2012 Winter Nationals Preliminaries Recap

Tanner – opened with 107B with strong takeoff and top, a little by for 6.5-7; 407C was another strong takeoff and top, a little chin duck on entry for 5.5-6; 207C – body position problem on takeoff (trying too hard to spin early, using torso for power instead of arms and legs) led to a short dive for 4.5s;  305C – strong jump but cautious reach and early kickout = scores we don’t want to discuss;  6243D – lack of confidence in trying to establish a controlled armstand meant he had a difficult time controlling his rotation and lines; 5253B – Tanner came back on this dive and hit it for 6.5s…nice to see him make a strong comeback.

Derrick – Opened with a solid 107B – high jump, nice pike, decent form and toes, for 6.5-7.  Followed up with a 407C that had great mechanics and a pretty(!) tuck, but an uncommitted comeout, so he washed over for 4.5s.  207C – great correction in his start, standing it up and fully extending on takeoff.  A slightly early, but strong comeout and lineup = 6.5s.  307C – jumped out too far on the start and left it short for 4.5s…but did a great job with his comeout once again;  626C – good initiation of rotation with his kip, but he did not bring his torso forward into the tuck, and he had a tough time coming out properly.  He pulled way over for 3.5s; 5154B – good form and lineup after a takeoff that was a little too far forward = 5.5s.  Derrick also competed one meter and did a really great job (especially on his 205C for 8s), qualifying into Nationals.

Cierra – opened with 5235D with a great jump, but an odd, chin-up/chest-sticking-out lineup, short for 5s;  Excellent start and good arm action to the lineup on 405B, but a bit loose in the midsection for 5.5s; She got caught too far forward with her upper body on the takeoff of her 107B, and thus left it short and piked for 4.5s;  6241D didn’t hold the armstand as long as we’d like, but then she lined up properly and disappeared for 6-7s;  205B was strong on top and had a decent comeout mechanic (meaning she didn’t pull hard with her chest on the out), but lack of press-away left the dive over for 4s.  She had a PB (in a national-qualifying meet) of 211+

Lydia – Opened with a solid, but a little slow, 405B for 6-6.5s;  she followed up with a 107B that needs more oomph on the takeoff, but that made it around to her head pain-free for 3.5s;  her 205B had a strong jump and a slightly opened pike position, and washed a little over for 5.5-6s;  305C had a strong jump and a pretty tuck, but she kicked a little early and left it archy short for mostly 5s;  She was a little quick up into her armstand, recovered well, and landed straight up and down on her 614B for 5.5-6s.

Kristin – MADE her 405C (whew!); had a pretty spin on her 205C but pulled her upper body way back on the takeoff and left it short for 3.5-4s.  Got a good standup and takeoff on 305C, but left it archy short for  3.5-4s;  Legs buckled on 5134D so it was a little slow and low for 5s;  Put it all together on 105B with a strong takeoff line and jump, a gorgeous pike, and a clean entry for 6-7s.

Colby – opened up tentatively on 1M with a high, slow 105B for 5s; followed up with a fantastic 107C takeoff and top, but he failed to come out of it and went over for 3.5s; 205C – great stand up and top, kicked to a good entryline but opened his chest and softened his legs as he stretched through for 4-4.5s; used too much upper body and not enough arms and legs on 305C and left it quite short for 3.5-4s;  did a solid 405C (from my perspective) that some judges didn’t like, and averaged 5.5s;  ended with a 5233D that was his best dive -- high, smooth, square, good form, for 6-6.5s!

On 3M, he did a great 107C top, but again ducked his head for the entry and missed it for 4-4.5s;  his backs and gainers both kicked out and lined up really well, but his incorrect body positions on takeoff left them both at the wrong angle to get good scores;  did a fantastic 405C start and, like his 107C, ducked his head on the entry and washed over, but got his stated goal of “over 40 points;”  got his 407C start and kicked out fully!  The entry is still rough, but he got mostly 4s;  Got a good top and finished straight up and down and cleanon his 5152B, but his still-to-develop sense of smoothness on the dive kept him at 5s – lots of good stuff that will help him move his competitive skills forward in this event

TJ – after opening with a really solid 105B for 6.5-7s, TJ had a tough 1M meet.  His insistence on a high dd list made the going tougher, even though he has done all the dives on the list easily during various workouts and recent competitions.  The other highlight of his 1M was a really great top on his 405C.

