MADISON WHITNEY

January 22,2003
So don't think that I ever told you about the GREAT new dance instructors that Lois got. I used to skip the dance classes, and take some classes in town, because I didnt'like the instructor. Yet know I can't get enough with dance. So since dance is offered Monday through Saturday from 4 to 8pm. I usually go 5 days a week from 7-8, or from 6-8 depending on my school schedule. I never did tell you about school now did I? I'm trying something new this semester. Since I used to be homeschooled, but that is really no way to meet anyone outside of gymnastics. So I talked my parents into letting me go to school for some classes, and getting homeschooled from other classes. So I go to school, I take Biology lab from 10:15-11:00 MWF, and then Algebra 2 from 11:00-11:45 also on MWF, now these classes do run 5 days a week, but since I also have to train, I don't go on Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless I have meet, that weekend, and in that case I would switch my schedule for the week. I get homeschooled in literature & language arts, history & geography, and writing. So I usually get back to Topo at about 12-12:15, go to lunch and then I do homework and school work from 12:45-1:50. Then I either have my open workout or private lessons at 2:00 until 6:00. Then at 6, I will go have dinner, and then to dance class. See usually the gym is very busy at night, so during the afternoon when most of the girls are in classes at school, I'm in the gym working. Sometimes I will go to the gym early, right after lunch to do conditioning. I have found, that if I go to the gym right after I eat lunch and workout.. I get a tummy ache. So I try to let my food like digest!! Well I think that is enough for today, I've been writing for a while, and Dominique wants me to turn the lights off. Well I will talk to you tomorrow and let you know how trainings been going for the meet!! I can't wait till Friday when we leave for the meet!!
Maddie

Jan 21, 2003
Well this is my news for today...Soyon told me that if I decide to go senior that I should get a new floor routine. She said it would have to be more mature than my Itsy Bitsy Spider routine, though she says its good for me because I'm very playful and I have a lot of fun with it!! I love this routine because it is sooo fun, and I love my choreography!!! Though since I'm debating still about going senior, I have to decide soon. Soyon told me that she would choreograph my routine, but I think that if I got a new routine that I would want to fly back to my MA gym, and have my old choreographer do it for me. She did my last one, and I love how she works. I don't know...I'm still waiting to hear from coach Lois, but she's been soooo busy lately. So if anyone is readign this, and thinks I should stay junior or go senior let me know by leaving me a message in my mailbox. Or if you have any ideas for new more "mature" music for me, leave me a message in my mailbox. If you are even reading this leave a message in my mailbox. If you are really bored, and your name isn't "brain-washed Tiger Morgan Raducan," then leave a message in my mailbox. Have you figured out what I want yet??????? I WANT MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks :)
Maddie

January 20,2002
Well yesterday I had a TERRIBLE practice, and Soyon pulled me aside and told me that if I didnt' shape up I'd be off the team for the meet that we're going to next weekend. So she told me to come back right after lunch to work on beam and vault. She told me that if I couldnt' hit my routines then, then I would only travel to the meet as the alternate. I had a quick lunch and was back at the gym before Soyon got there. I was stretching, and she told me that I was capable of sooooooooooo much more, but I really have to focus and think about what I am doing before I do it. Sooooo I worked on beam for like 2 hours and then on vault for like another hour. Soyon told me that I was doing a whole lot better, and she told me to remember to focus all the time!! Then I had my bar private lesson with Michael, and I worked on my double twisting double layout with him off bars into the pit. He was all excited and called over Soyon who was workign with another gymnast on beam. She was really happy with the dismount into the pit. She told me that when I get back from the meet this weekend I can try it on the regular bars onto soft mats. I can't wait..I love this dismount!! ITs a lot of fun!!! Also Dominique loved what my mom sent her, she didnt' even have any of the rubber duckies that my mom sent her!! So I was happy with that! Today practice went sooo much better, and Soyon told me that I did brilliantly on bars. I was happy with that. Well I gotta go study for my test tomorrow.
Bye for now
Maddie

Januar 19, 2003
Oh..... guess what I forgot to tell you yesterday, my package came!!! I got a star bulletin board and my mom sent Dominique a duck one. Dominique was thrilled, we replaced our old BORING bulletin boards right away. My mom even sent some duckie shaped tacks for Dominique, and glittery star shaped ones for me!!! She also sent me 5 new beanie baby bears, and she sent 3 rubber duckies for Dominique!! She even managed to find a rubber duckie wearing a bathing suit!! That one was sooooooooo cute. My favorite bear was the February bear because it was purple and green, it looked sooooo cute!! Its on the shelf right above my bed. My mom also sent me a new leotard. Its light purple on the bottom, and then slivery shiny stuff on top. She also sent me a glitter velvet purple leotard with star rhinestones on the front. She also sent me Mackenzies, Morgans, Michaela's and Madeline's gymnastics pictures. She put them in frames so I can put them around my room. She also sent me these really cool jeans that she said Mackenzie said I would love, and I SURE do.... they are awesome!! Well I'll talk to you later.
Bye,
Maddie

January 18
OMG OMG our whole squad made a team for a meet this was posted on the team bulletin board today:
Next weekend is the Bridgeview Classic, another invitational. This one has both team and all-around competitions. Our team consists of the top 5 from the current rankings, and the next 7 who didn't get to travel to Texas. We're also sending two alternates this time, who will not compete unless someone is injured. Lois, Michael, and Soyon will travel with the team.
Team One
(Soyon)
Atler, Melinskova, Miller, Ranimilo, Riordan, WHITNEY
Alternate: Volatil

Team Two
(Michael)
Cardiff, Jarvis, Liukin, Phillips, Ray, Williams
Alternate: Yim
My first traveling meet in a long time!!!!I'm sooo excited, and that the Lilly Squad will be competing as a team at this meet, its great, and really exciting!!! I hope to do really well and hit my routines the best I can to help our team win!!! I have to go trian really hard this week. Today Soyon told us all the news, and she said that she was proud to be going to coach us at this meet. She also said that it was exciting that her husband was also going ot the meet as well. She told us that she is goign to work us very hard this week so we are fully prepared for the meet next weekend!! I can't wait!! We also had a movie night in the lounge tonight, but we really wanted to see the ladies free skate, so we stopped the movie, and watched. I was soo upset when Sasha fell..she is such a great skater. I really wanted her to win, but at least she made the World team, maybe she'll win at Worlds!! Now that would be REALLY exciting!! Well I"ll talk to you tomorrow.
Maddie

January 17
Well today I had lunch with the girls who are in our LILLY POWER LILLY SQUAD!!!!!!! Oh my goodness it was sooooo much fun. It was Eva, Dominique, Vada, Jenna, Jessica and Marina. After lunch we said good bye to Jess and Eva, Dominique gave them our special Lilly Squad Rubber Duckies, and teddy bears. We also gave them to all the members of the Lilly Squad!! We know that Jess and Eva will do great in Texas, but also wish that the whole squad could go down and compete and cheer them on...but the next meet we are DETERMINED to go together!!! We have been working sooooo hard. After lunch, and after the Texas Flyers left, me, Dominique, Vada, Jenna and Marina decided to have a sleepover in the lounge since we didnt' have a scheduled workout on Saturday until 11am. I can't wait..its gonna be a LOT of fun...but for now its off to train for my open workout. I have a private lesson with Soyon on beam to work on my jumps!!
Maddie

January 16
Well today I had my first private lesson with Dan on bars and I don't know why everyone thinks he is soooo mean and tough. He is tough, but in no way did I take it as mean. He worked with me for 2 hours on my double twisting double layout dismount for bars. He said that I'd have to redo my whole bar routine to use thsi as a dismount, but he said on the ride to Texas he'd work on it and see if he can come up with a routine with that dismount that will have a 10SV. We set up another private lesson for bars and also one on vault. He said he saw me working with Soyon on it, and he said he had some ideas to help me improve my difficulty on this event. I have to rally get working on vault this season, he said that if I do have a weak event, that vault is definatly it!! He did say my FHS layout 1 1/2 vault looks great, but I really need to work on my technique on my Tsuk vault and he said we'd concentrate on it,during our next private lesson.
Maddie

January 15
This is a letter that I got from Mackenzie today...

Dear Maddie, Hope your having TONS of fun at Topopolilly, I really hope you are working hard. I had a meet last weekend, and I got first place all around in the open division for ages 13 and under. I got a 9.45 on vault for 1st place, a 9.225 on bars for 3rd place, a 9.675 on beam for 1st place and a 9.8 on floor for 1st place. I only did my full twisting double back on floor, I didnt' try my double layout yet. Coach said maybe at Classics. I also went to elite testing at the end of December, and got a 38.15 in the compulsories and 36.775 on the optionals. My start values were kinda low, because Coach knew that I didnt' have to score too high to qualify for elite again. Morgan is learning a Yurchenko..and is doing really well with it..she may get to try it on the table in a few weeks! She wanted me to add that in. Madeline had her first level 5 meet and had trouble on beam, she just couldn't stay on... poor kid got only a 5.2 on beam, but still managed to qualify for sectionals, she needed to get a 31.0 AA and she got 9.4 on bars, 9.3 on floor, and 8.4 on vault for a 32.3 AA score. She placed first on bars and floor, and 6th on vault. Well I know your busy training...and I've already written sooo much...I'll hopefully be home next time you call. Have fun, work hard adn stay safe!!
Love, Kenzie

I just thought I'd share that letter with everyone who remembers Mackenzie...so you know how she's doing!!
Maddie

January 14
Well yesterday I was telling you about our room...Well I had a GREAT idea about our bulletin boards after I talked to my mom. She works for a company that can make custom bulletin boards...So I'm going to surprise Dominique with a yellow rubber duckie shaped one...and I'm going to get either a teddy bear shape or a star shape...My mom said she was going to surprise me!! I can't wait to get it in the mail. She also said that she got some more beanie baby teddy bears for me...and she said she found some cute little rubber duckies that she is going to send too for Dominique. She said she hopes that Dominique doesnt' have them. I think I'm a little happier now because I've been talking to my mother more, and I get along well with Dominique. I really can't wait to compete again...Soyon said I'm looking better every dayand I can't wait to get to compete again to show everyone.
Maddie

January 13
Well today I foudn out I didnt' make the team for the Texas Flyers meet....I was really dissappointed. The only good thing was that I wasn't going and Morgan was..so we'd be separated for a few days. Lois talked to me..and she convinced me to try to work it out..and to give it a week and then see if I feel the same way or not. I talked to my mom on the phone...and she said pretty much the same thing. She said that I have invested too much in my career to let a little fight mess it up. So I've been trying my best to avoid Morgan. Well on the other hand...I've been having TONS of fun decorating our room with Dominique!! What we did was put up shelves and now we have rubber duckies and beanie baby teddy bears all around our room...Its quite colorful!!!
Well I'll talk to you tomorrow!!
Maddie

January 12
Well journal today wasnt' such a great day for me.... Let me tell you how it all stated...Morgan and I were having dinner together when we started thinking...what if we knocked down the wall between our rooms, and then me, Morgan, Dominique and Keshira could have ONE BIG ROOM!!! And we'd keep it really quiet and like no one would have to know!! We were gonna do it when Gramma Benni was asleep, or when she was out. Cuz we all know how much of a sound sleeper Gramma Benni is...but some how she wakes up at the same time everyday, but that is a different story in itself. So Morgan and I thought that woudl be a great idea. UNTIL Morgan saw Lois and went and squealed on me...she told Lois it was all my idea, and then called me a liar because we were just thinking about it, heck we had to ask our roommates before we did it anyhow!! So I got really mad at Morgan and then Marina walked in...and asked what was wrong, and also asked for her chocolate back( she is some insane chocolate lover, but I still love her anyhow!!!! Thanks Marina!! :) ) Well MORGAN RADUCAN tells her 'oh Madison took your chocolate, that I was going to give to you..ask her for it" Now I don't eat chocolate, I don't even like chocolate, (well I don't think I do cuz I never have had it, I'm on a very strict diet to keep my body at the ultimate performance level) So I'm like no I didn't Morgan..and luckily Marina believed me, but then Morgan threw her cold mashed potatoes at me, and then her carrots...well since I didn't want to get in trouble for starting a food fight I told Morgan that unless she apologized by that night that I was going to quit Topopolilly, and she said she didn't care. Everyone else who witnessed this is like don't quit, dont' go, just forget it. But I was like sooooooooo mad at Morgan that I didnt' want to have to see her everyday. So I went upstairs to my room, slammed the door and had a good cry. Marina came to see me, and then Dominique asked what was wrong so I had to tell her. Well Morgan! still didn't apologize, and I hadn't done my conditioning for the night, so I headed over to the gym. Low and behold Morgan was coming back from the gym, and didn't say anything to me. So I just kept walking...I was over at the gym conditioning until Lois turned the lights off and finally kicked me out at 10:30pm..By then I was too tired to go to the party, I was just mad, and tired and sweaty. So I dropped off my gym bag in my room, checked my bulletin board, STILL...nothing from Morgan, but I had messages from Eva and Emily. So I took a shower and went to bed, Dominique was at the party in the lounge and I imagine Morgan was there too..but I don't care. I guess me at Topopolilly wasn't meant to be, and I should just go someplace else where I will be happier. I'll talk to you tomorrow...before I leave.
Maddie

January 11
Well me and Morgie were talking today and came up with a GREAT plan. We want to knock down the wall between our rooms, and make one BIG room for me, Morgie, Dominique and Keshira. Morgie and I think that this is a GREAT idea, and we want to to make bunk beds as well. Lois of course wasn't too keen of this idea, but heck whatshe doesn't know, won't hurt her!! She said Gramma Benni might get mad, but what can they do AFTER the wall is down?? I don't think we'll do it right away, it'll take a while, plus we don't know how we're gonna knock it down yet. Well I GOTTa GO TRAIN< I'll come back and talk to you tomorrow Bye Bye Bye
Maddie

January 9
OK so I am REALLY bummed about the intesquad, I don't know what happened. I started on bars where I totally NAILED my routine, but then during touch warm up for beam I couldn't hit anything. Then during my routine I missed my full twist. I was sooooo mad, I have never missed this. Then I just missed my full twisting back handspring combo. I made the full twisting back handspring, but I didnt' do the layout that comes after it. On floor I messed up a few dance combos and went out of bounds on my 2 1/2 twist punch front full. On vault I didn't stick either vault, and took lots of steps after each o them. I was really dissappointed in my results. I though I had trained hard, and was ready for this meet, but i guess not. I'm going to have to work a lot harder. Well I'm going to go to bed now, and then in hte morning we find out our squads. So because of my intersquad results, like no one will want me on my squad. I don't know, maybe I should just be on a squad by myself, because I did so bad :( Maddie

January 6
OMG guess what now!!!! That was Lois and Brittany,seems that with Morgie coming back dorms have to get switched, and they HAD to be switched late tonight, why in the middle of the night I don't know...so I had to pack up my stuff for sleeping and move up to the B floor and in with Dominique. Now Dominique was sleeping, and I know how much I hate getting worken up in the middle of the night soooo....since her old roomie was already gone, I just jumped into bed and went fast asleep. Well then...I guess a little while later she woke up and SCREAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I didn't hear this, why probably because I had already been woken up once, and I knew I had o get up early for practice the next day. SO I guess I just blocked it out, of course I guess Morgie came running in, and told Dominique who I was, and they must have figured that we all got switched around!! I guess it was quite comical, too bad I was sleeping!! Well I gotta go practice now. TTYL journal...Bye for now Maddie

January 3
Well today I found out Morgie is coming back, but shes' on vacation so she's not coming back for a little bit. I heard some of the girls are going to go skiiing, snowboarding and tubing next weekend. I don't know if I'm going to go yet, because we have a bunch of meets coming up, and I don't want to get injured, and also lose an afternoon of practice which I need. Well I said I'd tell you about Mackenzie and Michaela. Mackenzie is an elite gymnast, but she was training back in MA with me, and she's stillthere. She was doing great at that gym though, and she loved the coaches, so I think she is going to stay there for a while. Michaela is also there, competing levle 10 this season. She is getting to be sooo good. Chaela also ice skates with Madeline, and she's really goodat that too. Her skating coach told her that if she wanted to she could competing in ice skating, and do really well, but she's stickig with gymnastics right now. Well I gotta go to bed, I! 've been really tired, but I think its because I've been workign so hard everyday in the gym. I can't wait to see how I do at our first meet which is next Wednesday!! I just hope to hit all my routines, that's all that really matters. The scores don't but being consistent does matter to me in the long run. Well talk to you tomorrow journal, good night!
Maddie

June 29 #2
Well...guess what happened last night. Morgie had another snoring fit...OMG does she snore loud..so I have my pillow over my head, and then I decided that wasnt' going to work so I was going to the bathroom to get some water to pour on her head when I saw Kelly, Cameron, Arika and Amanda also coming out of their rooms and this is like midnight....They didnt' like my water idea..they said she'd scream and we'd all get in trouble. Cameron thought about letting the snake loose in our room..and hoping it would wake Morgie up..But Gramma Bennie or Lois woke up we'd be in BIG TROUBLE and Cameron and Kelly would lose their snake. So we decided to have a slumber party int the lounge. It was fun..at least we couldn't hear Morgie snoring int there. SOOOOOO then Morgie wakes up at 6 am and can't find me...and I guess she was about to get Gramma Bennie and tell her I was kidnapped..because we all know how Morgie has to wake me up in the morning. Morgie finally found us all in the lounge with me, Cameron and Amanda still asleep...Boy oh boy did we ever rush out of hte lounge to get ready for squad practice we made it just in time!! Morgie was late..how I don't know..it was weird, but she had to do laps while we did TONS of conditioning eek!!!
Maddie

