But first, time to keep up with a little NCAA talk. I'm soooo changeable.
Earlier this week, Jenni Pinches announced she will be attending UCLA for the 2013-2014 season, giving a big, unexpected boost to the Bruins for next year. The UCLA scholarship situation is always a little bit of witch's brew (eye of newt, toe of frog, Kaelie Baer – we don't know what's in there), so it's not yet clear whether there was an opening or whether the team had to play "Eeny, meeny, miny, medical retirement." We'll see in time.
Pinches brings early or mid lineup potential on all four events, a tremendous piece of security for a team losing half of its Super Six routines from last season. While the injury comebacks and the already-committed freshmen would likely have prevented a repeat of the depth problems from last season, some holes still presented themselves. On certain events, the Bruins would have had enough routines to get by but perhaps only about 7 that they would really want to compete, while the others made up the depth charts. That's assuming seamless comebacks from the injured, which is hardly assured, and would not be enough for any degree of confidence. One person gets injured, someone else needs time to get back into form, and it's Alyssa Pritchett's 9.750 on vault all over again. Pinches provides breathing room and solid .050s here and there over what otherwise could have competed.
Back in the elite realm, the Secret Classic is just a week away. The roster was released early this week, and it features 17 seniors and 46 juniors.
The senior roster contains the usual batch of "OMG you guys! I qualified elite!" mixed with the "Look at me Martha! Please! Look at me! She knows my name, right?" mixed with the "See you in Belgium, beyotches!"
That's part of the fun of the first year of the quad, the mixture.
