Senior Preseason Practice Interviews

11/08/07 4:30PM

Williamsburg - As the W&M women’s gymnastics team continues through preseason training, preparing for next month’s Green and Gold instrasquad exhibition, senior team captains Tricia Long and Stevie Waldman sat down to discuss how practice has progressed and chat about the upcoming competitive season.

The team has been practice now for a couple weeks, and we’re just inside a month away now to the Green and Gold exhibition on Dec. 6. What’s your evaluation of the preseason so far?:

TL: It has been good. As a team, we’re dealing with a few injuries right now, but everyone is doing what they can. I think we’re all starting to push each other a little bit more in the gym, and everyone should be set to go for the Green and Gold next month.

SW: I think this past week, we really started to put things together as a team. We’re starting to prepare and look forward to the Green and Gold meet. Things have picked up in practice, and everyone is cheering for each other to do well. Like Tricia said, we do have some injuries right now, but we always do, so we’re just dealing with it.

Is the team excited about competing against each other in the Green and Gold meet, and do you think it will give you a good idea of where you stand?:

SW: I’m excited for the Green and Gold because I love competing. Even though it doesn’t really count, we still warm up as a team and go through our regular routines, and there’s always a little bit of a rivalry between the teams.

TL: One of our goals and plans this year is to treat the Green and Gold like a regular season meet. Hopefully, with that attitude, it will show us where we are and what we need to work on, and then we’ll be ready for when the season starts.

The two of you make up the entire senior class. Has that been an adjustment, taking on more of a leadership role?:

SW: It’s been a little bit of an adjustment, but I think, because last year there was only the two of us as juniors, the senior class kind of brought us into that leadership role early. It’s a little different this year in that now we are the leaders and the ones who are in charge, but I really enjoy having the role. I like the responsibility, and I like being the one to motivate.

TL: I also enjoy it. I try to lead by example, and I do like when the team comes to us for answers and guidance, and I realize, ‘Oh yeah, I am in charge.’ It has been fun so far.

Have you all, as a team, put together season goals yet?:

SW: Our team goal is to place in the top-three at the ECAC conference championship that we’re hosting [at William and Mary Hall]. We want to put on a good show because the event is in our house.

TL: We also want to qualify for the team finals of the USAG Championship.

Is it exciting knowing the conference championship meet is at home this season?:

TL: With all the conference teams coming here, and with what should be a big crowd, I think it will be very exciting to have it here.

On an individual basis, have you set any goals?:

TL: Personally, I would like to qualify for NCAA Regionals again and also qualify for USAG Individual finals. I’m working hard for that.

SW: I have the same goals, but I’ve had to deal with knee and back injuries in my career, so my goal is to be healthy and try to get back to competing in all four events and perform well in each event.

Stevie, you mentioned the injuries, something you’ve had to deal with almost your entire career at W&M. How have you been able to put that behind you?:

SW: I honestly try not to think about it anymore. I just want to have a good season. I’ve had it in my head that I’m going to compete and get through this season, no matter what, because I’ve had to push so hard to get here. The pain and the injuries will be there, but I know I can make it through one more year.

Tricia, you on the other hand, have been relatively healthy your entire career. Is there a secret to your success?:

TL: No, I don’t really have a secret. I’ve had a lot of the little nagging injuries, but nothing serious to this point, luckily. It’s just kind of worked out that way, I guess.

Looking at the schedule, it appears to be as tough as you’ve seen during your careers. Is it another challenge as well, not having a home meet until so late in the season (March 12th)?:

SW: I think it’s actually a good thing. Last season, we had the first meet at home, and I think everyone was kind of lax and laid back instead of going all out and starting off at a high level. This year, we have the two home meets back-to-back right before the ECAC meet, so going into the championship meet we’ll have a familiar environment and should be peaking at the right time.

TL: One of the good things about this year’s schedule is we’ll be facing a lot of our conference opponents during the [regular] season. We’re traveling to a lot of meets where we’ll actually get to see the ECAC teams compete, so I think we’ll have a better idea of what to expect when the championship comes around. And then, competing against the big teams and national-level teams always helps fire you up and gets you going.

With only two seniors, and a small junior class as well, this is a pretty young team. How has the freshman class and younger gymnasts performed to this point?:

SW: The freshman class as a whole has shown a lot of hard work and motivation to compete at this level. There have been a few injuries in the class, but they’ve been gung-ho since we started. We set a standard at the beginning of the season for everyone to not hold back and be aggressive, and the freshman class has really embraced it.

TL: I think the junior class has also stepped up a lot so far in practice, because they know they are getting ready to take on more of a leadership role, this season and next.

Heading into your senior season, is there one thing in particular you are looking forward to the most, whether it be the ECAC meet or USAGs?:

SW: Just competing again. I love the whole competition during the season. I actually don’t want the ECAC meet to get here fast, because that will be near the end of our careers. But, I would say competing each week is what I am looking forward to the most.

TL: Yeah, I would have to agree with Stevie. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and competing and showing what we have.