rob Kieffer (Gold Cup),  81.876

13. Mark Booth (Stanford),  81.856

14. Mike Moran (Daggett's Gold Medal),  81.586

15. Jarrod Hanks (Oklahoma),  81.332

16. Chainey Umphrey (UCLA),  81.154

 

Bill Roth scratched due to shoulder injury.

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 16:40:29 -0600

From:    ***@RMII.COM

Subject: USA World Team Trials: Comments on Men's Compulsories

 

1995 World Team Trials

Frank Erwin Center, UT campus

Austin, TX

8 September 1995

 

Men's Compulsories

 

The biggest topic of conversation all througout this session was "Will

the USA men make it to Atlanta?"  Some people think it won't be a

problem, while others seem more concerned about it.  Only the top

twelve teams from Worlds in Sabae, Japan, will be invited to compete

at the Olympics.  With the breakup of the omnipotent Soviet team into

many potent national teams, and other European and Asian countries

also fielding highly competitive teams, it certainly won't be easy.

 

The top six guys from Nationals pretty much held their ranks through

this meet.  The only exception is that Simons (OSU, Nationals-5th) and

Macready (OTC, Nationals-6th) were nudged to 6th and 7th,

respectively, because Josh Stein (Stanford) rose from 8th place to

5th. Steve McCain was all over the place: after the first rotation he

was in 4th, then he plummeted to 13th (fell off high bar on the jam),

rose to 6th, dived to 14th (pommels, fell), then went up to 12th and

finished in 8th.

 

Mihai Bagiu (Gold Cup) had a strong compulsory round, outscoring John

Roethlisberger (Minnesota). His pbars and high bar were his

best. Roethlisberger had a "steady" meet until the last event, where

he came off of pommel horse. He was quite angry about that fall,

punching a mat propped on the wall in frustration afterwards. Almost

*EVERYONE* came off of pommel horse--it was disastrous. Of the 16

guys, I think less than five made it through without at least a .3

deduction, and certainly over half of them fell off. Bagiu was lucky

not to fall off himself because at one point his foot caught on the

edge of the horse, almost causing him to lose balance. John's pbars

were particularly good (nice peach-1/2), but his vault was perhaps too

ambitious as he had to pump, wave, and contort his arms to manage any

sort of distance.

 

Other than Mihai, who was great to watch on almost all events, the two

gymnasts who most caught my eye were Mark Booth (Stanford) and John

Macready.  Both had really nice cartwheels on the floor compulsory,

and Booth kicks out of his Arabian so early that it almost lifts him

up higher.  (Lynch also had a notably good Arabian.) Macready is

lacking in upper body strength but he is great to watch because his

gymnastics is never rushed, always completed, particularly (for what I

noticed) on floor, pbars, and high bar.  I really like his gymnastics.

 

Stanford (Lynch, Booth, and Stein) seem to have the edge on the

compulsory vault. All of them floated the Hecht, with Booth achieving

more distance than I think I've ever seen anyone travel. Kip Simons

also had an outstanding Hecht vault, with a nice high chest. Actually,

I was pleasantly surprised with many vaults. Bagiu did a great vault

but it was marred by a hop back on the landing.

 

There were numerous unfortunate errors, such as Jair Lynch falling off

pbars on a reverse pirrouette.  Mike Moran, who really looked great on

some events, sat down on his Healy on floor.  Many guys had real

problems with the second half of the rings compulsory.

 

In the press conference afterward, when asked about the great number

of falls in the meet (aside from him), Mihai remarked that the World

Trials was a more stressful meet than Worlds because there is so much

pressure to make the team. "Once you get to worlds," he said, "you can

just compete."

 

# # #

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 18:51:55 -0400

From:    Laura Whitacre <lorochka@IVT.NEXUSPRIME.ORG>

Subject: Re: USA World Team Trials: Men's Compulsories

 

> Scores are weighted 40% Nationals, 60% Trials.

> 

> At Trials, compulsories are weighted 60%,

> and optionals are 40%.

 

        How were these numbers determined?  Why, for example, are comps

worth more?

 

Laura :)

 

------------------------------

 

Date:    Fri, 8 Sep 1995 20:29:37 -0600

From:    ***@RMII.COM

Subject: USA World Trials: Women's Compulsories

 

1995 World Team Trials

Standings after Women's compulsories

Frank Erwin Center, UT campus

Austin, TX

8 September 1995

 

Scores are weighted 30% Nationals, 70% Trials.

 

At Trials, compulsories are weighted 60%,

and optionals are 40%.

 

1. Dominique Moceanu (Karolyi's),  56.587

2. Shannon Miller (Dynamo),  56.496

3. Dominique Dawes (Hill's Angels),  55.815

4. Kerri Strug (CO Aerials),  55.635

5. Amy Chow (West Valley),  54.931

6. Doni Thompson (CO Aerials),  54.696

7. Mary Beth Arnold (Flips),  54.648

8. Theresa Kulikowski (CO Aerials),  54.372

9. Katie Teft (Great Lakes),  53.923

10. Andree Pickens (Cypress),  53.835

11. Reagan Tomasek (Hill's Angels),  53.776

12. Alecia Ingram (Dynamo),  53.764

13. Monica Flammer (Cypress),  53.757

14. Mohini Bhardwaj (Brown's),  53.061

15. Jaycie Phelps (Cincinnati),  23.319 (* 55.96)

16. Heather Brink (Dynamo),  22.527 (* 54.06)

 

* Phelps' and Brink's scores on the official scoresheet from tonight

were as listed above... the parenthetical numbers are my calculations

on where their scores should be taking into account only their scores

from Nationals.  (Their scores will probably be officially adjusted

after the competition is completed.)

 

So, really, Jaycie is still in 3rd.

 

# # #

 

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End of GYMN-L Digest - 7 Sep 1995 to 8 Sep 1995

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