GymDawgs Journal - Nikki Waiss
April 9, 2008
Hello Dawg Fans!
We just had our first weekend off in 14 weeks!!! After our 3 day weekend, everyone came in to the gym excited, well rested and ready to go. The end of the season just has a way of sneaking up! We are in the final stretch of our competitive season and have three days of training this week before we head off to regionals in Corvallis, OR. Every meet during the regular season has been practice for post-season. This is when it really gets fun! Now it is all about perfection. We now know how to do our routines, but we need to focus on all the small details. That is what makes the difference in this sport.
Once again, as we did at Pac 10's, we start off on beam and end on bars at regionals. We have been training extra hard on beam so our beam team can shine just like they are capable of doing. I have no doubt that they will get us off to a good start this weekend. In training, we have been focusing on simulating meet like situations. One day last week, we came in to the competition arena and David had set up a beam at the end of the arena just like it will be set up in Oregon. The coaches have been doing a great job of putting us in high pressure situations to prepare us for this weekend and the team has done a great job of stepping up and accepting the challenge. I continue to be impressed with the desire and effort of every team member to improve and perfect their routines. If there is one thing I know about his team, they are not afraid of hard work.
Congratulations to Raimey for receiving, a much deserved, Top Dawg honor last week. She has really stepped it up these last few weeks and, although her body is barely hanging in there, she comes in everyday ready to work and sets a great example for the rest of us with her hard work, high expectations, and tenacity. It has been so exciting to watch her come back and compete floor again this year!
I also want to congratulate the five gymnasts who earned All-Conference Honors: Ashley Houghting (floor), Haley Bogart (vault), Sam Walior (floor), Raimey Iselin (bars), and Nikki Waiss (bars). Not only have we excelled in the gym, but in academics as well. Congratulations to the six gymnastics named to the All Pac-10 Academic team this year: Emily Epsten, Kristen Omori, Raimey Iselin, Katie Boyko, Kelly Gilbert, and Nikki Waiss. Yeah Gym Dawgs!!!
As a senior, I am in the home stretch of my gymnastics career here as a UW Husky. These last five years have been an incredible experience that I would not trade for anything. I do not think I will ever be ready for it to be over, but I could not have asked for a better last couple years with such amazing coaches and teammates. And I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to finish out my senior year (Thank you Kathy!). I also want to thank each and every person who has made this experience one I will never forget. I look forward to being this team's number one fan in the years to come :)
Go Dawgs!!!
Nikki
Previous GymDawg Entries
April 4, 2008 | March 31, 2008 | March 25, 2008 | March 10, 2008 | March 3, 2008 | Feb. 20, 2008 | Feb. 11, 2008 | Feb. 5, 2008 | Jan. 29, 2008 | Jan. 15, 2008 | Jan. 8, 2008 | Jan. 2, 2008 | Dec. 13, 2007 | Dec. 3, 2007 | Nov. 26, 2007 | Nov. 20, 2007 | Nov. 14, 2007 | Nov. 5, 2007 | Oct. 29, 2007 | Oct. 22, 2007 | Oct. 15, 2007 | Oct. 8, 2007 | Oct. 4, 2007
2006-07 Archives
