Central Conference Level 6 2016

Almost a week has passed, but I think we are still in shock and trying to process what happened or didn't happen on Saturday at Central Conference. First event was high bars; he loves high bars and usually scores high on this apparatus. He did well during warm up and seemed fine. However, he got up on the bar, started his routine and about 10 seconds into his routine, he fell. He got back up on the bar and started again....but fell again. He got back up,finished his routine, saluted the judge and sat down. I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He motioned for me to stop recording and communicated with me through his body language that he didn't want me recording anymore events. I respected his request and didn't film any of his other routines. He earned a 6.60 on high bar. Next up was rings. He started good but then found himself in a precarious position, sideways on his handstand press on the rings. I was really worried about how his was going to get out of that position. He was literally at a 2:00 position on a clock, with his legs and abdomen facing the two o'clock hand and his hands at a 6 o'clock position. Coach Matt must have told him something because he came back down and continued on with his routine. He scored an 8.40 on rings. I knew in my heart he couldn't qualify for state, but I still had hope that he might. After the fifth rotation, he was still in 5th position in his age category, then he took a precipitous fall to 28th. Only the top 16 would qualify for state! During awards, I could see everyone celebrating, but I stood off to the side. I couldn't even bring myself to walk near the area, so I stood by the head scoring table where I had been working. I could see my boss' wife and daughter sitting in the spectator area, so I walked over to them and said, "You don't need to stay for the awards." We chatted a few minutes, and I thanked them for attending the meet. I then walked them out and said good-bye. At any other meet in the season, he would have qualified. It was so disappointing. We were able to talk to Coach Xiaoping who encouraged Jedadiah to move on; it is only one meet. Jedadiah apologized to his coach for not doing well, and Xiaping told him to think about the future and not to dwell on this one meet. The night before the meet, Jedadiah asked me, "Mom, what if I don't qualify?" I encouraged him and said, "Of course, you will qualify. You are a great gymnast and you know what you are doing." I should have communicated with Coach Matt that Shreddy was nervous and feeling unconfident... but I didn't. I thought Shreddy was over his nerves by the morning, and everything was fine. My mistake. Each meet, as parents, we learn some lesson. Gymnastics is such a multi-dimensional sport. If affects the entire family, the gymnast, the coach, the team and the season. He season is done...no state competition and no regional competition. I realize that in the bigger spectrum of life, this is a very small, insignificant setback, but on this one Saturday in February, the events of this one day traumatized our entire family and our son's confidence in his gymnastics ability. God is teaching him a lesson, and I pray that Shreddy will learn it well.