Reflecting on a Successful Competitive Season

Dear Team Families, 

   The end of the competitive season is almost here and I could not be prouder of the way our gymnasts and coaches have chosen to Thrive in their State, Regional and National Meets. Our athletes and coaches showed up and showed out. They competed amazing routines, demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship and had a lot of fun together.

    The conclusion of the season tends to be bittersweet. At the beginning of the season, our gymnasts and coaches create goals and visions for how the year will go. They work day in and day out to achieve those goals. Some days the energy is right and progress seems so effortless. Some days are harder. Doubt can creep in and fear can sometimes strike. The push and pull of days in the gym are rewarded with the chance to compete at each meet. Medals, scores, and placements are a chance to measure how far they have come and how much more they need to go to get where they want to be. This rhythm carries them through the winter and into the spring. Before they know it the last meet is here, bringing with it the final chance to put it all together for the crowd. They go out, they give it their all, and they leave it all on the mat.

    At the end of a season, sometimes their goals have been achieved. Sometimes there were setbacks that got in the way. Regardless of the outcome, our gymnasts are different than they were at the beginning of the competitive year. They are better. They are more seasoned. They have learned life lessons that were meant just for them. They have evidence that they can be brave. This year may have been about overcoming obstacles, experiencing triumph or mastering the mundane. No matter the path they traveled this year, it had lessons along the way for each of them. It had moments that are forever imprinted on their hearts. It is a season that is theirs to remember, learn from and build on for the future. 

   Soon, it will all begin again. The gym will be buzzing with new skills, new levels and the creation of new teams. The new season will start, new goals will be set and another year will take flight. The experiences of this season will help shape the new season to come. The lessons learned will lead to new accomplishments and greater confidence. We will look forward to the first meet of the season once again, and though we can not predict how the new season will go, we can be certain that there will be lessons in it for us all. And through our commitment to learning those lessons, we will continue to Thrive.  

Sincerely,

Courtney