“The happiest people don’t neccessarily have the best of everything, but they make the most of everything.”  This is quote that has guided me….I was determined to make the most of this amazing opportunity in front of me!

Going into the Western National Championship, I only had one goal and focus in mind…to hit 4 for 4 on my events!  I knew if I hit 4 for 4, then there would be nothing else I could do.  The rest would be up to the judges from there.

When I walked into the arena, I knew no matter what happened that I had to turn the page and move on.   It was so cool to be competing with the best gymnasts in the nation and representing Region 3!   I wanted to take full advantage of this incredible opportunity.

I was a little nervous, because I started on beam and was second up!  I hit my beam routine and I was very proud of myself because I didn’t let my nerves get the best of me.   Now it was on to floor.  I was last to go on floor.  It was also the last time I would compete this routine, as I am getting a new routine for next season.  I wanted to go out there and perform like there was no tomorrow!  I felt great after I hit my floor routine.  I gave it everything I had.

Next, it was on to vault.  I had one of my best vaults of the season and to top it off, I stuck my landing!   My meet was going excellent, but I still had one event left and needed to stay focused.  Bars was bitter sweet as I look back now, because it was the last time my bar coach would coach me as she is moving to California.   I’m glad she got to see me hit my bar routine one last time.  When I landed my dismount, it was one of the best feelings in the world.

I accomplished my goal!  Hitting 4 for 4 helped me get 9th in the all around, 8th on bars and floor, and 5th on vault.  I also stuck every dismount.  I feel so incredibly blessed and thank God that I got to experience this incredible moment and create memories that I will never forget.

The last few weeks, I have been working on upgrades.  I have been working really hard on getting new skills, because my goal is to make it to level 10 and qualify for Nationals next season.

One of my favorite quotes is “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a gymnasts determination.”

I AM DETERMINED 

“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!

     A life spent making mistakes is more honorable than a life spent doing nothing!

     I have made mistakes that I am not proud of, but you have to learn to fall, be able to get back up, and learn from it.  I had my very first Level 9 competition last weekend.  I had a great meet going until the very end.  I hit my floor, vault and bar routines.  On beam, I fell on my series, but that is OK!  You’re going to fall, but the way you get up and finish defines who you are.  Mistakes are the first step of success!

     This weekend, I have my second Level 9 meet.  I am going to learn from my mistakes and I’m going to rock!  Your mistakes don’t define who you are, but the way you get up and finish does!

“The reason why people give up so fast is because they tend to look at how far they still have to go, instead of how far they have come!”

This quote is perfect for me, because I have been struggling on bars the last few weeks. It would have been so easy to just give up, but that’s not who I am! Every day I work hard to get through my struggles.

Yesterday, I had my very first Level 9 mock meet. I was so proud, because I hit 4 for 4 on the events! I felt so accomplished after I made my bar routine! “I have a long way to go, but thank God I am closer than I was yesterday!”  Gymnastics is such an amazing sport. You put your heart and soul into everything, along with so much hard work and determination. In the end, it is so worth it!

I am so excited to be able to continue to follow my dreams, even knowing there will be struggles ahead.  I know I can do it!