Men's Gymnastics

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April 15, 2008

Heading into the 2008 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships this Thursday, April 17 on the campus of Stanford University, Illinois Sports Information Director Kevin Martinez will take fans to the behind the scenes happening of the Illinois gymnastics team as the team prepares for the 2008 national championship competition. Martinez will document through a blog the travels of the team during their stay under the sunny skies of California, and keep fans up-to-date with the moves and events that fill the team's time in Stanford, Calif.

The third edition of the blog talks about Illinois' tradition and our evening workout session.

Tuesday, April 15 (Evening Recap):

It didn't take long for the team or me to finally appreciate all the sunny skies that the state of California has to offer. After lunch and a two-hour study session for the guys, everyone took to lying outside next to the pool for a while. I personally, a Texas native myself, was definitely excited about getting some sun - a definite change from the snowy conditions that we left in Champaign. Yet, I do understand that Champaign is partaking in some great weather itself, so the team and I can't rub it in too many people's faces that we are in California.

So, lying out next to the pool, it immediately became a discussion as to how white the team was, in particular, the discussion between sophomore Brian Liscovitz and assistant coach Justin Spring. Spring joined us today after lunch, as he was in Chicago on Monday taking part in a media day for all Olympic athletes for the 2008 Games in Beijing. He flew in today.

So I learned that one of the draw backs of being an athlete like a gymnast, is your sport never calls for you to compete outdoors, so for those skin pigment challenged competitors like Liscovitz and Spring, when they get a chance to get out into the sun they definitely notice just how white they actually are. The two, in fact, had about a five-minute debate on who was whiter. I wish I could recap what was actually said, but the references, similes and metaphors used between the two was definitely a humorous conversation to overhear.

From there, we headed to the gym for the second workout of the day, this one more of a chance for the guys to actually go through routines and or work on particular elements of their sets like dismounts. During this session I had the chance to sit down with junior Chris Lung, who explained to me a little bit of Illinois gymnastics tradition.

Over the course of the two years that I have worked with this team, I have noticed that every time they enter a gym, they bow toward the ceiling and then proceed inside. They do this same gesture when they leave as well. So, I thought it would be interesting to see what was the basis behind the act and what did it actually mean.

Lung enlightened me that it is was an age-old tradition for Illinois gymnastics. He said, that while it means a little something different to each guy, the general idea is that it is supposed to symbolize everyone leaving their issues, problems and concerns that deal with anything outside of gymnastics at the door so they can concentrate on the practice ahead of them. Overall, it is a chance for the team to recognize physically that they are entering a time where it is all about gymnastics. This was very enlightening for me and hopefully for you the reader.

So, the team is currently in the process of working out, practicing their routines and sets at the Maple Pavilion for the first time, so not much more to report from my end tonight. I will have some more pictures to share with you tomorrow night after the College Gymnastics Banquet (CGA) Banquet, where the National Coach of the Year, National Assistant Coach of the Year, and other numerous awards will be announced and handed out. Not to mention, the coveted Nissen-Emery Award, the Heisman of college gymnastics, will be announced tomorrow night as well.

Our very own senior Wes Haagensen is a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award, along with a stacked field that includes three current U.S. Senior National Team Members (Jonathan Horton (OKLA), David Sender (STAN) and Tim McNeill (CAL)). The whole team and I will be there to root him on, as well as take part in a very classy banquet, I am sure.

So gymnastics fans, it has continued to be a fun trip with this great group of guys and I continue to look forward to passing along all the stories of this year's championships.

Until next time fans,

KMART