Good News!

I've got a great price on DVD duplication so thanks to our generous benefactor I hope to send out a DVD to all attenders and others who are interested - BUT I'll need your complete address which you can email to me - PatEUtah@gmail.com if I don't have it already. I will wait a few more weeks to see if any of you are going to contribute photos to the blog from the reunion. The DVD will contain a video that includes almost the entire program. The video ends towards the end of Steve Iannicito's reminiscing. It will also include the brief video of the blog contents that was shown at the reunion and the photos I've collected for the blog. Some of you who were unable to attend have expressed interest in having a copy of the program so we'll get one to you as well. I'll also send this to our email list since some of you follow one but not the other.
Pat

And now for your viewing pleasure a contribution sent in by Art White from a Modern Gymnast magazine. I didn't realize they had stop-action photography back in the good ole days! Remember to click on the photo to enlarge it.

Memorabilia Heaven

I'm going to need help with this one since segregation was practice! I know from left we have Bob Mullins, Bob Popp and Steve Iannicito but which women goes with these guys is beyond me. I do think one is also Ed Klanecky's wife since Bob Mullins is single.

Larry Dardano and Ed Klanecky

From left: Tom Jenkins, Bob Poston, Janie Schroeder, Cliff Gauthier, Steve Schroeder, Dennis Hartman, Jim Hartman

A REUNION STORY
When I was taking reservations for the reunion banquet Courtney Willis wrote to say he would be attending alone since his wife would be attending the World Science Fiction Convention. Since I'm a lifelong fan of science fiction I wrote back to ask him why his wife got to go the World Science Fiction Convention while I got stuck at a weekend with a bunch of old jocks. He never responded but then answered my question at the Saturday afternoon session. At this point I will refer to Wikipedia to share what Courtney shared with me. Those of you who are fans of science fiction will immediately understand the significance of Connie's career. Tomorrow I'll be going to the library to pick up a couple of her books.

Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis (born 31 December 1945) is an American science fiction writer. She has won, among other awards, ten Hugo Awards and six Nebula Awards. Willis most recently won a Hugo Award for All Seated on the Ground (August 2008). Willis is a 1967 graduate of Colorado State College, now the University of Northern Colorado. ^[1] She lives in Greeley, Colorado with her husband Courtney Willis, a professor of physics at the University of Northern Colorado. She also has one daughter, Cordelia. Connie Willis was the 2009 inductee to the Science Fiction Museum and Science Fiction Hall of Fame. ^[2]

Willis is known for her accessible prose and likable characters. She has written several pieces involving time travel by history students and faculty of the future University of Oxford. These pieces include her Hugo Award-winning novels Doomsday Book and To Say Nothing of the Dog and the short story "Fire Watch", found in the short story collection of the same name. She is currently working on another book set in this universe. It will be published as a two book set. The first volume, Blackout ^[3] is scheduled for release on February 2, 2010. The second volume, All-Clear,^[4] will be released six months later.

It's hard to believe a little over five months ago I was sitting in my recliner with a broken knee cap and getting bored to the point that I finally decided it was time to do something about a gymnastics reunion some of us had been talking about for more than five years. And now the reunion has come and gone but what a great time it was. The only thing that would have made it better was to have a little more time with each of you.
Here are some more photos from the banquet but I only have a few photos left so it's time for some of you to send me your photos to post.

This actually belongs in the previous post.
Clockwise: Larry Dardano, Ben & Olga Coleman, Larry Hoffschneider, Gloria Salazar, Carla Hoffschneider.

Bonnie & Tom Proulx, Sam Sargent, Jim Royce, mystery couple because I can't blow it up enough to identify them so help me out!

Tracey Ryan is Missing. In the preceding and following photo she somehow managed to avoid the camera. From left: Art White, Jack Ryan, Louann White, Renee Murahata, Ken Macaulay, Rich Murahata

The Senior Table?
From lower left: Dave & Carolyn Wardell, Susie & Jim Ryan, Courtney Willis, Charlie Jackson, Don Robinson, Dottie McGuire

Rich & Connie Jaouen (foreground), Dennis & Marie Berg, Barbara & Ben Blea

Well, here are some photos I took at the reunion and I'll add more over the next few days. If you have some to add be sure to send them to me. I'm hoping to get the video of the program loaded onto my computer and put into DVD format for everyone but you'll have to be patient for that.

