RECAP:
The trials finally came and went. I have to admit this is one of the hardest E-newsletters for me to write. I have selfishly spent over a week trying to find the right words. I apologize for taking so long. My hope for you is that you might have gained something from this experience – that you might have learned, along with me, what an amazing difference you can make in someone’s life simply by believing in him or her. Had it not been for you, I know that I could not have placed 6th in the Finals of the Olympic Trials only 18 months after putting a bow in my hands.
A Special Thank You: In addition to my sponsors, I’d like to take a moment to recognize those who worked with me on a personal basis the last 6-18 months.
2004 US Olympic Trials Results: Although I didn’t make the US Olympic Team, I had a good run and finished 6th in the country, technically putting me on the alternate team. See below for the day-to-day results. Next stop: US Nationals in Reading, PA.
Financial Report: Another good month for fundraising, I was able to bring in $800!
May/June Recap: Leading up to the Olympic Trials, I had some amazing practices and continued to make progress with my arrow volume.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
One thing this journey has taught me is that you cannot do things on your own; you need other talented, positive people to help you accomplish your goals in life. In addition to the 100+ individuals and families who have emailed, called and written with support and donated hard earned money, a few exceptional people who have worked with me personally over the last 6 to 18 months need to be recognized. My sports psychologist Alan Goldberg of Competitive Advantage (www.competitiveadvantage.com), has done tremendous mental work with me the past 6 months on a weekly basis and every day during the trials. Terry Wunderle a.k.a. The Shot Doctor for giving me enormous help during the trials, watching every shot and keeping me cool. Special thanks to my mom and sister for flying out to Ohio to watch me in the finals and give me family support (my mom also flew to Arizona). Jeanne Wunderle for listening to me when I needed an ear and giving me a room in their home the last 2 months. Doc Brandfass for housing Vic and I four months free of charge while we were in Florida. Anthony Bellettini for not laughing 18 months ago when I said I wanted to start Archery to go to the Olympics. Finally, Vic Wunderle, for introducing himself and asking me out to dinner a year ago – my life and my archery will never be the same.
2004 US OLYMPIC TRIALS 6/12/04-6/19/04:
Below is an excerpt from a follow-up interview I did with Mike Oakley from the Castle Rock Daily Star; I think it gives you the best recap of the week.
Can you describe the experience of the trials and the emotions you felt?
There was a mix of emotions, to say the least. On the first day, I spent most of the morning in 2nd place having worked my way up from 9th, but finished in 7th only 8 points out of 2nd. On the second day, the wind kicked up and my inexperience definitely showed. The day started out well, I was able to move up to 4th place right away, but then as the day wore on, I slowly moved back down and finished in 8th. I made a huge charge on the third day, winning 6 straight matches (only losing the first one) and worked my way back up to the 5th place spot hardly out of fourth and still close to 3rd. The fourth day was again another lack-luster day and pushed me back to 7th place. This particular day frustrated me because I knew I could shoot hand over fist better than I did and I felt as though every time I had a legitimate shot at making the team, my body and my mind refused to accept it. The last day I remember waking up knowing that there was an outside chance I could still make the alternate spot, as I was only 30 points or so out of 4th place. The day before had been bad but not too damaging. I basically figured I had nothing to loose and went out with a great attitude, winning 4 of my 7 matches and moving up one spot to finish in 6th place. My last match was exceptionally exciting, if I won it Kendra Harvey, the 16 year old would be get the Alternate spot and if I lost it, Jessica Carleton, who had been the alternate for the past 2 Olympics would have made it 3. Needless to say, for my own pride, I wasn’t about to lose the last match of the Trials and I won by 1 point!
You had to face several cuts - the first one to 16 and then the next one to eight. When you made the cut to eight, was it tough to sleep at night?
The cuts were definitely interesting. Until this point, I had not had a successful start in any of my tournaments. My qualification rounds usually put me in 14th to 18th place and then I would work my way up during the elimination matches the next day usually to 4th or 5th place. I knew going into this tournament that placing that low in the qualification round would put me in a tough spot for having any hope at all of making the team. I had expressed these concerns to my sports psychologist, Alan Goldberg with Competitive Advantage and he had helped me shift my focus from making the qualification round one of the most important days to "just another day." I think you saw a lot of the women put too much emphasis on the first day, for example, number 4 ranked Stephanie Miller didn't even make the first cut, neither did number 2 ranked and 2000 Olympian Karen Scavatto. Once I was able to get through the first cut, I was pretty happy with myself, for starters because the tournament had started out so well, and also there is some weight lifted off your shoulders knowing that you aren't going home.
My biggest concern about making the top 8 was that my mom and sister wouldn't get to see me compete. I had told my mom not to come until the last two days because I thought that would be when I needed them most. Of course at the end of the second day, all sorts of thoughts were running through my head. First, I didn't know it, but the computer system had a glitch and had me in 10th place instead of 8th, so I went home thinking that there was a real chance I wasn't going to make the cut if I didn't have a better third day. Fortunately for me, I was a little more occupied with my shooting than with the computer error. It wasn’t until the day was over that I realized, even with the scores fixed, I had only been "in the cut" by 2 points. Not knowing how close I was to the edge, I blindly went in the next day telling myself I was going to do the best form I could and hope it was enough. It was and I can promise you I slept well that night! I had made the finals of the Olympic Archery Trials.
What were your expectations heading into the trials? Obviously, you feel some disappointment at not making the final three, but isn't there a lot of pride in finishing sixth overall?
As far as expectations leading into the trials, I was trying to focus on not having any. I know it sounds like a hard concept to grasp, but I've found through working with Alan Goldberg and attending different tournaments, when you expect things, they usually don't happen. Needless to say, although I was working on not having expectations, it is hard to deny that deep down I wanted a spot on that Olympic team; maybe in the end that was my downfall.
Having said that, there is an enormous amount of respect reserved for those who make the final 8 in the archery world. Technically, spots 4, 5, and 6 make up the alternate team even though only the 4th spot is announced and awarded. So I do feel very honored and privileged to have made it that far.
What does the future hold? You are still really young. Will you continue to compete?
First stop, the 2004 US National Outdoor Championships in Reading, Pennsylvania. Shooting good form there could put me on the 2005 US Archery Team and put me in a position to be selected for next year’s European Grand Prix Team. Next stop, Athens, Greece. I will be going to cheer Vic on. He placed 1st in the Olympic Trials and will hopefully lead the US Men’s Team to a third consecutive Olympic Medal. I am very thankful that my mom has stepped in and offered to cover the cost of my trip. She wants me to experience it now so that I have something to look forward to the next four years.
After Greece, I plan to take some time off to get refreshed for the next season, which kicks off with an invitational match play tournament in Amsterdam the second week in December.
THE FINANCIAL REPORT:
Thank you all for keeping the sponsorship money coming! I had three new sponsors sign up during the Olympic Trials for a total of $800. Jack and Pat Durliat, neighbors of mine when I was growing up signed up as Silver Medal Sponsors. The Madigans, old time friends of my parents signed up as Gold Medal Sponsors. Finally Mike Reddin, the man who admitted me to the London School of Economics in 2000 sent me a nicely decorated $50 bill to help pay for food while I was at the trials.
MAY/JUNE RECAP:
May shooting leveled off a bit as I was approaching the Olympic trials, I increased my shooting by 2%. The last month before trials, I continued to focus on my shooting, getting 65 practices in which accounted for 83% of my time. 11% was spent off and 5% was dedicated to weights and cardio.
June is winding down and so has the shooting, after the Trials were over I took 4 days off to figure out the next step. I’m back in training now and setting my sights on the US Nationals next month in Reading, PA.
