Oct. 11, 2007

Get behind the scenes of Illinois Gymnastics with Illini Ink - the weekly women's gymnastics journal. In this week's edition, Junior Lindsey Smith talks about how it's heating up outside and in the gym, fall break and football fun.

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I think a lot of the girls are starting to wonder what time of year it actually is. We cannot tell if it is October or July. The weather the last few weeks has been a roller coaster. Last week, we were walking to classes in sweatshirts and sweat pants with 50 degree weather, then all the sudden we have 90 degree temperatures over the weekend and now it's chilly again. Most of us are ready for the cooler temperatures...there's nothing better than a cool breeze while walking to class.

Although the weather makes it feel like July at times, we know it is October because practices are definitely starting to pick up. Everyone has received floor music and some of the freshmen already have their floor routines. I know it gets us all excited for the season! Also, we have started doing our endurance conditioning for floor routines! The other events are coming along really well too. Beam routines are getting choreographed this week and I know sometime soon we will be starting skill sets on beam. Bars have also started endurance sets. There is a lot of energy in the gym, which keeps us all pumped for practices.

Last week, we had a lighter week of conditioning which made us all pretty excited for a little bit of a rest. On Friday, we played a team challenge game in place of conditioning which taught us good communication skills, leadership skills, and that the team depends on one another.

Besides practices, school has been keeping us busy with midterms and projects. It is a little more difficult for the freshmen who are experiencing all this for the first time, but everyone is here to help them through this first round of studying.

Next week is Fall Break! Everyone is always excited for this weekend as it gives us little time off from practice and some time to catch up on schoolwork. There is also another big football game as Illinois plays Michigan at home. Speaking of football, congrats to our team, as they picked up another big win against #5 Wisconsin! It was Dad's Day so we got to celebrate with most of our parents in town. The weekend before last we played Penn State and I thought that was the most amazing football game I had been too, but I have to say the Wisconsin game was even better! I cannot wait for the rest of the football season to see if they can keep topping themselves!

Go Illini!

Lindsey