June 29
OMG OMG OMG I can't believe that I left you in Moscow!! I am sooooo sorry...you can ask the girls I was like freaking out on the plane back from Moscow. I'm just sooooo happy that Inessa sent it back to me..I finally got you back today :) Russian overseas mail takes a long time...I just should have waited till the Moscow girls came over to Topopolilly. Isn't that exciting..we went to see them and train with them in Moscow and now they are coming to train with us. I hope Coach Yevgeny is coming..I want to show him how my bars routine is coming along..I'm really excited its coming along so well. Well I'll talk to you later after workout bye
Maddie

June 14
Well I trained hard today to prepare for the meet tomorrow..Good News today... NO RUSSIAN CAFETERIA FOOD!!!! We went out for lunch and dinner. Lunch was just simple for me a salad, soup and some bread and water and juice. THis was because we were still goign to be doing hard training later on and I didnt' want to worry about being to full. For dinner I went all out.. I got some dish that Inessa suggested which included a pasta dish, and bread! I really LOVE russian bread!! I also had some kind of meat I dont' know if it was ham or beef, but it was stil good.. Morgie and I are continuing not to get along which is sad because we were roommates for a long time. I dont' think its going ot last much longer. I loved the ballet but since I was soooooooooo tired from training all day, I almost fell asleep at the end so Morgie who was sitting behind me splashed me with water, and I couldnt' say anything because you have to be quiet at the ballet but BOY oh BOY did Lois get mad afterwards!!!!!!!!! HA HA HA Morgie!!! Well I gotta go to bed because we have a big meet tomorrow and I want to do really well for my team!! I don't want to le anyoen down. I feel pretty confident with all my routines which is really good... I can't wait for tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!!
Bye for now
Maddie

June 12
SO guess what happened to me after dinner tonight that I actually ate!! I actually ate the food for dinner, adn it was very very good!! Maybe because I love ham and I love potatoes. Though Russian potato salad is nothing like American potato salad, but it was very good nonetheless. After that I went back to the gym and worked a little on hitting my handstands in my bars routine. One of the Russian coaches, Coach Yevgeny saw me and came over to help me...What meant to be about a 20-30 min practice turned out to be a 2 hour private workout with Yevgeny, but he was great!! He is such a GREAT coach on bars!!! I think I learned soooo much in 2 hours!! He showed me what I was doing wrong on my full twisitng tchachev adn then had me working on a double twisting double layout, he said that I twisted really well adn fast, so he had me doing them onto like 3 really squishy mats. I was actually making them. He was really excited it was kinda funny to see a grown man so excited on a little gymnast making a big time dismount!! We actually had to be asked to leave the gym at 9pm when it closed but he told me that I I watned to work on it some more tomorrow thta I could, and to come down after dinner again. If its not too late after the banquet, or during our afternoon break.. I originally planned to work some more on my homework but I was soooooooooooooooo tired after my tough after dinner workout with Yevgeny that I jumped in the shower and then went to bed, I was exhausted!! So goodnight journal I'll write more tomorrow..
Maddie

June 9
Morgie: MADDIE GET UP WE'RE GOING TO RUSSIA TODAY!!!!!
Maddie:zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Morgie: I'm gonna drag you into the shower and put on the COLD water if you don't get up RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
Maddie: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
(what do you want when I go to bed at 3am after helping MORGIE pack...who already had her packing done?? Hmmm.... lets see here.... Miss MADISON had her packing done on FRIDAY!) Why can't I sleep!!
Morgie: Ok I'm going to get some help and to put on the shower!!!
Morgie comes back with Jess and Jennie
Jennie: Are you sure you want to do this Morgan?? She might be mad at you!
Morgie: She's had it coming to her, it'll be fun!!!
Jess & Jennie: Ok lets do it
Jess, Jennie and Morgie: Drag Maddie into the bathroom and put her in the shower and well the rest is history!!! LOL LOL LOL
That was my morning soooooo far, they all got a good laugh at my expense... but now they all have to carry my luggage all around the airports till we get to Russia... Just so I wouldnt' get them in trouble with Gramma Benni... he he he...
I don't know why I had to get up at 9:30am when we're not leaving the dorms till 11am. I could have slept till 10:27 am took a shower out by 10:37 brushed my teeth 10:40am get dressed 10:47 get all my stuff together 10:55 grab an apple or banana 10:57am and still have 3 minutes to spare!! They just don't think do they?? Well I'll wrtite to you on the plane to Russia! TTFN Maddie

June 8
Well I finally packed for the trip to Russia.. I think I hopefully remembered everything!! I packed
In my rolling suitcase...
6 pairs of pants
4 pairs of shorts
6 long sleeved shirts
5 short sleeved shirts
8 tank tops
1 dress ( I don't know if we need it or not)
1 pair of sandles
4 pairs of PJs
5 t-shirts
2 sweatshirts
1 jacket
all my various toiletries
Topo Gym Bag
14 workout leos
2 competition leos
Topo warm up suit
2 pairs of grips
chalk (you never know when you'll need it!!)
rip kit (I've been ripping a lot lately)
beam shoes(though I haven't been wearing them
my knee brace (just in case)
my ankle brace (just in case)
my wrist supports (must for floor and vault)
my goal notebook
my meet notebook
my hair scrunchies that match my leos!!
my gym flip flops
my gym running sneakers
My carryon..
walkman CD player
CD's
journal
camera
film
videocamera
digital camera
address book
stamps
my homework (Im tutored in school all summer)
pens/pencils
magazines
playing cards
gameboy
BUNGEE CORDS!!!!!
my cell phone
calling cards
I just hope I didnt' forget anything!! I'm gonna have to think about that... I have the rest of the day to put anything in that i might forget!!
Well I'll talk to you later
Maddie

June 7 #2
Well... we made it back from the CGA Invitational.. we did AWESOME as a team, but we have a HUGE meet this weekend, and its like I JUST competed do I have to compete already... but its a great praactice for Worlds and the Olympics where you compete like 3 or 4 days in a row!!! So I guess its something that I just have to get used to!! It was great to get back in the gym this morning and train!! I really had a few new thigns that I wanted to try.. mainly the whip half to a double front which I tried on the tumble track and Coach said after the Summerfest when we get to Russia I can start doing them on the floor there!! So now I can't wait to get to Russia!!!! I left the corn rolls in my hair, I'm gonna get 2 meets out of them!! LOL... Its so easy to wash my hair with them in!! After I got out of the shower guess what I see on the ground of the bathroom slithering across the floor with Kelly, Cameron and Gramma Benni in tow was Kelly and Cameron's SNAKE!!!!!!!!! I screamed sooooo loud I think the whole first floor and some of the second floor were in the bathroom to see what was wrong!!! It was scary and sooooooo funny!! I just hope they aren't bring that snake to Russia... how would they get it on the plane? Hmm..... I dont' think they are bringing it!! LOL.... How come they coldnt' have a nice little kitten or something cuter than a snak!e???? I think I'm gonna try to talk Morgan into getting some fish for our room, cute little gold fish.. I'll have to hope that Kelly's and Cameron's snake doesn't get in our room and eat them!!! That would be sooooooo sad!! Well I'll let you know how the SummerFest meet goes tomorrow!! Till then... Bye bye
Maddie

June 7
I can't wait for the summerfest meet, it should be a lot of fun, but I'm also soooooooo excited about Russia its gonna be really hard to keep focused and be ready for the meet and then leaving the next day for Russia!!
OMG... did i ever tell you how scary looking Cameron's and Kelly's snake is?? I am sooooooooo scared of their snake!! Why Lois and Gramma Benni ever let them have that snake in the first place is beyond me!!
Maddie

June 6 #2
Well, well.. the meet went pretty good ( I don't know the results yet, but lets just say we did great) But I'm going to talk about my hair in this entry. Well I told you last night that Morgie was going to to do my hair, well... lets just say Morgie should stick to gymnastics and definatly NOT go into hairdressing!! My hair looks great now, and I know sometimes it hurts to be beautiful but Morgie was torturing me this morning!!!! My head hurt for like an hour after she finished my hair, but it looked sooooo cute, I really loved it!! Also I decided that after having new routines for about a week or so I already want to start working on a new pass on floor. I want to do a whip half to a double front!! I saw some girls at the meet doing this and it looked soooooo cool!! I really really want to start working on the pass as soon as I get back to Topo!!
Well Bye for now... Hopefully I'll have results for you tomorrow journal!!
Maddie

June 5th
I PLACED 6TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who in the world could believe it, I certainly didn't at first but its like bars went great, then vault went TERRIFIC!!! I had a couple small bobbles on beam, but I ROARED back on floor with an AWESOME routine! Coach was sooo proud of me for doing so well, like they knew I could!! I still have to clean up beam a bit, but I was more worried about bars and floor than beam!! Also more good news both me and Morgan made the CGA Invitational meet, which I am actually at right now!! Training went well, I'm competing bars and vault, I think (memory lapse here, sorry if I'm wrong...LOL_) I'm just sooooooooo happy to be able to get out and represent Topopolilly again. It makes me feel soooooo proud of my accomplishments!!!!!! Well Morgie wants me I'll tell you about my other news later!! Bye Bye for now
Maddie

