How do I not hear about this stuff???? Sorry guys about my not gonna work predictions!!!!

Brittany did get married but I believe she has retired due to her injuries catching up to her. or at least that is what I have been told

That's too bad! Twirling is really hard on your body!

momto2 wrote:

meljenni weren't you hired to teach at Villanova Camp, and isn't it run by the Gangi/Kane family? I find it interesting that the only 2 twirlers that you posted were both Gangi/Kane Twirlers, very disappointing. I've always thought much better of you than that. Twirling shouldn't be a name game! Let the twirlers do their thing and let the judges decide.

First of all, I do not appreciate you judging my integrity. Yes, I did teach at the Villanova Camp and it was the first time I have ever seen Alyssa twirl and second for Jordan. I had the opportunity to watch them train their routines for Nationals and was extremely impressed with what I saw. I, for one, obviously do not enjoy the name game and have dealt with it through my twirling career so by no means do I think a twirler should win just on their name but rather performance. Other than teaching at this camp, I have no affiliation with the Gangi/Kane group and was mearly just stating who I was impressed by like everyone else on this forum. This is supposed to be a forum for open discussion and whenever I post, someone often tries to spin negatively what I am saying. I will not be competing at AYOP this year and do not coach anyone competing so I have no alterior motives with my "predictions." I hope you now understand where I was coming from and do not think that the "Gangi/Kane"'s influenced me to post.

meljenni wrote:

[q=momto2]meljenni weren't you hired to teach at Villanova Camp, and isn't it run by the Gangi/Kane family? I find it interesting that the only 2 twirlers that you posted were both Gangi/Kane Twirlers, very disappointing. I've always thought much better of you than that. Twirling shouldn't be a name game! Let the twirlers do their thing and let the judges decide.

First of all, I do not appreciate you judging my integrity. Yes, I did teach at the Villanova Camp and it was the first time I have ever seen Alyssa twirl and second for Jordan. I had the opportunity to watch them train their routines for Nationals and was extremely impressed with what I saw. I, for one, obviously do not enjoy the name game and have dealt with it through my twirling career so by no means do I think a twirler should win just on their name but rather performance. Other than teaching at this camp, I have no affiliation with the Gangi/Kane group and was mearly just stating who I was impressed by like everyone else on this forum. This is supposed to be a forum for open discussion and whenever I post, someone often tries to spin negatively what I am saying. I will not be competing at AYOP this year and do not coach anyone competing so I have no alterior motives with my "predictions." I hope you now understand where I was coming from and do not think that the "Gangi/Kane"'s influenced me to post.[/q]



I think that this was VERY well said, and I admire you for saying that. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do next!

Whomever 'called out' Jennifer publically in a less than professional light in this forum, is very rude. Send her a private note.
Jennifer M. - Keep doing what you are doing.......

Yes Claudia Swauger is still Adv 0-6 this year. There are several really talented young ladies in that division. It should be interesting to see how things play out. I love to read these posts to see who everyone is predicting, but for myself, I feel it is too difficult to say who will win at AYOP until they have performed. The advanced divisions are stacked with so many great athletes that it will come down to who performs the best on that day. They are all good. I look forward to watching the girls. Good luck to all the athletes in all divisions.

Oh yea, it definitely depends on who is having a good day, and who is not. Everyone is so equally matched at Nationals that it is hard to predict. But, I think it is fun to see what everyone else thinks!

if i am not mistaken paeton outmann is not an advance twirler she is beginner or intermediate competing in that pageant. they are predicting advance pageant.

I really wish Brittany could twirl this year. She blew her knee out again and can't do anything. She was just going to do team (New Alliance) and nothing else but now can't even do that.
She said she'll still come to watch at AYOP. I can't wait to see her.

Oh poor Brittany! I tore my MCL and broke the growth plate in my knee a few years ago and was out almost the entire season!

Don't count anyone out!!! That has been my experience and just when you think you know...there comes some amazing little talented girl out of nowhere!!! I think it is going to be exciting to watch how it all plays out. I also think highly of all of the twirlers in my daughter division, so this year I will especially be proud and excited no matter what the result! Hope to meet a lot of new faces this year...See ya there!