On 3M, TJ learned a lot about overcoming adversity and negative emotions, and ended up the top MDC finisher.  After opening up with his 105B for 6.5-7s, he got a fantastic hurdle and takeoff on his 5152B.  After a smooth rotation and a good twist, he ducked his head and went too far over for 4-4.5s;  he likewise got a great hurdle and takeoff on his 107B, and came out well;  left it a little short for 5.5s.  He got another great top on his 405C, but left it piked and didn’t sell his entry, earning 4.5s.  205B – solid form, decent spin, a little pulled over for 5s; 305B – another great hurdle, a little short on the reach so it was slow and straight up and down for 5s.

Bryce – on 1M, opened up with an ambitious 105B, which he made well, but couldn’t get out of with finesse, earning mostly 3s;  he followed up with a 203B for 5s; did a great 303B – high and smooth and stretched well on the entry for 5.5-6s;  did a really solid 403B for 6-6.5s that, once he starts jumping, will be 7-7.5s;  he performed his ever-improving 5233D solidly, losing his legs only slightly and garnering 5s;  he missed his last dive, his 5132D, taking home only 4.5-5s.

On 3M, Bryce opened with a great top on his 405C, but lined up with his chest sticking out a bit for 5s;  he made a great correction on the takeoff of his 205C, and finished it high but loose, for 4.5-5s;  He did a really nice 305C with a great kick and solid core throughout entry that needed a little more stretch through the water;  His 5235D is, like his 1M 5233D, ever-improving – great standup and lineup with only some loose legs marring it;  105B was awesome, but compared to the jumps of the beasts on the senior circuit, only earned 6-6.5s; a leg-buckle on his 5136D left him very short (but I loved his twisting action and how he worked it) for 3s.

Noah – was excited to dive in his first-ever Senior event, especially at the school he absolutely craves being a part of (U Tenn).  He did a bang-up job on 1M, opening with his 105B for 5-5.5s, following up with a 203B for even more 5.5s, and doing a gainer for 5s as well.  He then wowed the crowd with his 403B, which was high, smooth, and clean for 6.5-7s.  He got the top on his 405C as well, but didn’t quite finish it with polish, earning 3.5s.  He then performed his debut 5233D on 1M for 4s.

On 3M, he turned a really “back on the board” hurdle on his 105B into a decent dive, landing a little short for 4.5-5s;  his 107C was a little more overwhelming and he couldn’t find his way out of it :(  his 205C was high and smooth and had a great kickout and proper lineup action, going a little short for 4.5s;  he musta been a little confused on his next dive, because he turned his 305C into a 5351D (twisted quite a bit on the out), but the judges deemed it legal! His 405C was solid for 5s, and his 5233D (ever-improving) went a little around the corner for 4.5s.

Luke – on 1M, he was high and smooth, but a little slow on 105B for 5-5.5s;  got a good standup and top on his 203B, but a little pull on the out left him over for 5.5ss;  anxious upper body actions on his 303B left it very open in the pike and slow, so he ended up really short.  His 403B is getting better, but sometimes still backs off, and he did that in the meet so a pretty dive was left short for 4.5-5s;  His front twister was solid and square for 5-5.5, while his back twister muscled a little with his upper body on the takeoff and he went short for 4.5s.  I think this was the first time Luke has been in such an amazingly long meet, and he learned a lot just from that experience.

On 3M, he opened with a 107C that was a little anxious and ended up short for 3-3.5s; his 205C was strong and high and smooth, but pulled over for 4.5s; he pulled an amazing 305C out of a hurdle that was just not right – I don't know what magic he used there, but it was impressive he could make the dive on that takeoff!  405C was high and smooth, but a little backed off for 4.5s; his 5136D was square on the takeoff – a major correction! – and a little around the corner on the squareout;  for 4.5-5s.  His 5235D was similar to his 205C – a strong top, but over for 4s.  Lots of good stuff that he just needs to find the finishes on for Luke in his second senior event ever!

Mackenzie – performed in her first national senior qualifying event on the 1M.  She opened with her much loved (not) 303C that started too much with her chest and went pretty short;  Followed up with a nicely done 203B – good standup and tight pike, straight up and down for 5.5s;  her 105C got caught a little forward and ended up out and short for 4s;  her 5233D earned 4.5-5s (I am jealous of her ability to get that dive moving!); and she finished with her trusty 403B – high, strong, smooth entry, for 6-6.5s.

Tanner and Derrick moved on from the prelims to Nationals, and Cierra and Lydia are in the Nationals Synchro event.  Former MDCers Jordan Lesser and Kyle Aaron Jared Butts also made it to the meet in 1M and 1M & PL respectively, plus KAJ will join Derrick in Synchro 3M.

More news as it comes!