The Next Step

So Trials is over and things are starting to calm down a bit.  It was a very hectic week and the competition had its ups and downs.  On the first day I started out great on PBars, but ended up making a dumb mistake on HBar and Pommels.  I missed my layout Kovcks, which I never do and I also fell on my Wu on Pommels.  It was a frustrating day overall, especially because I was so prepared.  Along with my two misses, I also subluxed my shoulder on vault, which wasn't too much fun.  It has happened to me before, but not for a couple years so it was a little surprising when it happened.  

The second day of competition I felt like I had nothing to lose so I just wanted to go out and have fun.  I got a phone call earlier in the day from Dominic Minicucci, who was on the 88' and 92' Olympic Teams and also went to my club gym Surgent's Elite back in New Jersey.  He was real honest with me about what I needed to do on the second night and it was something I really needed to hear.  I took his advice and attacked the competition.  

I had a ton of family and friends in the stands and most of them were wearing "Team Durante" t-shirts that my mom had made up.  

I ended up having one of the best meets of my life Saturday. It was such an awesome experience and I will never forget it. The next day we were brought into a room together and they told us who would be on the team. The wait is the hardest part of the whole process and after a while, I found out I was an alternate. I think if I would have hit one more pommels routine I would have been in, but I just left the door open to much. Alternate is still an honor and I am going to prepare like I am on the team in case they need me for whatever reason. We have our Olympic camp in two weeks where we will find out if Paul can go and who will be the traveling alternates. So I still have some work to do over the next few months. I'll keep you updated.