Summer Update- UTAH
Summer Update- UTAH
How has training been going this summer?
Training has been going really good. We have seen all returning athletes in the gym, along with our four freshmen. The girls have been playing with new skills this summer. We as coaches are fairly limited to what we can do with the athletes. The girls have been training for about two hours a day and then doing one hour of strength and conditioning following on a volunteer basis.
Have you seen any freshmen in the gym?
Yes we have seen all four of our freshmen in the gym. Our freshmen are; Samantha Partyka, Maddy Stover, Kari Lee and Tiffani Lewis.
What do you see your teams’ strengths being next year?
We had a strong team last year and we have the potential to be even stronger this year. We lost four seniors last year but we are gaining four strong freshmen as well. We need to be stronger on beam this year as that was our Achilles heal last year. I feel that we have the talent to be a stronger beam team this year.
Who do you see being a leader for your team this season?
We are very fortunate to have Corrie Lothrop back for another year. Cory was granted another year of eligibility due to an injury. Cory will bring great leadership and experience to this team. She is very well respected and is an extremely hard worker. Cory is willing to help out in the locker-room to provide leadership to the underclassman. We also have a really great group of seniors. I see both Georgia Dabrtiz and Tory Wilson being leaders on the floor for this team.
What do you think it will take for Utah to get back to the top?
I honestly thought we would be there last year, but we just fell very flat and it was a big disappointment for us. We need to lick our wounds and get back in the gym this year. We will need to be peaking at the right time to get back into the super six.
Has Utah been working on new floor routines this summer?
Yes and that has been a very productive part of our summer. We worked very closely with Barry Nease this summer to find our floor music. We then had a variety of people help with choreography this summer. Having these routines done this summer will really save us some time and focus in the preseason.
What else would you like us to know?
That Utah is very determined to get back where we think we belong, in the top 3. We have to prove it and we are going to take nothing for granted. I am very excited about the balance for this season between the leadership and the youth. It is going to be a fun group to work with.
Gymnastike also spoke with senior gymnast, Georgia Dabritz.
How has training been going for you this summer? Are you working on any new skills?
Training has been going great for everyone. We have been working on upgrades and mastering our current skills. I have been working on keeping skills together from last year. I have been working really hard on beam to improve and would love to be in the lineup this year.
What are your goals and team goals for this year?
I personally want to improve up each year which I think I have done. I still want to do that as a senior. I want to improve at the small things within my routine too (toe point, landings, etc.) As a team we need to have more confidence and continue to improve and get better as the season goes on.
What type of leader do you think you will be?
I think our team is going to have a lot of great leaders. I hope to help the incoming freshmen and lead by example. I will also help the team vocally when needed. I also want to lead by keeping the team motivated.
What is it going to take for Utah to get back to the top?
It is not going to be easy, but we showed last year at PAC 12 Championships that we are capable. We are going to need to prove it and keep building. It is going to take a lot of hard work for everyone on this team, including the coaches.
What is it like competing in front of such a large crowd? How do you think that affects other teams coming in?
I think it adds an intimidation factor to the other teams, and it gives us a little extra “oomph”. We have the largest fan base in college gymnastics with 15,000 fans and it is an amazing feat that we do not take for granted. It is very exciting for us to give back to our amazing fans by putting on a great show for them. We enjoy our fans just as much as they enjoy us!
What else would you like us to know?
That I have a lot of confidence in this team! When we pull it all together other teams should look out for us!
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