Super Six

SWG 2012 continued the legacy of excellence today by placing fourth in the 2012 NCAA Super Six competition (flashbacks to 2010!).  It's been an up and down year for the team but they knew they were prepared to peak at the right time.  After the Pac-12 competition, it was questioned as to whether or not they would even qualify to the championships.  Even after they put together a meet and accomplished this feat, they were then assigned the fifth seed (out of six) in the preliminary session...with only the top three teams advancing on to the finals.  Once again, SWG was able to come together and use their heart and passion for the sport and pull through, competing yesterday and beating out both Oklahoma and Nebraska.  This group just wouldn't let down and they set a season-high score in the process.

Today they came together one final time and put on an utterly amazing performance, smashing their season-high set just 24 hours prior.  The momentum built from one event and one routine to the next.  In the end, the last three routines scored 9.925, 9.95, and 9.975 and the girls came away only three tenths behind the national champions.

To say that I am proud of this group would be an understatement.  I am honored and feel privileged to have been able to cheer for them on their journey over the course of this season.  There are many bright young stars that will allow the SWG culture to thrive in the coming years.  For now, the SWG team season is complete, but three girls will be competing tomorrow for individual titles:  one on bars and two on beam.  I have a feeling that we are in for more surprises and I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the men competed this week as well.  They were hit with many injuries this year and it kept them from really being in contention for the title on the final competition day.  They held their own though and can be proud of what they accomplished this year.  It's even better to know that no one from the current team will be lost to graduation so experience will be on their side as they prepare for next season.  Their individual competition is already complete and Eddie is the newly crowned national champion on both floor and vault!  He's one of the bounciest kids I know and the entire Stanford community is proud of him.  Cam, Sean, and Paul also had performances good enough to claim all-american honors, which is pretty exciting.  They'll be heading back bright and early tomorrow morning and we are all ready to welcome them with open arms.  Congrats, SMG!!  :)