Former Soviet National Coach Alexander Alexandrovspent 15 years in the USA before returning to his homeland to resume the position as Head Coach of the Women’s National Team.
How is it going for Alexander?
Russians finished in the top 2 AA spots at Europeans:
He’s cautiously optimistic that Russia will again challenge for World and Olympic titles. The first BIG test will be World Championships.
.. we will select the strongest gymnasts to go to London in the autumn. The Americans and Chinese will be there. But I do not think we will be merely “extras”. I think the Russian team will be strong competition for any other team.”
It’s economics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology has more varsity sports than they can fund.
… cut … spending by $1.45 million over three years; the cut amounts to a sharp 24% reduction in spending out of general Institute funds. … current annual budget is $12.9 million. …
Both Men’s and Women’s Teams will be cut. Losing a Men’s team hurts the Collegiate program worse than the Women’s, however, because the Men have so few teams left.
UPDATE:
… Last season, the MIT men finished the season ranked 19 out of 20 men’s teams, qualifying three individuals to NCAAs. The women were 76th out of 84 squads. Both programs have had success in the USA Gymnastics-sponsored alternate collegiate nationals. …
… MIT left the door open for club programs to be created for the eliminated teams. …
World Cheerleading Championships, Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.
Prelims: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Finals: Sunday, April 26, 2009
… The Cheerleading Worlds has grown to be so large that it needs to be held at two seperate arenas. Disneys Wild World of Sports’ Milkhouse arena and Disney’s Hollywood studios . The Dance Worlds is held in Disney’s famous Epcot.
…
The Milkhouse and Jostens Center at the Wide World of Sports. The Worlds Showplace at Epcot.
Good luck to the team that trains out of my gym, The Pythons. The first Alberta team ever to be invited to this prestigious event.
Brittany Crowe competed Artistic until age-18. On graduating High School, she decided to join Cheer. That was last September. Eight months later Brit’s going to Worlds.
We gave her pom-poms as a send off gift. (Cheerleaders HATE pom-poms.)
Started just April 16th, I’m already impressed with the quality of the 3 posts, so far.
From the editor:
For sixteen years, I’ve taken part in the great sport of gymnastics. I trained as a gymnast for eleven years and I am now in my fifth year of coaching professionally. Everyone has their reasons for feeling passionate about something in their lives. I’d like to introduce you to mine. …
Full Twist – What are you passionate about?
The first two posts are on Talent Identification:
what exactly are we looking for?
Height
Strength
Flexibility
Attitude and Dedication
Other Factors
Highlights from the 2009 Men’s NCAAs last weekend will air Thursday, April 23 at 3pm ET on ESPN2. It will be re-aired on Saturday April 25 at 4pm ET on ESPNU.
Samantha Peszek has made an early verbal declaration to compete for UCLA. There’s nothing official on their website, however, as I write.
Sources say she will — if she eventually signs — not compete next season, but rather the year after.
Add powerhouse Peszek to the UCLA line-up. And look out at Championships 2011.
First year competitor Vanessa Zamarripa Head Coach Kondos-Field calls “the most talented athlete UCLA has ever had.” (via Couch Gymnast)
More talented than Kate Richardson? Yvonne Tousek? More talented than their own Freshman of the Year Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs?
Wow!
=== original post:
Someday someone will finally topple the juggernaut that has won the Collegiate gymnastics team title 5-years-in-a-row.
But who will it be?
Alabama?
Utah?
My guess is UCLA. The Bruins have a young talented team that could easily challenge Georgia even next season.
2008 Olympic team silver-medalist Samantha Peszek of Indianapolis has verbally committed to attend and compete for the University of California – Los Angeles …
“I’m so excited to be a Bruin,†said Peszek, who is 17. …
University of Illinois Director of Athletics Ron Guenther announced today the promotion of three current staff members to fill the vacancy left by retiring men’s gymnastics head coach Yoshi Hayasaki. Women’s gymnastics head coach Bob Starkell has been promoted to Director of Gymnastics, men’s assistant coach Justin Spring is promoted to Associate Head Coach and visiting assistant coach Ivan Ivankov will now be an assistant coach. …
No mention on that official post of the embarrassing resignation of Yoshi’s original successor, Justin Spring’s personal coach Jon Valdez. Valdez was charged with unauthorized videotaping athletes in the change room earlier in the season.
I’ve never heard any comment from Justin Spring on that incident.
Seems Illinois has moved on. Good luck to everyone there.
=== UPDATE:
… “I’m thrilled, excited and honored to be given this opportunity by the University of Illinois,†Spring told Inside, shortly after the announcement became public. “I think that, in a lot of ways, this is more of a once in a lifetime opportunity than being an Olympic gymnast. There are so few men’s programs left and it’s such an honor to be [put in charge] of one of them. This is it. I couldn’t ask for anything more.†…
