Cyber CYd with Jay Ronayne

With fall still approaching, gymnastics season seems to be an unforeseeable spot in the distance. But the Iowa State gymnasts are already well into preparation for their upcoming campaign and will blog every Thursday during the academic school year about their experiences and insights. In addition to the gymnasts, head coach Jay Ronayne will provide his entry once a month to provide a unique perspective to the Cyclone faithful.

In the gymnastics team's first entry Coach Ronayne tells you about summer workouts, goals for the program, the incoming freshmen and much more.

Cyber CYd with Jay Ronayne

The new academic year has just begun! I didn't think this summer would fly by as fast as it did, but once again, the summer workouts are now just a sweaty memory. For much of the summer we had a very large portion of our gymnastics team training here in Ames. As most of you know, summertime training cannot be mandated by the coaches as the NCAA rules require summer workouts to be strictly voluntary. This always causes a bit of frustration for all of us NCAA coaches because we would love to be able to train our teams all year round the way they should be trained, but rules are rules. We have to rely on the intrinsic motivation of the gymnasts to help them get the hard work in when nobody is driving them through a hard workout.

Last May I presented the team with a challenge. I asked them to get in great shape over the summer. Actually, I asked them to get into the “best shape of their lives.” I wish I could report that they all achieved that goal, but I can't. I am a bit disappointed that we must spend the next month or so getting stronger. However, I am very pleased to point out one of the team's Co-Captains; Ashley Kent is in AMAZING shape right now. She worked very hard all summer and her efforts are clearly visible. I look forward to watching her do the best gymnastics of her career this year.

We are now bidding farewell to summer and beginning the annual ritual of welcoming the newest Cyclones to our family. Joining our 14 returners from last year is a trio of freshmen ready to embark upon their college careers who appear as fired up about getting started as I am to coach them.

Our rookies this season are Shea Anderson, Michelle Browning, and Celine Paulus. Shea joins us from Oakland, Iowa, and has a lot of raw talent that I feel will develop nicely over the next few years. She has some more skills to learn before she is ready to compete for ISU, but I know she is willing to put in the work to get there. Coming to us from Houston, Texas, Michelle should be a great addition to the lineup on all four events right away. She has the potential to be one of the best gymnasts ISU has ever had but potential has to be put into action on the competition floor this season. Celine comes to Ames all the way from southern California and brings with her a lot of untapped gymnastics talent. She also has lots of potential to help the Cyclones reach their goals of winning Big 12's and competing for the NCAA Championship.

I told the team last Saturday that we are now beginning something special at ISU. Now is when we return the Cyclones to prominence in the NCAA. We are ALL now starting a new season with a new attitude. To reach our goals it will take a full commitment from everyone involved with the team. That means coaches, student-athletes, athletic trainers...everybody is an integral part of the machinery. If one person lacks the commitment to the group then the system fails. I saw a lot of eyes on me that showed that commitment...but that was then and the proof lies in actions not in words or a nod of the head.

As a fan, you are well within your rights to say, “O.K. Cyclones, show us what you are truly capable of .” You are the best fans in the Big 12 and the NCAA and deserve to have your team be one of the best teams in the Big 12 and NCAA. So now that the new year has begun with a new attitude...you can also ask of YOUR gymnastics team the same things I ask of them...work very hard in the gym and in the classroom. Work systematically and relentlessly to reach your goals with a sense of pride and urgency. Be the best gymnast and student that you can possibly be because this is your one shot at it. Make us all proud.

Go Cyclones!

Jay

Players Mentioned

Shea Anderson

Michelle Browning

Ashley Kent

Ashley Kent

Celine Paulus

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics