“If you’re not making mistakes, then you are not doing anything.”  John Wooden

My level 9 season had a lot of ups and downs.   I made mistakes on things and improved on things, but I never let my mistakes define who I am.   My mistakes made me work harder in the gym and believe in myself.

At the Texas State Championship, I started on beam.  I fell on mys witch leap, back tuck.  I was really sad, but I wasn’t going to let that mistake determine the outcome of my season.  I turned the page, finished the meet strong, and qualified for Regionals.

Before Regionals, I knew that I really had to believe in myself and believe in what I had to accomplish if I wanted to qualify for Western Nationals.  I went into the gym every day and gave it my all, because I knew if I gave it everything I had, I wouldn’t be sorry no matter what the outcome is.

At Regionals, I started on floor.  I was the second one up.  I had a solid floor routine. It wasn’t perfect, but no one can be perfect.  Next, I went to vault.  I was first up and had a great vault.  I got a 9.45.   Then, I went to bars.  I knew at this point that it was possible to make it to Westerns, but I had to believe.  I was very last on bars, so I had to stay calm.  I had my best bar routine of the year and scored a season high 9.65! Now, it was all up to beam.  My warmup on beam was very shaky.   I put all of that behind me and was able to perform to the best of my ability.  I hit my beam routine!   I was on cloud 9!  I got a 9.375.  At that point I knew that even if I didn’t qualify to Westerns, I had did everything I could.

It was time for awards.   I was super excited when I got second in the region on bars.   As they were getting ready to announce the all-around awards, I knew that only the top seven qualify for Westerns.  They had already announced five and I wasn’t called yet.   I was very nervous!  “In 6th place with a score of 37.775, from Texas Dreams Gymnastics, Tenley Colclasure!!” That moment was one of the best moments of my life.  I had tears in my eyes, because everything I had worked so hard for had paid off.   So when things get tough, never stop BELIEVING!

Westerns here I come!