June 5th
Ok well I'm back, Morgie just wanted to tell me the schedule for the meet tomorrow!! We're not competing until the afternoon, so that means an early morning workout!! Better set my alarms and tell Morgie to make sure I'm up. She's doing my hair in corn rolls for the meet tomorrow so we have to get up extra early because it takes a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time for Morgie to do it!!! And to top it all off, i have to put curlers in my hair tonight so I can put my hair up in a bun after I get the cornrolls tomorrow. Well my good news is that we are going to MOSCOW!!!!!!! I'm soooooooooo excited trips with the TOPO girls are always soooooooo much fun!!! I can't wait to go but I don't know what to pack!!! I've never been to Moscow before, though the weather is suppose to be in the 40's to upper 60's so I'll probably be bringing lots of pants!!! We'll probably be in the gym mostly though!! I can't wait, though its gonna be a LONG plane ride, but it'll be worth it, we're going to RUSSIA!!!!!!! That is just soooooooooo cool!! I can't wait. Well I better get to bed, Morgie said she's gonna put me in the freezing cold shower tomorrow morning if I dont' get up early enough!! Eek!!!
Goodnight
Maddie

May 31
Well tomorrow is dooms day.. intersquad day... I really, really, really, really, really, hope to move up in the standings like top 10!!!!!!!! At least I finally found out that my bars start value was too low and that wasnt' helping my scores at all. So I actually changed most of my routines around. I also went back to my old level 9 music, but with new choreography. Its a great, great, great, great, great routine!! I can't wait to compete it. My sister Mackenzie helped me out with it, and Kenzie is still training hard. She's doing great, but she really misses Topopolilly. Poor kid, I feel bad for her. She loved Beijing but it closed, so its hard for her to find a gym that she loves, and she loved Topopolilly. Also that article in the twist today I agree with Kelly, it was kinda harsh. I am certainly not an inexperienced newcomer as is Kelly, we've been here for a while!!!! I just think that people should think about people's feelings when the write things ! like that!!!!!!!!! The thing I'm most proud of is my World team gold medal, and my beam silver medal!! That certainly doesn'tmake me unexperienced does it???
I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll let you know how i do tomorrow! Bye for now!!
Maddie

May 28
Well today I'm lonely :( Morgie is at the European Meet, and I'm all alone in my room. I know she'll do great, and she promised to call me on my cell as soon as she's done competing. I hope Topopolilly does great, even though I'm still here not on any team, and very discouraged. I've been training hard, and its like I'm not going anywhere, but down. I try hard, I don't know, but at times its hard to stay motivated when you aren't really training for any meet but the intersquads. But something must be right at this gym, I won a silver medal at the World Championships, how many gymnasts can say that? I was on the World Championship team that won gold. I'm also one of the few gymnasts here that is inducted to Topopolilly's Hall of Fame so that is something. But to come here as a great gymnast, and to have everything just fall apart at one meet is tough. I guess I'll just keep trying. Until tomorrow.
Maddie

May 27
Well I did soooo bad at the intersquad. I didn't made any of the teams that were being made after the intersquad. I don't know what to do its like I try soooo hard, and I'm coming up short!! Any help would be appreciated LOL.. Morgie on the other hand is doing AWESOME she made a couple teams and finished in 3rd place!!! She did awesome and I just stunk!! The only good thing was that made my layout stepout back tuck combo on beam, and Morgie screamed then i fell off on my turn right after it!! Boy did she get it after the meet!!! Well I'll be back later, I definatly gotta go train right now!! Especially on bars, that's what killed me yesterday.
Maddie

May 26
Well well well... back at Topopolilly again. Sorry it took me so long to write to you, but I had to get back into the swing of things. I'm soo excited to get back to Topopolilly. I'm soooo happy that I got in the same dorm room with Morgan again!! It was really cool, we were SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhappy to see eachother again. I've started training some new skills especially on beam. I'm working really hard on beam since I know thats my greatest shot at an Olympic medal! The best thing that I'm working on beam is a layout stepout immediate back tuck. I've ben doing pretty well with this. I'm almost making it all the time!! Well for now I gota go train. Morgie wants to go work on beam and bars, so I guess I better go with her!! Bye for now
Maddie

January 18
Wow its been a while Journal!! How ar you doing?? I'm not doing all that great, I'm trying but its really hard to be motivated. But I am trying. I don't know what to do for new routines, I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with new routines. Well other than beam, my beam is up to the new code. Mackenzie competed in her first big elite meet!! Right here at Topopolilly, I know she didnt' do as well as she had hoped but she placed really high on one of the events, I think it was either bars or beam she got like 2nd on!! So it was really exciting to see her do sooo well!! I couldn't believe it!! Our mom adn dad couldn't come watch her though :( so like all of the girls at Topo that remembered her came and cheered her on!! So she was pumpedup!!! Bye for now, time for school work!!
Maddie

December 8
Well I didt' make the Olympic team, and I was terribly dissappointed, but just like my said, there are better things to come!!I've been in such a slump since the trials, just kinda going along, training, but not really caring if I make my routines or not! Well now I do care!! I made the Atlantic Invitational Team, and I really want to do well there!! I want to try to win the AA!!! That would prove everyone wrong that Maddie is washed up at 13, do you know how hard that would be?? At the Intersquad meet, I think I did really well!! Especially on beam, I think I tied for the highest score there!! I think I'm getting a new floor routine, right after Christmas, I'm going home for a few days, to Michaela's gym to work wiht her choreographer. It's gonna be a surprise, but it'll be an AWESOME routine!! I promise you. Right now I'm debating about what tumbling to put in it!! I can pretty much do anything, double layout, double back,full twisting double back in tuck and pi! ke, triple twist punch front, front double twister,(those are FUN!!) and my favorite 2 1/2 twist punch front layout!! I LOVE that pass, that'll definatly be in my routine!! And guess what!! I Maddie am going to the school Christmas dance with a boy!!! He asked me to go with him, I'm soooooo excited!! I didnt' tell my mom yet, i don't think she'd want me to go, but too abad!! He's cute!!
Maddie

November 27 #2
well, training went really well today I htink my sore knee was just a freak thing!! I had this great idea about having a decorating party on Saturday!! It should be fun, and we can make it kind of celebratory for those who make the Olympic team and I'm gonna say it here!!! Jennie, Vada and Amanda IMO are shoe ins for the team the other 3 spots are probably between Eva, Jessica, Arika, Sarah, Marissa, Madison, Krista and Caitlyn. We all have a shot, but I don't see myself on this team, I just don't!! Which is terrible because I won't get to defend my medal on beam!! But I'm soooooooo happy with myself moving up so much in the rankings, I'm up to like 10th and before I was in 18th,so I think that is AWESOME!! I AM AWESOME MADDIE IS AWESOME!! I will do the best I can!! Even if I dont' make the team!! This time there is ALWAYS next time!! NEXT TIME MADDIE WILL DO GREAT!! AND AWESOME!! Maddie

November 27
Well my knee feels soo much better today!! Morgie and I decided to switch our room around!! It was VERY VERY VERY VERY messy for a while till we fnished switching it around. Now it looks AWESOME!!! You should all come and see it!! We also startedto decorate for Christmas!! We want to find a little tree to put in our room. So we can decorate it and everything!! It'll be sooo cool. Now what to get everyone for Christmas, hmm feel free to drop suggestions in my mail box!!! LOL I'm getting my sister Morgan a new TOPO leo, and sweatshirt!! She'll love it, thats what I'm gonna give to Michaela too, but also she gets a beanie baby bear!! She has soo many beanie babies its crazy, well you should see Morgan and my room!! We have TONS of stuffed animals and beanies from meets we went to we bought them, or won them, or fans gave them to us!! I remember one meet I went to when I was little if you won the AA or an event final you'd get a big trophy cup with a big Disney stuffed! animal. I still have all 4 that I won, a Dalmatian, Pooh Bear, Mickey Mouse, and Tigger!! That was an awesome meet!! Talk o ou later!
Maddie

November 26 #2
Well I'm doing training today!! I hurt my knee, well its sore so I'm going to take a break from training for the rest of the day to ice it and do some conditioning!! School was awesome today!! I did sooo well on my test!! I got the highest score in the class, i was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooExcited becaue it was a VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY tough test!!! LOL Get teh point!!
Talk to you later
Maddie

November 26
Well journal its a toss up now, who makes the Olympic team!! Its all about points and I really don't have that much, but Morgan doesn't either, so I don't think either o f us are going to make it!! Which stinks, but the way people have been acting, I dont' think I'd want to make the Olympic team, but there are others who will make the team who don't deserve it!! Which also stinks, but who cares, at least Topopolilly will send a team to try and defend our World title!! I just wanted to be there to defend my World's silver medal!! I really have been working hard on beam and I think tht aI would have had a great shot at a gold medal, but hey who cares I'll be back and maybe I'll get gold on beam, and gold AA, that would be soooo AWESOME!! Morgie and I will be back and make the next team and do awesome!! I can't wait. School has been fine, its not all that hard, but a little stressful with all thats been going on with the gym!! But after my first report card I have straight A's. My mom was sooo happy!! My sisters have been doing well, Mackenzie is switching gyms, shes going to go to Beijing, if she really likes it I might go there as well!! Morgan is competing level 9 this season. Michaela is competing the winter season as a level 7, and then trying level 8 for the spring season I got to see one of her level 7 meets!! She did sooooo well, she won it!! and she was the youngest and smallest one competing at that meet!! Her floor routine is to Itsy Bitsy Spider and its soo awesome, I want to use that music when she's done with it!!
Well gotta go train, bye for now!!!

