January 23, 2023
Conquistador Classic 2023
The Conquistador Classic is our annual local meet! It happens in Saint Augustine less than ten minutes from our gymnastics facility and most of our team parents and siblings volunteer there. The insanely long driveway from the welcoming “World Golf Village” stone marquees on either side of a beautiful bridge over a ditch across from the Costco/Bucees light is one of the most stunning natural tunnels to drive through. Large oak trees with scattered spanish moss touch branches together over the well-kept roadway. Yes, when this Florida writer pens, “tunnel,” it means treetops over the road.
Jillian is competing Xcel Silver this year. Her WGVG team took 3rd place! She loves her team sisters and gets super proud of what they do – I hear all about Olivia’s amazing floor or how straight Sera’s form was on bars. She got to volunteer after her meet as mom was carless at work & Grandma had to start work before Jillian’s meet was complete. (All Photos are thanks to my amazing fellow Silver Moms!)
Kimberly is competing Xcel Platinum this year. Her team is much smaller than it’s been in previous years. She loved volunteering at her home meet this year.
One of our observing grandpas said, “I couldn’t tell our girls apart out there with all the matching outfits and hair – they all look alike!” I love that! We have matching leotards and warmups and an absolutely stunning (and fun!) hairstyle that I think makes them all look so professional. One of my favorite parts of watching a meet is when the team steps forward and waves at their introduction – the girls are all smiles and glowing faces! (see “Introduction wave” in photos above)
I can’t help but get excited for them when meet season is on. They travel, enjoy their teammates’ company, show off what they’ve been learning, and encourage each other. Competition brings challenges that my girls have different feelings about. Jillian loves the spotlight. Kimberly gets nervous when she sees me watching her in practice. Jillian gets a little goofy in front of a crowd, she’s working on that. Kimberly overthinks and freezes, she’s working on that. Like everything in life, there are challenges to be faced: time management (like planning 15 minutes of traffic delay for every hour of travel), overcoming nervousness (no freezing and looking stern, and no goofy giggling and going limp like a noodle), encouraging others and finding joy even when you haven’t had the best day (keep smiling and no complaining or blaming), getting up and doing it again when you fall (I was so proud of Kimberly in the first meet – she got back up and finished the beam skill), always doing your best in that moment, always having fun with the breath you’ve been given!
I get to see Kimberly’s third meet! It’s a Sunday in the early morning – which means mom & Kimberly & tag-along car ride to Kissimmee. I love hanging out with my kids! Long car rides are perfect because we have nothing better to do than play road games, talk, or car karaoke along with favorite songs. (I’ve learned some newer songs this way – long car rides and PNO are the only reason I know all the words to every Descendents song)
I get to see both of their fourth and fifth meets! We’ll all be riding together for the fifth one because it’s on the same day for both of them. I’m excited to do meet hair! (Crazy, I know, but I love it!) I choose to enjoy every breath I’ve been given, wonder in every moment I get with them, and encourage them to whatever they want.
Lots of crazy off-road travel for this writer’s brain today… but back to the amazing local meet that Grandma got to watch (because, it’s local!)…
I pray for their hearts to be edified and encouraged by their coach and teammates. I pray they are the lights to encourage and edify others. I pray they always smile and enjoy what they love. Kimberly loves “being in the air” and Jillian loves anything fast and strong.
Thank you for reading!
Type at you next time!
~Nancy Tart