With First Home Meet Today, Robinson Gymnastics Squad Has High Hopes

— Editor's note: This article originally was published on Fairfax Station Patch in early December. We are bumping it to the top of the queue today due to the fact that tonight the Robinson Rams are hosting one of the two meets they will host all season. The Rams are 3-1 after triumphing in three 6-school competitions. The only squad which has edged Robinson thus far this year is Dominion's. We wish all the athletes the best of luck tonight.* 

Heading into today's season-opener, the  gymnastics team looks to have 16 girls on its roster this year, the largest team coach Megan Smiley can remember dating back to her own time as a Robinson gymnast early this century.

These numbers give the team a large core of returning members, bolstered by depth from this year's freshman class.

Nonetheless: This year, as always, the Rams have a challenging schedule. The team is in a league with teams which rank among the elite in the state.

The Rams return three girls who qualified for the regional competition last year as individuals: senior Jessi Marco and juniors Alex Fields and Sarah Paul.

Junior Amanda Famiglietti (who placed as an individual in a number of events at the state meet in 2008-2009) would have qualified last year but for a back injury, one of a perpetual series of maladies which the participants of the demanding sport often face. 

"This year, already, we've had a lot of injuries coming into play," Smiley said.

Smiley estimated that six of her gymnasts have been impacted by various significant injuries such as a broken foot in recent weeks. 

Time waits for no man, woman or student gymnast: Competitions start today and will pit the Rams against a demanding slate of opponents.

Within the Rams' league (the Concorde District) alone, Chantilly and Herndon enter the 2010-2011 season among the top teams in the state. Chantilly finished fourth last year after a third-place finish to the 2009-2010 campaign. Herndon was fifth in the state last season.

"There are a lot of great teams in the Concorde District and a lot of great individuals," Smiley said. "So everyone knows that they have to stay on top of their game and practice hard and stay on top of themselves to have a chance, and they come to practice and they're ready to work."

Smiley anticipates that her team will be particularly strong on the balance beam and in its floor routines this season.

Robinson's competition schedule in the next few months is intense. The Rams have multiple weeks containing two competitions, which Smiley calls an unusual timetable. After the two-week winter break, Robinson opens the New Year with a meet on their first day back and then another two days later, with no practice between them.

"We'll have to try to get a lot more routines and more of the numbers in beforehand and then trust that they'll be able to come back and be ready to go," Smiley said.

Looking at her team from another angle, Smiley commented that "this age is kind of fun. The girls make it fun. I like that it's a little less stressful than the club environment, so they can go out, they can have fun doing it. They're supporting the school. It's not just all about them. They get to work together."

That connection is something that resonates with Smiley, who graduated from Robinson 2006 but returned to coach during her sophomore year at George Mason University.

"I like that it was my school. I still feel connected to it in," Smiley said.

"I like that I'm now able to come back and give back to the program that I loved  being part of when I was in high school."

Robinson opens the season with a meet today at Centreville. The meet begins at 6:30 p.m.; other schools competing include Lake Braddock and Lee.

* Editor's note: Star freelance writer Allen Abrams, who wrote this and several other superb stories for Fairfax Station Patch, has left Patch for a career as a JAG lawyer (I am not making this up). It is hard to find writers of Abrams' caliber, but I'm trying. So, if you know any skilled, diligent, honest, enthusiastic writers who are looking to writer professionally, please ask them to contact me at timothy.follos@patch.com. Thanks for reading! First person to comment wins a prize.

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