November 15
Well I'm back, and I can't wait to really get going!! I'm soo happy that I've been so welcomed back!! I was a little apprehensive about coming back before Olympic Trials I didn't knowif I should or shouldn't because of my knee, but since I won silver on beam at Worlds I really, really really really want to go for a gold medal, and do better in the all around, so I felt as if I could be a strong competitor for Topopolilly, but if Morgan doesn't get going she wo't have a shot either!! We've always made teams together, we really, really really don't want to leave each other behind, its happend, but I ont' want it to happen with theOlympics!! I want to make this team and help defend our World Championships, I know we can do it thereare soo many strong gymnasts here who deserve a shot, so I just hope that I still have a shot to make the team, I will tryand train my best. I did practice while I was away and I saw Michaela compete in her first level 7 meet and she did sooo! well placing first AA and winning all the events but vault, she got a 9.35 on floor, a 9.55 on bars, a 9.475 on beam and a 8.95 on vault placing 4th. She's onlydoing a handspring but learning a Tsuk into the pit and she doe it really well!! Morgan is doing well at level 8 and she's going to go to level 9 in January. Mackenzie, well poor Mackenzie fractured a bone in her wrist and quit Incredible Heights, she just didn't like itthere, guess where she's going to try out!! Beijing Training Center in CHINA!! That gym is amazing, my mom and dad really don't want her to go there, but she really really likes it,so they said she could tryit!

September 19
Well I haven't written for a while and I'm sorry!! I'll try to write more for a while, I've just been soo busy with school!! I wish I could do homeschool, but my mom wants me to go to public school and its kinda hard to keep up with school and training, and everything!! Its been hectic and I'm only in 8th grade!! Wait till I get to High School then I will be in a LOT!!!!! of trouble!!!!!!!!!!
Well the gym has been ok, I've been just trying to make all my routines, adn struggling a little bit on bars!! I don't know why, my routine isn't all that hard!! Its just like I'm off!! So I gotta work on that before Worlds, my goal for Worlds, well I don't think I'll make the team, but I'd like to finish in the Top 10 and hopefully in the top 3 on beam and floor. At least beam though, its been going soo well, I absolutly love my beam routine, its soo much fun!!
Well wish me luck I'll try to write tomorrow, after school and gym!! Bye :)
Maddie

July 30
Well I'm a little bummed, I'm going to miss Nationals, it really stinks, but I guess its just bad timing!!! I really hpoe to be able to compete in World Trials a few weeks later. Training has been going pretty well, so hopefully I'll be ready for World Trials, I hope to get to compete soon!! I'm more than ready, and I'm finally moving up in the rankings, for a while I was at the bottom of the rankings and I was considering quitting because I wasn't getting anywhere!! Now its better, and I should have a new bar routine that should be more competitive, and easier for me!! Bye for now, Maddie

July 24
Well my poor journal has been lonely, sorry, I hurt my back and went home for a few days!! It was good to see Michaela she was out on tour for a while. She is doing really well in gym, I went to watch her one day, and she had only been training like 2 days a week while on tour, and it wasn't really structured, but she got lots of advice and tips on things, so it was kinda neat!! She placed 3rd at the state championships for level 5, and she was practicing level 6, and I saw her do her giants on strap bar, and also her RO BHS full, its really good, and she was doing BHS on beam, the only place she was struggling was vault, but she's not even 4 ft yet, she's kinda small, she's a peanut!!! She could do a pretty good handspring, but was having a tough time learning to twist!! She recently auditioned for another National tour, and a broadway show, waiting to see if she gets it or not, I secretly hope she doesn't, she won't get to train and compete too much, and she's a really good ! gymnast. Well about my back, I think it was just overuse, I had been trainng pretty hard, but now I'm just taking it slow, with no really big meets coming up, in a few weeks, like maybe Aug 7th, I really start going out full force, since Nationals will be right around the corner!!! So don't count me out yet!! Maddie

July 9#2
I made a lot of my new skills today in practice!! I was sooo happy!! I'm finally on again!! I can't wait to start competing again!!

July 9
Well practice went well today, I did really well on vault and on my new beam dismount or an arabian double front!! I can't wait to get to compete it!!!I'm working on upgrading my new routines!!! I can't tell you all what I'm adding yet!! But they will be great!! I think I'm going ot keep my vaults the same, my Tsuk double and front handspring layout full~I may do a front handspring layout full and a half!!! I can't wait, well time for more workout Bye for now!! Maddie

July 8
Well I guess a lot of people are writing me off because I'm way down in the rankings, but believe me I'm not gone yet!! I've just been really busy *In Real Life* and haven't been able to train as much as I've wanted to, but I do at least try to make the required workouts!! Hopefully starting this week I'll move up in the rankings!! So wish me luck, I want to get back on the TOP squad!!! Wait till you see my new routines, they are in the works!! You're gonna love them!!! Maddie

July 3
Well the tour is over, it was so much fun, where do I begin? I had the time of my life, and it really rekindled my love for the sport!! I was starting to lose it, and I was thinkinga bout quitting before we toured, but now I'm ready to go!! The Summerfest finals are today, and I'm a little nervous for floor, I didnt' do well at all during prelims, but I had 2 awesome vaults!!! Well my sister Mackenzie left to train with the TIPs Team, she's really good, and she competed in her first elite meet at the Summer Fest!!! She did really well considering it was her first elite meet!! She made her BHS full on beam, and so did I!!! Her scores were low because she didn't really change them from her level 10 routines, so her SV were low. I can't wait because next week I"m getting new routines, on all the events, and I really like a lot of the skills I'll be doing!! I can't wait to compete them!! Maddie

April 17
We're finally going to be getting some new food in the cafe!! Not that its bad or anything, but there isn't a lot of choices!! I said that I would really like some strawberries, maybe I should suggest a fruit salad, yum... that would be good!!! Eva was saying things like carrots, or celery, that's good if your a rabbit, but its not for me, icky!!! Morgan likes carrots though, maybe secretly she's a rabbit, she does have those silly rabbit ears in our room.... Hmmm??? LOL, sorry, off that subject! Well the prelims went well for Pan Ams, we are currently in 1st as a team, and I just qualified for all around finals and beam finals!! I really hope to do well, I want to move up, I had a solid meet, no major mistakes, but I had little mistakes here and there that just added up to scores in hte 9.5-9.6 range!! Floor, well I didn't do as well as I had hoped, my coach actually said, she thinks its time for a new routine, a new look, she said it looks like I'm bored when I'm doing ! my routine, but its like second nature, I just sort of do it, I think she's right, I'm ready for a new routine? Any ideas for new music, anyone?? I really want to get my arabian double front solid, so that can be my opening pass!! I love that pass, its tons of fun, then my whip to double layout, its new!!! I've been doing tons of them on the floor, they are pretty easy!! Also a 2 1/2 punch front layout, instead of a punch front 1/2/ Though I really like that pass, I'm looking forward to a new look. Also I may add a fourth tumbling run, a full twisting double back at the end, or a triple twist, possibly a whip though to a triple twist. I don't know, I'll have to decide with my coach!! Well, I've said enough for tonight, all my other routiens are going well, but I'm thinking about doing a totally new bar routine, I really don't like my routine as it is now. Good Night Maddie