Some North Guys: They clean up real well!
Steve Iannicito and Gary Pomeranz

No Hair, Some Hair, A Silver Mane!
Tom Proulx, Ben Blea and Barbara, Dennis Berg

Ed Klanecky and Dave Wardell

My Table with the Private School Boys:
Vince & Joan Nicoletti, Frank Swanson, Mike Meyer, Marty Quigley, Chris Edwards

Gloria Salazar, Carla Hoffschneider, Gil Salazar, Pam & Jim Fulcher, Ben & Olga Coleman

Some of the "good-time boys!"
Ben Blea and Dennis Berg

Some of the Fairview Gang: Marty Quigley, Coach White, Tom Proulx, Me (with a halo!) Ken Macaulay, Rich Murahata

Some of the taller gymnasts: Jack Ryan, Connie and Rich Jaouen, Tracey Ryan

Someone's Trophy Wife, Frank Swanson, Mike Meyer

Hi Pat. This is John Young and I was on the Aurora team for my junior and senior year and graduated along with Terry Truman and others in 1965. Although I wasn't that good, I did manage to letter in both years working P-Bars. Anyway, I have been following the blogs with great interest and fond memories of the guys on the Aurora team and the other competitors from the other schools that we competed with. I have stayed in contact with Terry over the many years and in fact he was the first person that I met at Aurora when I was a sophomore having moved to Aurora after attending Hill Jr. High in Denver. Gary Walker and I both went to Hill.

As a side note, Ed Klanecky and I both took our physical for the draft at the same time and of course he got out with a 4-F because of a bad knee I believe and I was drafted.

It has been very interesting for me to read the many bios and I have to admit that Ben Blea got my vote for the most entertaining and interesting. I got a lot of information over the years from Don Robinson who kept me up to date on the details of the world of gymnastics and also from Terry who, as you all know stayed active through judging.

When I read Rich Jouen's comments about Terry Truman, it jogged a little memory I had of an article that Terry wrote when he turned 30 years old and which was published in, I believe the Rocky Mountain News . I told Terry that I would send this article to him which I did and asked him to get it on the blog which he agreed to do, but knowing Terry's humility or as he would say "I was too busy", I don't think he will do it, so I've decided to include it in this email for the group to enjoy. Because we're all a bunch of old farts I think everyone can relate and will enjoy it. It's pretty remarkable when you read this and realize this was done from rote memory, no research, and pretty much highlights the mis-spent youth some of us enjoyed or at least read about in the papers. It's scary to think this was written 32 years ago and even scarier to think some guys can still do a handstand, not to mention from a press.

I hope everyone enjoyed the reunion and got to establish old relationships as well as realizing the huge impact it had on all of our lives, even if some of us did not continue the pursuit. Best regards to all the great Colorado gymnasts and I hope you enjoy Terry's article.

John Young
909-350-2266
714-747-2555 Cell

One of the newspaper clippings from earlier in the blog declared "3-Man Gym Team Wins Gym Title." I was fortunate to be one of the the three but at the same time I knew we had a lot of other good members on that team - Tim Larson and Ken Macaulay went on to take state championships the following year. So I went and looked at the state meet results and the article was right - so here is a photo from the reunion of those three along with Coach White - Tom Proulx, Pat Edwards and Rich Murahata. The only thing we won at the reunion was biggest waistline!
Now here's a reunion story I hadn't heard before but Ed Klanecky shared with me and since he's an Aurora Central alum I don't know if I should believe him or not. I am inclined to believe him though since he's a first class guy and always has been.
Anyway on with the "story."
Ed told me that the "powers that be" were considering a rule change for the '66 season to determine how the team championship would be determined. Rather than giving points for where competitors placed the option was proposed to move to the format that now exists where are individual scores are added up to determine the team score. Ed shared that Aurora Central thought they had greater depth than Fairview so Coach Robinson wanted to go to the new format while Coach White wanted to stay with the existing format. The traditionalists won and a "three-man" team won the state meet. I personally don't agree with AC's belief that a rule change would have provided them an opportunity to win the team title but someone would have to dig up some individual scores of the team members to get some idea of who is right. And of course teams like Wasson, Lincoln and Ranum might want to add their two cents as well.

SO WHERE ARE SOME MORE STORIES FROM THE REUNION OR FROM YOUR MEMORIES? AND SOME OF YOU PROMISED ME MORE OLD MEMORIES, CLIPS AND PHOTOS THAT YOU HAVEN'T DELIVERED ON YET - SO GET WITH IT!

These are the kinds of helpful comments I hope to receive from you guys over the coming weeks.

Pat,
Although Gauthier seems like he may be a banjo player from West Virginia, I think Williamsberg is in Virginia. It's hidden between the modern Navy HQ and the Confederate capital, a few miles from Jamestown. You're probably confused because he looks like one of the guys from "Deliverance".
Jaouen

To which I responded to our esteemed plastic surgeon who specializes in burns and trauma,

I'll be sure to get your correction posted! Go put butter on somebody's burns.

Tom Proulx - the winner of the most ample waistline (biggest gut - over 47") wasn't even challenged by any other reunion attenders. Compare carefully the photo at left with the one on the right to see how some people "let themselves go to pot." And this from a guy who was both a national and world champ! Oh, how the great are fallen (or grown-groan)!

Handstand Winner
























As shared briefly in an earlier post Gary Pomeranz won the the handstand contest judged by the coaches with an actual straight arm, straight leg press that he held. Even thought the photo doesn't show it his toes were pointed!

To the right you can see Dennis Berg getting ready to launch into his effort at a handstand watched by emcee Jack Ryan. Better luck Dennis at our next reunion in another forty years.

I'm still waiting for photo and written contributions.

