Team Week

Many of the team girls attended this year's Team Week workout. Coaches Liz and Paul ran them through drills to keep their existing skills sharp (or sharper). The more exciting part, was that the girls also got to work on elements that build to the next level's skills. The concentrated attention in Team Week helped. All the girls could see progress towards acquiring the next skills.
After all the intense workout, a quick splash in the pool was better than chocolate (well, almost). For all the girls, it was a good week of workout, new challenges, and meeting a couple new faces.

Food, Fun and Fond Memories

This year's OTW Boosters banquet was a great way to end the season. Coach Paul spoke, praising the girls for a good season. He touched on their many achievements as a team.

This season, OTW team girls took first place 201 times. 25 of the team girls were a part of that 201. The OTW team produced 10 State or Regional Champions this year. Becca went on to be the Level 9 Regional Champion on Vault. Tiffany was part of the New Hampshire Team that placed 2nd in the Level 8 Regionals.

The Level 7 Team took first in the State Championships with what Coach Paul said was the highest team score in OTW history. The Level 6 Team only very narrowly missed first place. The Level 5 Team overcame some early season roughness and rallied to take 4th.

After the speeches, the girls were awarded their goodie bags with this year's "good job!" gift, a mega-soft beach towel with their name and a gymnast figure embroidered on one corner. Oh, and there was a chocolate gift for all the girls who gave up their Saturday to do the tag day.

They also got their yearbooks, which looked especially slick this year. (Thanks for everything Audrey and Trisha). There was a whirlwind of activity as the girls chased each other around to get their yearbooks signed.

After the food and yearbook signing, it was time for fun. The DJ played group dance tunes like Cotton Eye Joe, the Macarena and the Chicken Dance. He sped up and slowed down the music with hilarious results. The Limbo contest got very silly.

All in all, the girls had a great time celebrating a very good year. (A few pix available on the Photo Album page)

Team girls become judges for fun

OTW Team gymnasts are accustomed to doing their routines before the sharp eye of NH-USAG judges. June 10th, it was their turn to be the judges. Off the Wall Gymnastics held a fun meet as the season ender for the youngest gymnasts' classes.

There were two sessions. The first session featured the youngest students. They might be the youngest OTW gymnasts, but the serious looks of concentration on their faces as they prepare for a challenging skill, was just the same as the most seasoned upper level girls.

Sometimes, the thrill of victory overwhelmed the young competitors. Upon completing a "clean" routine, a little gymnast would run off the floor giggling with pride. Coach Liz would coax them back to give the judges the proper end-of-routine salute. The judges weren't too big of sticklers for protocol.

The second session took things up a notch. These young gymnasts were Level 1 and 2. More specific skills and higher standards were expected. These young gymnasts also tried hard to do their best at what they had learned this season. Most of them did well. Some even impressed the team girl judges enough to earn scores of 9.00 and higher.

In the end, it was a fun day. Fun for the young gymnasts going home with their ribbons and trophies. Fun for the team girls who got to be judges for a day.