April 16
Well Mackenzie is doing well, my family all came down to spend Easter with me!!! She is still on crutches, but her cast is off, give her another week and her crutches should be gone for good!! She said she was doing full bar routines, except for her dismount which she lands on her butt in the pit, and her transitions which she's changed so she doesn't have to have her feet on the bar!! She's being really creative, she came and worked out with me for a little bit on Sunday, and today before they left!! Michaela, oh my goodness, she has gotten soooo good, throwing double backs off bars, double twists on floor, tsuks on vault, BHS layouts on beam, its scary, and she's only 8 almost 9, and she just won level 6 last season, she has level 7 states coming up, then she said she's going to do one meet as a level 8 hopefully score high enough to be ready to compete level 9 next season!! I'm sooo proud of her, she's doing soooo well!!! I can't believe Topopolilly missed out on the finals! for Worlds, its soooo sad, I did the best I could, we all did, it just wasn't enough!!! I may make beam finals, I had a pretty high score, but I'm not counting on making any other finals, my scores were pretty low : (, possibly all around finals, I had the highest AA total from our team!! Well I've gotta go to bed, Good night Maddie Well Mackenzie is doing well, my family all came down to spend Easter with me!!! She is still on crutches, but her cast is off, give her another week and her crutches should be gone for good!! She said she was doing full bar routines, except for her dismount which she lands on her butt in the pit, and her transitions which she's changed so she doesn't have to have her feet on the bar!! She's being really creative, she came and worked out with me for a little bit on Sunday, and today before they left!! Michaela, oh my goodness, she has gotten soooo good, throwing double backs off bars, double twists on floor, tsuks on vault, BHS layouts on beam, its scary, and she's only 8 almost 9, and she just won level 6 last season, she has level 7 states coming up, then she said she's going to do one meet as a level 8 hopefully score high enough to be ready to compete level 9 next season!! I'm sooo proud of her, she's doing soooo well!!! I can't believe Topopolilly missed out on the finals! for Worlds, its soooo sad, I did the best I could, we all did, it just wasn't enough!!! I may make beam finals, I had a pretty high score, but I'm not counting on making any other finals, my scores were pretty low : (, possibly all around finals, I had the highest AA total from our team!! Well I've gotta go to bed, Good night Maddie

April 11
I MADE IT!!! I FINALLY after working sooo hard, making the World team I FINALLY made the TOP squad, which is soooooo exciting. Only problem is since Morgan hurt her knee, she was put on the POP squad : ( I was soo sad for her, but its ok, she'll be back on TOP before long Actually its kinda hard, I just had my first practice with them, and its not easy being on the TOP squad, I'm one of the youngest on the squad, and they expect you do it right everytime, no matter what!! All we did yesterday we had to stick, adn I mean stick 7 routines in a row on floor, beam and bars, and then we had to do our D and E skills and special combos an extra 20 times, and they didnt' count if you fell or messed up!! Then on vault we had to do 15 of each of our vaults, lucky for me, these vaults I'm doing are easy for me and I could probably stick them in my sleep, I didn't have to start over again on vault, but on the other 3 events I did : ( That was tough!!!! I know in the end it'll make me a better gymnast, but sometimes I wonder why I do it. My mom wonders the same thing, why I wanted it soooo badly, to do soo well in gymnastics. I love it I told her, the flying, being strong, being able to flip, its fun. If it stops being fun, why do it anymore, I'll quit, or cut back, but at Topopolilly its fun, and I love it here!! I talked to Mackenzie and her heel is doing sooo much better. She should be back in 2-3 weeks, if she keeps doing this well!! I can't wait.
Maddie

April 7
Well our intersquad is today and I'm a little nervous. Its our first meet since Worlds, and i haven't been doign too well in the rankings, well I'm determined to show them that I can get back up there!! well I better get up to get ready for the meet, Morgan said that she would do my hair in those little corn rolls, like Kristal Uzelac wears, I think they are sooooo cool!! Well I gotta go!! Bye Maddie

April 5
Well Worlds' have finally started, and the Opening Ceremonies were sooooo exciting!!! Cascade Locks went all out for that!! Well we got a good time block for podium training, at 3pm!!! So now I can sleep all I want!!! That is soooooo cool!!! I was watching the Aaron Carter concert on TV last night, and dancing to it!! I turned it up really loud, just to bug Morgan~! I was singing and dancing, then Morgan knocked on the door, and told me to turn it off!! Well I didnt', I just turned it down a little bit!! HA HA Morgan I got ya!! Well now i gotta go train, and make up for what I missed yesterday!! I was just too tired!! Bye for now Maddie

April 3
Well lately I haven't been training as much as I should have been, but well the only problem being that I'm doing all the podium training over at Worlds. Its been fun though, we have the most posts!! By a lot!! Its pretty neat!! Morgan and I are still roomies!! They changed the dorm assignments, but we ended up in the same room, and together!! I was sooo happy when I saw that we were roomies again!! Worlds training has been fun!! Its really cool having fun, hanging out with all the girls from the other gyms. I went swimming yesterday, after YELLING at Morgan for not waking me up!! Well she did but it was too early!! Its ok, sometimes, I just need to sleep, especially being out late the night before 10pm is late for me, usually I'm in bed by 9pm, told ya, I need my beauty rest!! Well I'm just rambling on about nothing!! Except Aaron Carter is soooooooooooooo cool, I have a HUGE poster of him in my dorm room, and Morgan hates it!! I'm planning to get some more posters of him! just to bug her!! LOL. I play his CDs over, adn over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over, and guess who HATES it!!........MORGAN!! LOL, too bad, she doesn't have great taste in music. Sorry I ranted on and on about you Morgan, but you know your my bestest friend, I really didn't mean any of it!! LOL
Maddie

March 31
Well Morgan and I made the World team!! We've been having TONS of fun podium training over at Cascade Locks!! I heard from Mackenzie today, she's doing better, she's actually started light training back at our old gym, doing mostly strength and bars, but it's a start. Well not much to say right now, I've been working, hoping to do really well at worlds as part of team TOPOPOLILLY!!!!!!!
Maddie

March 22
Well I was kinda bummed about Mackenzie breaking her heel!! BUT... I dedicated my performance at World Trials to her, and I made the TEAM!!! I'm competing AA with 4 of the TOP squad members!! It is sooo cool!!! Maybe I will make the TOP squad, but I don't know, it was more important for me to make the World Team. Morgan made the team too, which is AWESOME!!! I can't wait, the team prelims is tomorrow, I'm a little nervous, because my family couldn't come because Mackenzie is getting surgery on her heel. I know that I am ready to compete, my skills are ready and my routines have been going GREAT for the past month!!!! I CAN'T WAIT THIS IS GOING TO BE SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

March 16
OMG Poor Mackenzie, she was working on her BHS tuck full on beam today, and just the heel of her foot landed, and she broke it : ( Poor kid, the only good thing was that Mom was here, she was here to watch me at Trials, and today she had come to the gym to watch Mackenzie practice, and wanted to see her new stuff. So Kenz showed her bars, floor adn vault, and then she warmed up on beam, did her routine, and then warmed up hte full on the low beams, did a perfect one on the high beam, and went to do it again, and that is when it happened!! I was right there, it was soo scary. They got her right to the hospital, and now she is out of gym, for at least 6 weeks, she can do conditioning and stuff, but she has a really big cast on, so its going to be hard. Hopefully in a while she'll be back, better than ever, and ready to test elite!!! Good Luck Kenzie!!! Well I have to go oto bed now!! Before Morgan gets too mad with the light on for so long!!
Maddie

March 15
OMG , I am sooo nervous, I usually don't get nervous about meets, but for Trials I am!!!!! I can't believe the meet is today, I have been training sooo hard, trying my best to do everything I can to have all my routines ready!! Morgan has been looking AWESOME in practice, and so hasnt' Cameron, Vada and Eva. I really hope to make hte World team!! Morgan has been trying ot psych me up, she knows how nervous I am. She is soo goofy sometimes!! Well I Have to get ready for the meet, Mackenzie is going to french braid my hair, she is sooo good at it!!! She ties little ribbons in it, and I love how she does it!! Well I have to go let her torture me now, she does it well, but she pulls my hair so tight, it hurts!! Bye, tomorrow I should know if I made the team or not!!
Maddie

March 14
Well I am getting really nervous about Trials, they are TOMORROW!!!! What am I going to do if Morgan makes it, and I don't!! I would be soo happy for Morgan but then soo upset that I didnt' make it, adn that would be sooo hard!! I've been training soooo hard, and workign to make sure I have enough points for my skills and combos!! I Just hope it all pays off in the end!!! Well today was fun, I went to the gym really early in the morning to condition with Morgan and Mackenzie, it was fun, we had little contests, like who could do the most pull ups before their arms fell off (Mackenzie), or who could do the most press handstands (ME!!! ) and who could do the most V ups in a minute (Morgan!!)We had tons of fun. Then we ran a few miles outside, it was sooo nice outside today, the snow is finally starting to melt, so it was a little wet and muddy, and Morgan almost fell down in a puddle, you would think as gymnasts we'd be mrore coordinated than that!! LOL, it was funny. I watch! ed a movie last night that was sooo sad, about a bear cub whose Mom was shot by hunters, and the poor little cub didnt know what to do, it was sad!! Awww, Morgan says that I cry about anything, but it was just sooo sad!! LOL Well its time for bed now, goodnight!!! Maddie

March 13
Morgan and I were talking about Worlds today, and that is the only thing that seems to be on anyones' minds. We really, really, really want to make the team together. We train a lot together, and that is soo much fun!!! I never talk about school, well todays a good day to talk about since I'm on vacation from it this week. I only have to go 3 hrs a day, because I take 2 independent study classes Literature, and Spanish. I also take Biology, Algebra and AP History. I have great teachers, who sometimes let me skip school all together as long as I get the work done!! Its really great, I just got my midterm grades last week, I have an A in my 2 independent study classes, a A in AP History and Biology, and an A- in Algebra! Heck those are pretty good!! I also get help from Morgan, who is SUPER SMART!! She is like the brain of Topopolilly!!! I'm glad I go to school, because sometimes seeing all the same people, all the time, and if your competing against them all the time, its ! kinda hard. Its just easy at school with your friends, who aren't all competitive. Don"t get me wrong I love all my friends at Topopolilly, but some of them are really competitive, and its tough. World Trials, are coming up really soon, and I'm training soo hard for them. My goal for the meet is for me and Morgan to make the team as AA, I think Morgan is a pretty safe bet, but I'm just not sure about me. I placed 3rd at the Topopolilly Classic and didnt' make hte TOP squad, maybe they'll do the same thing at Trials, maybe I'll finish high enough to make the team, adn not make it, that would be sooooo dissappointing!!! Well time for my "beauty rest" as Morgan calls it!! Good Night!!!