I judge, as others have said, 100% on what has been performed at that time. I do not, however, think that if just because a particular athlete doesn't do her "best" job at that time, that she should not still be awarded for what she still did. Unfortunately, with modern technology, anyone can watch video performances of some amazing performances. The "unfortunate" part is that if that same athlete does something less difficult, she may not get the credit she should- just because she has done something more difficult in the past. One athlete's good (not her best) performance could quite possibly be better than another athlete's "performance of a lifetime". Also, these elite athletes are serious athletes. I am sure a serious athlete is disappointed when things do not happen perfectly. The best athletes train for perfection. Anything less is disappointing. There are times when an athlete performs a "clean" routine, with few to no penalties. That does not mean that athlete automatically wins. When there is a higher degree of risk involved (timing, intricacy, combined skills, etc.) the routine's base value should be higher. Having said that, a risky, difficult routine performed with great twirling technique and body/dance technique, but with some errors, should still score higher than the less difficult, but cleaner performance that lacked risk.
I hope the statements above made sense. This is food for thought. I would hope that the panel of judges for the finals would take everything performed into consideration, and not be swayed by any celebrating, or lack therof...
Best of luck to all!

dancin_t wrote:

Also, these elite athletes are serious athletes. I am sure a serious athlete is disappointed when things do not happen perfectly.

What a terrific observation! I tell my students to not show disappointment (or too much) when walking off the floor as you might still win/do well and your previous disappointment might make people think that you didn't deserve the win. I had a childhood friend who would complain about bombing tests in school, and then get something like a 98%! It would bug me and I stopped believing her when she would say that she didn't do well.

Dancing T, sure hope you are judging at AYOP! It would be nice to get credit for difficulty instead of seeing those win with simplier routines that have stayed similar for several years take the win. Being willing to take the risk should be given some credit, I can't tell you how many times I hear twirlers say they are taking tricks out of their routine just because they want to play it safe. This really sets twirling back if they are afraid to put a trick in because they fear it will not get merit. Thanks

Well put. I couldn't agree more.

It is so sad to see the "names" win over and over again. It seems as though the ones who win in the younger divisions just continue to win just because of who they are and because they have won before. It would be nice to see some of the other great twirlers win for a change and not because of "change" but because so many are deserving but just can't break through to the top. We were at TU and saw some great performances by some twirlers there who will be competing at AYOP. Susie Smithmeyer, Megaan McGeary, Ansley Cartee, Jillian Swauger all were looking good. The Beginner and Intermediate divisions were represented well at that contest too.

The University of AZ is going to compete at AYOP this year from what I've heard.

The people who deserve to win that event are the ones who performed the best at that specifice moment. Good Luck to everyone, and Dancing T, I hope that the other judges feel the same way as you do!

by some twirlers there who will be competing at AYOP. Susie Smithmeyer, Megaan McGeary, Ansley Cartee, Jillian Swauger all were looking good. The Beginner and Intermediate divisions were represented well at that contest too.[/q]

Totally agree. I think Megaan McGeary has been totally overlooked. I thought all the 15t girls looked strong. I too think that that JOrdan Foster has been over looked as well.
Good luck to all.

I completely agree and hope that ALL of the judges will judge the girls on thier performance on that particular day and not place them higher because they have won before or just because they were at worlds this year. It is so unfair to the other girls. My daughter is in intermediate but will be in advance next year and it is so disouraging to see girls win because they are "expected" to win the big titles year after year and not because they did the best job. Good luck to all and may everyone perform their BEST routine for the judges next week!

Some "expected" winners do continually deliver excellent routines, and sometimes even they don't win. We're not all born with the same abilities, but we can all have fun and work hard with what we got.

To stay on topic, I will make a few predictions...I predict that if twirlers have been training properly and have continued to improve, as well as, polish their routines, those twirlers will do awesome performances. As for the judging, I predict that some will go on penalties- sadly, that happens, regardless of the skills executed and risks taken. I also predict that the twirlers with "names" will continue to do well IF they have done the work.
I believe that "names" have been earned. I believe the twirlers who represented USA at Worlds worked extremely hard to compete in the Spring and were probably inspired to continue with intense training. If that is true, they probably would deserve to be at or near the top at AYOP. Despite what some people may think, staying at the top is incredibly difficult.
Any athlete truly working and training, with talented and qualified coaches, and a good work ethic, has a chance to become a champion and earn a "name". It certainly isn't impossible. Qualified and honest judges will see that the best twirlers make it to finals. Any judge should be able to stand up for what he/she feels is right, and not be intimidated by other judges' and/or coaches' opinions.
Lastly, I predict everyone will feel a little uncomfortable with the changes in the schedules and having to travel between 2 venues. Even so, I bet we all have a great time! It's AYOP!

No matter who wins the events at AYOP, I hope that everyone does their best, stays safe, and HAS FUN!!!!! Good Luck to all!

wow very well put....I hope you all have a wonderful time and kind wait til next year so we can go again....good luck to everyone especially the girls and matt competing from California
Rebecca, Matt, Lindsey, Kaitlyn, Mylia, Tara, shaylee, shannon, good luck and Fantasia Rocks....love ya all Makenna and Taylor