State Meet!!!

Ally’s  state meet for level 4 was March 10, 2018. The state meets are scheduled by age so the whole 15 girl team is split up among the 7 sessions. 

Ally had to compete solo in her session. 

She was quite nervous but had a great meet, especially considering she was still in a lot of knee pain.

At this meet the girls march in with flowers and each team is announced.

After the awards with her flowers and 3rd place medal.

Level 4 States 3/10/18

Floor. 8.6

Vault  8.5

Bars 9.375

Beam 8.5

AA 34.975

3rd place bars!!!!

Honestly it wasn’t Ally’s best meet of the season. But Becky and I have never been more proud. Ally’s huge smile afterwards made it all worth it. She was happy to have won a 3rd place medal. 

She did her best and competed with pain and was proud of herself.

Since the meet Ally has continued physical therapy and cut way back on all running and jumping. No gym class, no running at recess, and at practice she only does bars.

This past week she had a follow up at the orthopedist, x-rays and an MRI. We’ve learned that Ally’s knees are a little mis-shaped which is leading to her knee cap moving around a lot. This movement is compounded by her hyper-flexibility. Consequently the cushioning (fat pad) behind her knee cap is getting pinched. This is a pretty painful condition that can take a long time to heal. We have some gel lotion to rub in her knees 4 times a day and continue with PT to strengthen her surrounding muscles and teach her to use her knees with better form. 

The doctor said Ally should continue to reduce the stress on her knees and suggested Ally stat using the elevator at school. She also said Ally could start back at practice with tumbling and jumping and running as much as Ally could tolerate the pain. 

We will see what Ally is up for. Right now Ally is pretty frustrated and upset with the pain. But she loves gymnastics.

It was also good to learn that Ally doesn’t have a serious injury and her knees look good except for these two small issues. And it’s NOT because of gymnastics that Ally has pain. She probably would have this pain if she did any sport at the level she does gymnastics. If she was a runner who ran daily or a soccer player, her body mechanics would have come into play. So in a way it’s good that Ally learn how to correct her motion now while she is young. 

This past week her gym was invited to hear Aly Raisman the two time gold medal Olympian speak at a local college. Ally went with some of her teammates.

Katie, Mari, Ally & Eliana

Afterwards they had a group picture with Aly Raisman

Ally is the circle on the left and the Olympian Ally is the circle on the right!