Marach 12
Hi!! Wow, I dropped a bit in the standings, but I don't care right now, my routines are going great, and I'm soo ready for Trials!! I can't wait!! I've been training so hard for them, and I know I've been practicing with Morgan and Mackenzie, and we've been having TONS of fun, and making tons of routines!! Morgan did soo great at the French Telecom, she placed first!!! I was soo excited for her when she came back from the meet and showed me her medals. I only have one international medal, but I really want to go to Worlds and medal!!! I'd love to do that!! I really hope Topopolilly, can improve its rankings from the World meet in the winter, we just didnt' do well at all, and we are soo much better than that!! Mackenzie has been training with me in the afternoon, she is really determined to test elite soon, she wants to compete a lot more than she is right now!! You should see her beam routine, its AWESOME!!! She could probably medal at worlds with it, once she adds her! new dismount!! Well its late, and I have to be up early in the morning for training. No school this week, spring break!!! Yeah!!!! but of course that means A LOT of extra training this week. Bye till tomorrow!!
Maddie

March 11
Well World trials are getting closer, adn closer, I've been working hard, but so have all the other girls in the gym. I hope all my hard work will pay off and Morgan and I will make the World team together!!! I will be so upset if I don't make the team, because I have been doing so well in the rankings, and so hasn't Morgan!! She's first and I'm third!! Mackenzie is still at the top of the junior ranking and is doing great in the gym!!! I can't wait till trials, I upgraded my beam routine, and revised my bar routine, hoping to make them both more consistant!!
Maddie

March 9
Wow Morgan and I are 1 and 2 in the rankings!! I think we might be able to do it, we can make the World team. TOGETHER!! That is our goal together, if we make it, it's going to be GREAT!!! I can't wait till trials, I've been training so hard!! I can't wait!!
Maddie

March 6
Well I'm pretty tired tonight so this entry won't be too long. My routines are going well< I'm working hard to make the World team!! I can't wait till trials, I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, can you tell I really want to make the world team!!! Actually making the team would just be icing on the cake, being at Topopolilly and still being on TOP is the best thing right now!!!
Maddie

March 5
Well today I had a GREAT workout, I made my double twisting double backs off bars, I made my arabians on floor, and my BHS BHS Tuck full on beam. All of these skills should be ready for World Trials, but i'm not sure if I'll add them or not. I'm also working on two new vaults!! A yurchenko double and a front handpsring layout front full!! Those are fun vaults!!! Well today I went to the mall with Mackenzie to get something for Morgan (our sister, not Morgan my roommate) for her birthday. We ended up getting her this new leo that is sooo pretty with gems on it and flowers, its blue and purple her favroutine colors. We also got her a purple vest with a gymnast on it, and we had them emboider her name on it!! She will love it, we sent it to her, and it'll make it in time for her birthday. School is ok, I get all A's but its kinda boring sometimes, its like I know all this stuff, its too easy. I wanted to be homeschooled, but my parents said no, they said if I had to live away from home, then I would have to go to a public school!! So well I have to go to bed now, Good night
Maddie

March 4
Well I'm still on TOP today, and I plan on staying up there, so I gotta go train now!! Bye :) I'll come back later and let you know how it goes!!! Maddie

March 3
WOW 2 days in a row!! Its soo cool, that I am on the TOP again!! I'm soo excited, and Mackenzie is going to be competing this weekend!!! I can't wait to see how well she is doing, she is finally catching her Geingers all teh time, and also I 'm makign my BHS BHS tuck fulls all the time!! Maddie

March 2
GUESS WHAT I am ranked first in the gym!! I couldn't believe it, the only bad thing is that Morgan is down in 10th. Its sad, but I know she hasn't been feelign well. Well I gotta go train, bye

Maddie

March 1 #2
Well I forgot that I tied for 3rd on beam at the International De Greece meet, I thought I was suppose to make the floor finals, since that is where the star was, but I dont' know. I'm still happy to have a medal though!!!
Maddie

March 1
Well its the first day of a new month, and the new page in a new book!! I went up FINALLY in the rankings, I've been working hard to get my rankings up!! Well I have to go to bed now, I'm sooo tired!!!
Maddie

February 28#2
Forgot to add I made floor finals at the International De Greece meet, and the TOPOPOLILLY team tied for first place!! I'm sooo excited about that, it puts us in a great position for Worlds!!!
Maddie

February 28
Well I've been working on my new skills because I dont' have any meets coming up for a few weeks. World Trials are coming up in the middle of March and I want to peak for them!!! I made a bunch of my double doubles on bars, and BHS tuck fulls on beam!! Well time for bed, good night
Maddie

February 27#2
Well I trained hard today, I hope its enough, I really want to move up in the standings. well time for bed now.
Bye
Maddie

February 27
Well, was I right or was I right!! I predicted the Telecom team, and I did AWFUL at the Telecom Trials meet, I got 9.0's on bars and beam, but I did really well on floor with a 9.85!!!
Maddie
February 26
Well today is an intersquad meet, I'm not feeling too well today, so I dont' know how I'll do. I hope to make the Telecom team, but I doubt it, the team will probably be Vada, Eva, Kelly, Krista, Morgan and Cameron, I hate it when I don't get to go to a meet with Morgan, its so lonely in our room without her!!! Well I'm going ot go train lightly before the meet today. Bye Maddie

February 24
I had a great day in the gym, I made a ton of my BHS fulls on beam, those are tons of fun. I went for extra workout with Mackenzie and Morgan. We had fun, and fooled around a little bit, doing some big skills into the pit, off the tumble track, that was fun. The Lilly squad workout, wasnt' as much fun though, without those who moved off it : ( I really wanted to make the TOP squad with Morgan and Eva, but oh well, I"ll prove that I should be up there!!
Maddie

February 23#2
Well I trained hard today, workign on upgradign my routines for after Worlds, if I still do gymnastics after Worlds. I"m thinking about quitting, I don't know, I'm not having as much fun as I used to. Well I'm going to go get a snack with Morgan, and Mackenzie, then I'll have to go to bed, to get up early for tomorrow.
Maddie

February 23
: ( Well I'm not too happy today, the TOP squad is filled : ( I really wanted to make the squad!!! Well I'm going ot go train now, and then call home. I"m soooo bummed : (
Maddie : (

February 21#2
Whoops forgot to add, I"m going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame soon!!!!!! That is Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool!!! I'm soo happy that Morgan was inducted!!!
Maddie : )
Now I'm really going to train!!!!

February 21
Well after a little break, I'm back and ready to get back to hte top of the standings!!! I'm determined to prove that i can make the TOP squad, and the World team, adn that my top 3 finish at the Classic meet, wasnt' just a fluke!!!!!! Morgan made me think that I really have to get working, so that's what I'm going to do right now. Bye : )
Maddie

February 18
There are only 3 spots left on the TOP squad, but I still have a shot, its now up to the people who placed in the top 10 and i was in 3rd place!! I really, really want to make the TOP squad, right now they put me back on the Lilly squad. Well I"m going ot go train now, I Really have to get going!!!
Maddie

February 15
I placed 3rd at the Classic!!!!! I'm sooo excited, I can't believe i did soooo well!!! I hope I'll get to have a spot on the TOP squad, I've been working soooooo hard for it!! Well I've gotta go train, Bye for now!
Maddie

February 7 #2
Wow, I just looked at the Topopolilly Classic start list, and I'm sooo happy, Mackenzie and I are in the same group, and I'm last up on vault!!! I have the Olympic rotation order!!! Well gotta go train hard, bye for now!!!

