Inside gymnastics: explaining the vault routine
An 82-foot line of carpet is all that separates a gymnast from the ‘iron horse.’
At the end of the mat stands a 4-foot tall apparatus known as the vault.
What happens from the end of the mat to the expected landing on the other end is considered the most powerful aspect of gymnastics by some.
“I tell them to be on the verge of out of control, but not reckless,” said CMU gymnastics coach Jerry Reighard.
The vault event in gymnastics consists of a full-speed sprint down the line toward the vault. The gymnast must then plant off of the board face and hurl herself into a controlled flip through the air.
For the CMU gymnastics team, its scoring in the event has been anything but out of control; it has won event in every meet this season.
In-air antics
Although similar to the other events in a standard competition, the vault deals with the physical nature of maintaining awareness while in the air.
Freshman Britney Taylor said the mindset needed for the vault can be different than other events.
“I have the demeanor that I have to attack it — you can’t be soft with it, you have to go hard,” she said.
A common routine in the event is the double somersault with a half-twist. It forces a gymnast to propel herself far enough in the air to complete the two flips and the half-twist.
There is pre-established difficulty rating on this event, and a gymnast’s ability to incorporate another twist can be a determining factor in higher scores. Senior Katie Simon can complete the double somersault, but ends the flips with a one-and-a-half twist. Reighard said he has worked with Simon on the routine for several months.
“She performs the most difficult routine, and those scores put her in the upper echelon in the event,” he said.
Simon began perfecting this one-and-a-half twist in the spring of 2008 and was able to implement it near the middle of 2009. The addition of the added full twist caused a steady increase of points in the event. Currently leading the conference with a high score of 9.875 (against Denver and BYU), she has maintained scores in that range throughout her career.
Beginning her career in 2007, she posted a high score of 9.9, followed by a 9.825 in ‘08. Last season, she finished with a high of 9.95.
Recruiting
Success on the vault has been a consistent factor in recruiting for Reighard, who has brought several skilled vaulters to the program.
Another of the program’s high scorers in 2010 is sophomore Kristin Teubner. Matching the team-high in vault with a 9.875, Teubner has posted scores of 9.8 or higher in the last three meets.
Her highest score came in the Denver/BYU tri-meet, where she scored a 9.875. Teubner said internal competition has allowed Central to stay successful on the vault.
“We have enough people to fight into the lineup,” she said, “and it makes it really competitive.”
Taylor also matched the 9.875 (against Denver and BYU) and scored a 9.825 against Utah State. However, she said she is aware of the unique challenges and physical stress caused from performing the event.
“It is the kind of event where you don’t want to do too much, and you don’t want to wear yourself out,” she said.
MAC/Nationally
CMU has averaged a 48.544 in the event this season, which ranks in the top 29 nationally. The highest CMU score posted to date was a 49.200, which occurred in the Denver and BYU tri-meet.
Reighard said the competition and depth in CMU’s lineup is built on the roster.
“We have the greatest depth on the vault,” he said, “And we have three really strong competitors not even in the line-up for the vault.”
CMU tests its vaulting at 1 p.m. Sunday when it travels to Kalamazoo to compete in the State of Michigan Classic against in-state rivals Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and No. 21 Michigan State.
