Update -- July 19, 2007

Dear Divers and Parents,

Wow, summer is almost over :( (at least for those of us in public schools).  I try to leave tomorrow to get to Orlando by Tuesday, using my friend's United Airlines employee benefits.  It costs me nothing, but I am last priority standby, so I beg and cannot choose.  Luckily, I have friends in all my potential stopover cities :)

Next week is the AAU National Championships, and we will be ably represented by Lance.  Next year, I hope to see many more of you joining him...I am thinking at least 6 people!!!  

Megan should be going to the Pan American Games this week as well, but there's been a SNAFU with her status as a citizen of Guyana.  She formerly represented Canada (was third at Canada's 2004 Olympic Trials!), and thought everything was worked out for her to represent Guyana internationally, but apparently there are snags to work out.  Hopefully she will be able to compete in upcoming international events and continue her quest for Beijing!  She has been a big inspiration to many of us on the team this summer!

This means a week's break for the rest of you.  Tomorrow's workout will be a nice culminating event and then you have a week to reflect on all that you have learned, and be ready to jump back into training starting Monday, July 30.

VETERANS' RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Lance has continued learning up a storm in anticipation of going to the AAU National Championships.  He has learned his 5231D 3M, 5223D 1M, 203B 3M, 404C 3M,  and 5124D 1M. He is set to go with lots of options at Nationals!

Jace has also continued to come alive with his 301C 1M and 3M, his 201C 3M, his 202C3M, his 302C 1M and 3M, his 403C 3M, and his 103B 1M and 3M.  He has also done a couple of 104Cs on 1M and 3M!  He will for sure be at Nationals next year with this kind of diving!

Justine now has her 201C and 301C on 3M, independently, is doing her 402C and 302C 1M independently, and has just learned her 103B 3M today!  She is very close to having a Junior list on 3M now :)  No more Novice!!   

BJ has continued working his 202C 1M, and learned 403B 3M.  He learned 5221D 1M, buit some old habits slipped in, and we need to work some more on basic back spinning before we try that again.

Ditto Emily on her 401C 1M.  She has done it independently, but some bad habits crept in.  She'll be doing them on her own again soon!  Her 101C and her 201A 1M continue to be very impressive.

Braden has done his 101C 3M, and is regularly doing his 102c 1M and his 201A 1M now -- he has enough dives to go to AAU Nationals on 1M for 9 and Unders now!  Hopefully, we get him the same kind of list on 3M soon :)

Samantha has gotten all her jumps and front lineups independently on both boards, and has a great front lineup on both boards.  Her back lineup is solid on 1M, but we have to "untrain" her gymnastics arch/walkover tendencies for her 3M back lineup :)  Soon to come:  101C 1M!

Coach Jeff has done his 5333D for the first time in 3 years, and his other dives are improving...except for his 105C 5M which smacked three different ways at Sunday's workout and looked more like a 104.5C  OUCH  hehe

NEWCOMERS' WELCOMES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Tropic Lightning has doubled in size over the last two weeks!  AMAZING :)

First, Amanda and her friend Ashley joined, and Amanda's brother Matthew decided to give it a try...and he liked it.

Then, the sister trio of Elena, Linnet, and Joanna joined (and invited their friend Annika).

Finally, Davis saw what we were doing and he decided to give it a try.  

So, now we are a nice big team!  And here's what the newbies have done so far:

EVERYONE has learned full approach front jumps in tuck, pike, and straight both boards; full lift and press back jumps tuck, pike and straight, both boards; and front lineups on 1M independently.