February 13
Well I'm anxiously awaiting my results from Classics, I hope all my hard work pays off. I really want to be in the top 10!!!!!! I'd really also like to make the TOP squad, but it would be ok, if I didn't, I could live with it!! Mackenzie isnt' doing that great, but I told her she shouldnt' even compete since she just joined, but she really wanted to give it a shot, so she did!! She's doing the routines she had ready for her elite testing, so they are a bit tough for her but, she's been handling them well!! G
Maddie


February 7
Not much to say I just got up to go have breakfast and guess what I found out!! I'M FIRST IN THE RANKINGS!!! That has never happened to me before. I was excited about 6th, even more excited about 3rd, then 2nd, but now I'm first!!! I just can't believe it!! I have been working hard for all the meets I'm going to soon, I just never thought I'd be on top!!! Well I gotta go train now, ByE : )

February 6 #2
Well I trained hard today for the International 3 on 3 meet. I had tons of fun training with Mackenzie, its been a while since I've seen her and WOW she has gotten soo much better especially on beam, she can throw the big skills, but just isnt' consistant with them. She's even doing standign fulls on the HIGH beam, I"m not even up to that yet!! WOW. Well I gotta go to bed now, Good night
Maddie

February 6
OMG did you see my ranking today? MOrgan and I are 1 and 2 in the rankings. I moved up to number 2, and I made the International 3 on 3 meet, I"m on the team with Cameron and Morgan!! Well I'm going to go train with Mackenzie now, its soo much more fun with her her now!!
Maddie

February 5 #2
OMG journal, you will never believe what happened today. I came back from lunch to do my homework before my afternoon workout and there was a knock at my door. I didnt' have a clue who is was, since most everyone was still at lunch. So I opened my door adn their was my mom and my sister Mackenzie!!!!!!!I was sooo surprised, my mom was talking to the coaches last week and found out that they were starting a Junior Gymnast group, and since Mackenzie is planning to compete level 10 until June, she brought her here!! My mom also told me that they are hoping to move up here with my other sisters Morgan and Michaela!! I'm soo happy that Kenzie is here with me now!!!!!!

Fabruary 5
I AM 3rd IN THE RANKINGS!!!!!!!!! GO ME!!!!! I"M sooooooo excited. Well I gotta go train now for the Classic meet, just wanted to share that with you!! Bye for now.
Maddie

February 4
Well I'm workign hard on upgrading my routines for Worlds. I hope to be ready to upgrade my routines after the Topopolilly Classic, I hope to do really well at the meet, hoping to make the TOP squad or at least keep my position on the LILLY squad! The TOP squad is my ultimate hard working goal!! but i know there are TONS of hardworking gymnasts here who have the talent to make the TOP squad and with only 6 spots available, I'll have to do AWESOME in order to make it!!.
Maddie

February 3
Well I'm getting ready for the Greece meet, its today!! I'm sooo excited. I hope myself and my team and teammates all do well!! Go TOPOPOLILLY!!!!!
Maddie

February 2
I'm pumped up and ready for the International De Greece meet. I'm a little bummed because I went down in the rankings, but its not because I haven't been working hard, its just others also have been workign hard, adn they deserve their rankings too. I'll just keep working
Maddie

February 1
I did sooooooo well at the Dynamic meet, I won floor and came in 2nd on vault and beam!!! I was soo excited to do soooo well!! I came in 3rd AA but they weren't really counting all around scores. Poor Morgan and Eva, they were really hurting after the meet. I hope they get better soon, we'll need them in the meets ahead, well I have to go train for the International De Greece meet, so I'll talk to you later.
Maddie

January 31
I forgot to tell you journal, today my mom called and told me that Mackenzie was doing sooo much better on beam!!! She said that she is now ready for her test, adn most likely she'll pass her elite test and be able to compete at elite meets!! I'm soooo excited for her!!!!!!!
Maddie!!

January 31
Well I'm sooo happy, I've stayed at 6th in the rankings for the past few days, I haven't gone up but I haven't gone down either!!! I'm working hard, trying to get my routines ready for my meets coming up!!! Hopefully I"ll do great at the International De Greece meet coming up, and at the Dynamic dual!!!!
Maddie

January 30 #2
Well journal I know I wrote earlier when I found out I made the International De Greece meet. I worked so hard to get my routines all ready for the meet. The only bad thing is that Morgan isn't going!! Well I worked so hard today that I'm exhausted and I'm ready to go to bed!! Good night!!
Maddie!!

January 30
I'm SOOOOOOOOOO excited, I just found out that I made the Dynamic dual team, and the International De Greece team!!!! I don't care that I"m not doing AA, but I get to compete in an international meet!!!!!!!! I"m soooooo happy!!! Morgan made the Dynamic dual team with me, but didn't make hte International De Greece team. I have been training really hard lately, and its helped I'm now 6th in the rankings!! My arm is all better, its still a little sore when I wake up in the morning but once I get it moving its fine!! I've been able to train all my routines, and they are coming along GREATLY!!!!!!!! I can't wait!!
Madison

January 27
Today I still worked carefully tryign hard not to hurt my arm, it is feelign a whole lot better today. Well I'm really tired tonight, so I'm going to go to bed now. Goodnight
Maddie


January 26
Well today when i woke up, my arm was really stiff and sore. So I painfully got up and went to breakfast. After breakfast I went over to the gym to see the trainer, they said thats what happens when you bang something really hard, it'll get swollen, adn if you don't get it moving it gets really stiff!!! So I was told to get it moving!! So I did, and oh how it hurt!!! A lot, but Its getting a little better now. I did all the events but bars today, but pretty much watered down workouts. By next week it should be all better!! Well gotta go to bed, goodnight!!
Maddie

Janusry 25
Well today started out great, I made my new Rudi vaults!! I was soo excited, I went to bars and was hitting my giant hop fulls on the pit bar adn tunnel bar and wanted to try it on the competition bars, soo I did. It didnt' turn out too well, I had a scary fall landing on my arm, now its a little sore, but coach and the trainer took a look at it and said its gonna hurt for a few days but no real damage was done. So I spent the rest of practice doing skills on the tumble track being careful not to fall on my arm. Tomorrow coach said I could take a break from practice, but I think I will still train, just easy stuff, nothing major. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Mackenzie, her elite testing is in about a week, and mom told me she's having mental blocks on beam again, she'll throw all her skills but can't stay on for the life of her!! Poor Kenzie, I hope she can get it back and pass teh test!! She wants to train at Topopolilly, but my mom still thinks she should wait a year! . Well I'm going to go to bed now, and rest my arm!!
Maddie : )

January 24 #2
Look at this 2 entries in one day. Workout went great, my new routines are coming along great!!! I'm workign really hard on them, hoping ot have them all ready for February. I heard we might be having a training camp soon, I really want to go to one!! It should be fun!!! Well I have to go have dinner, and then take a shower adn go to bed, I'm tired!!! Well I'll talk to you later!! Bye :)

January 24
Wow, its been a little while, sorry about that, I'll try to write more frequently, I've just been so busy. I did really well at the Hot Shot meet!! I was sooo happy!!!! I don't know what happened on beam, I think I just lost my concentration, and never got it back, that's a big thing I need ot learn for the future meets ahead!! Well gotta go back to train now talk to you later!!

January 13
I made the Hot Shot dual meet team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooooo excited, finally I get a chance to compete again!!!!!!!!! I Can't wait, I've been training extra hard, and I hope to do really well!!!!!!! If you can't tell journal I'm excited!! The best part is Morgan made the team as well!!!!!!!!!! That is soooo great!!!
Madison

January 7
Well its been a few days since I've written, my real life has been tough the past few days. I'm in the middle of making the decision to leave my coaching position at a gym I've been at for the past 8 yrs. Things have just changed soo much, its hard, adn it isn't fun anymore. I hope I can stay, but only if things start to change. Well I took 2 days off of gym, my ankle has been awfully sore, and I just needed to rest it, I plan on training again tomorrow.
Madison

Jan. 3
Well hello again Journal,
I've been training sooo hard, I'm half asleep writing this!!!! I hope to get to compete soon!! I really wanted to make the Campbells meet, but its ok, I'll have my time!!!! I'm soo excited to be in the Lilly Squad!!!!! I was in the Pop squad before, but since they changed the squads I'm just one step below TOP squad, I'll keep training hard, and hopefully I'll be inthe TOP squad someday!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 1

Its 2001, wow can you believe it?? The party we had last night it was soooo much fun!!!! My New Years resolution this year is to keep trying my best in gym and to learn new skills. If I make a World team or an Olympic team that would just be icing on the cake. Well talk to you later i need to go to bed, I have to train early tomorrow morning.
Maddie December 31

Well that is probably the last time I'll be able to use 2000, for it is soon going to be 2001, and I'll be ringing in the New Year with my teammates and friends at Topopolilly. I cant'wait for the sleepover it should be a blast, well I have to go work out for the last time this year (ha ha) Talk to ya later, in 2001!!! : ) Bye Maddie

December 30

Well I just read the prelim results from the Olympics. Topopolilly came in 2nd to last : ( but had a very HIGH beam score. I think Cameron Noon qualified for beam and all around finals, that's great for her!!! I just hope this low placement doesn't affect anyone in Topopolilly, and make them want to switch gyms. We just came back, and to even have a team ready for the Olympics was a great job!!! Well I hope everyone has a great New Year, I know I'll be in the gym on Monday, training hard!!!
Madison

December 24