Judges' Cup  - EMU - Ypsilanti, MI
10-20-07:  As a popular pre-season stop for the Lady Flames, the 2007 Judges' "Cup" didn't runneth over too much this past weekend at Eastern Michigan University.  But it did so, just enough for the teams to take in a healthy drink of gymnastics reality.  This tough scoring meet is a qualifier for the 1st season state championships, which will be held in November.  The rotating 4-judge panels kept everyone on their toes, and each score brutally honest. 
     However, the "reality" wasn't all 'tough times' and 'brutal honest-ies,' as the Lady Flames did return home with some respectable placements.  The three Level 7's, just passing through, were hoping for the bare minimum score required (32.000) to qualify them to compete at level 8.  They got what they were after, and then some, with each girl placing in the 36+ range and a 3rd place team award.  The Level 6's, also, captured the 3rd place team award, led by Karadjoff's 36+.  The Level 5's beat-out their competition for the 1st place trophy awarded during Saturday's evening session.  Finally, the Level 4's didn't quite match the red sea of "inspiration" sent by Olympia Gymnastics, as the Lady Flames brought home the 2nd place team award.

Optionals' Field Trip #3  -  Sterling Heights, MI
10-13-07:  "Tag!  You're It!"  That was the theme as 5 Lady Flames tried to knock-off 3 team coaches in an exciting game of laser tag at Maxx Play in Sterling Heights, MI.  The battle was fierce.  The dense smoke... the explosion of lights... the thunderous audio-phonic assault on the ears... ahhh the humanity...  The "humanity" of the 5 attackers was revealed in a humbling 17,000-to-3,000 point loss to the coaches.  "It was like shooting fish in a barrel," stated one coach after the decisive victory, "I'm not too sure if they even knew where their triggers were."
     The afternoon festivities also included air-time on Maxx Play's inflatable courses, a fun game of whirly-ball (btw, coaches won that, too), and watching, an other-wise highly coordinated gymnast, perform... umm... well... admirably during her maiden voyage on the hardwood roller-rink.  And yes, she would tell you that it WAS a HARDwood floor.

"I Like The Way You Move"