Ashley has learned: 001B and C 3M, 002A 1M and 3M, 101C 1M and 3M, 101B 1M and 3M, 103C 1M and 3M, 103B 1M and 3M, 401C 1M and 3M, 401B 1M and 3M, 201A 1M, 201C 1M, 202DC 1M, 202A 1M, 402C 1M, 5221D 1M, and 5121D 1M (for those of you confused, look in the Diver Education section of the site to learn the number system :)

Amanda has learned:  002A 1M, 001B and C 3M, 101C 1M, 101B 1M, 102C 1M, 401C 1M, 201A 1M

Matthew has learned: 002A 1M with a spot, 101C 1M with a spot, and has made HUGE strides on his 001D 1M (great stretching today!!!)

Elena has learned 002A 1M, 001D 3M with a spot, 101C 1M, 401C 1M, and 201A 1M with a spot.  She also played with 102C, 102B, 5121C and 5121B 1M (as trampolinists are wont to do).

Linnet has learned 002A 1M, 001B and C 3M, 101C 1M, 401C 1M, and 201A 1M with a spot.  She also played with 102C, 102B, 5121C and 5121B 1M (as trampolinists are again wont to do).

Joanna has learned 002A 1M, 002A 3M with a spot, 001B and C 3M, 101C and 101B 1M, 103C and 103B 1M and 3M, 401C 1M, and 201A 1M with a spot.  She also played with 102C, 102B, 5121C and 5121B 1M, 204C 1M and 3M, and 5141C 3M (as trampolinists are once again wont to do).

Annika has learned 002A 1M with a spot, and 101C 1M

Davis has learned 001B and 3 3M, 002A1M with a spot, 101C 1M, and 401C 1M with a spot.

WOW!  That's a whole lotta learnin' in two weeks!  I am very proud of you all!

JULY MEET RESULTS

The Keo Nakama Invitational was held Wednesday, July 4th at the Central Oahu Pool.  Tropic Lightning was ably represented by Justine and Lance, as well as Coach Jeff.  Lance tried out a number of his new dives there, including really good 104c and 403C 1M, and a 303C 3M that, due to a shortened practice, he was not able to do in without a call prior to the meet.  Justine performed her 202C with newly regained courage, and opted for her more difficult 103c over her 102B, which was nice to see!  Coach Jeff was pleased with his 203B 1M and most of his voluntaries, but on 3M he only really hit his 101A and 403B, and kinda his 301B.

The AAU Hawaiian District Championships was an intrasquad meet, since only our team participated.  However, Lance, BJ, Justine, and Jace all did a great job in the Junior Categories, while Emily and Braden took care of the Novice division.  If you want to see the results on the web, check out this link to FlipnRip.com.  You might have to register with FlipnRip in order to see the results, but it is a site I highly recommend!!!

REST OF JULY and EARLY AUGUST WORKOUT SCHEDULE:

Fri, July 20 9:00 - 11:00 AM at Schofield

Coach Jeff and Lance & Family are then traveling to Orlando FL for the AAU National Championships.  Coach Jeff is using friends' connections at airlines to fly non-rev standby, so in order to maximize his chances, he will be starting to fly out to Orlando Friday night.  In the event that he can schedule workouts on Saturday, July 21 and/or Sunday July 22, he will get word out via text at the last minute :)

Mon, July 30, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield  (PLEASE CALL 808-864-0037 to confirm this workout -- Coach Jeff might still be stuck trying to get back from FL!!)

Tues, July 31, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield  (PLEASE CALL 808-864-0037 to confirm this workout -- Coach Jeff might still be stuck trying to get back from FL!!)

Wed, Aug 1, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield 

Thurs, Aug 2, 3:30 - 6:00 PM at Schofield 

Fri, Aug 3, 3:30 - 6:30 PM at Schofield

School starts for most of us the week of July 30th.  I cannot commit to the rest of the schedule until I come up with my department meeting schedules, etc., for my school.  we also can see about adding different days to accommodate everyone without overcrowding.  I want to do a good job by y'all!

ASL CORNER

Now that the deaf kids are back, and you'll see them at least once a month at meets, check out the ASL Corner,  Do the lessons as you want to, ask me for help as you need.

Okies, That's all for now! 

Jeff