SID FREUDENSTEIN
Although I did not compete or coach in Colorado in the sixties, I arrived in 1969 and met many of you then and when I became more involved in the 70’s and 80’s. Actually, I believe I was in at least one USGF competition at the Air Force Academy in the late sixties? The following is a modified bio I first made in 2005 for another event.

Before High School

I started flipping while in 6^th grade when my grandfather found me alone at home diving off the rafters in the garage on to an old couch. He enrolled me in diving school at Sammy Lee's swim & dive club. I didn't really like diving, because I wore glasses, but I did learn a little trampoline (you would never have guessed that if you saw me compete!) In Jr. high, there were some bars and rings outside in a sandpit and I taught myself kips and giant swings (with straps). I didn't know the names of the skills then, I just saw other kids doing them.

High School

Started formal gymnastics as a sophomore in 1960 under Ron Amster at Anaheim High School, CA. He was responsible for my initial success. I won many competitions, mostly on tumbling, floor and vault. In my senior year, I was the High Point Man (closest to All-Around) at the Southern Calif. State Championships.

Cal was Amster's first choice for me, but my grades weren't quite good enough. I was awarded a scholarship to Univeresity of Southern California, and since many of my high school chums went there, I was excited to go. When I went to matriculate, there was no packet for me! When I went to the A.D's office, he told me I was rejected and my scholarship went to someone else, (who only lasted two years)! I was devastated, but I enrolled at Santa Ana Jr. College and continued to train at my high school.

I finally made it to Cal in 1964 and graduated in 1968 with a degree in physics. My highlights at Cal are many. I had a wonderful time, and met some incredible people. I was injured much of my first year, but my sophomore year saw much progress. I won many invitationals, PAC 8. and regional titles. Here is a highlight list of some regional, national and international awards.

1964 - Pasedena Invit. 2^nd Vault

1965 - USGF Invite - 1^st PB, V, FX, 2^nd AA

1966 - NCAA Nationals - 3^rd Vault

Pasedena Invite - 2^nd V, 3^rd FX

USGF Nationals - 2^nd FX, V

PAC 8 Championships - 1^st Vault

1968 - Olympic Trials - 3^rd

NCAA Championships - 1^st FX and Team

PAC 8 - 1^st V, FX

North American Championships, Vancover - 1^st FX, V, Team, Team Capitan.

World University Games, Tokyo - 2^nd FX

In the summer of 1966, I was chosen, thanks to my coach, Hal Frey, to attend an Olympic training camp at Penn State, and most importantly a USGF alternate to the World Championships in Dortmund Germany. This had a profound effect on me, because I realized that some of my idols were human and made mistakes in training also.

I was married in March of 1967.

In the summer of '67, I was chosen (again thanks to Hal) to the World University Games in Tokyo. I placed second in floor exercise against some of the best in the world. I was stoked!

My senior year in 1968, at the NCAA Championships I tied for first on Floor Exercise, and we won the Team title in a thrilling ending.

On the way to the Olympics

•19^th out of 20 selected in 1^st trials!

•1-2 week training camp at Natchitoches, La

•My first daughter, Liesl was born August 1968.

•2^nd in 2^nd trials at Penn State (top 6 from first trials not present)

•3^rd in Final Trials at UCLA (see article by Jim Murray following Art White’s bio)

•Training at UCLA and Colorado Springs

•Chosen co-captain of the 1968 Olympic Gymnastics Team

I was sick in Mexico City for several training days, but did well in general. I was told I would have made the finals on floor if our compulsory session hadn't been first thing in the morning when the scoring was low.

After 1968

Entered graduate school at University of Colorado (CU), in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. I had a second child and occasionally judged high school gymnastics meets. My last couple of years in grad school, I announced CU's home meets. Thank you Dave Wardell! When CU needed a temporary (I thought) coach, I agreed to be head couch for a year while I found a physics job.

I started as head coach at CU in the fall of 1976. I finished my Ph.D. in Physics in 1976-7, and started to teach physics at Metropolitan State College of Denver in the spring of 1977. I did both until CU dropped 7 sports, including gymnastics in 1980. When I took over, the team was in shambles, I hired Buzz Clark, and at the end we were ranked preseason in the top-ten. I relish my time as coach at CU. It is where I met some incredible Colorado people and felt like I made a difference in Colorado gymnastics. Remember the big meet in the Coors Event Center with the young Japanese team and several future Olympians for the USA? Too bad the university didn’t see fit to continue the program. I felt so bad for the disappointed student-athletes who had to make some hard and potentially life changing decisions. Dropping the sport was devastating for the Colorado high school programs as well.

In 1980 and 1982, I was chosen by the state of Colorado to be the exchange coach of a sister-state program in Brazil. I taught clinics to coaches and teachers. They sent soccer coaches to Colorado (what else?)

In 1982, I started and directed a not-for-profit private club (along with ex-CU gymnast, Rob Candelaria) called Colorado Academy of Artistic Gymnastics (CAAG). It grew to its maximum of 417 students right after the '84 Olympics. The City of Boulder then opened a program (with ex-CSU gymnast, Ron Cresentini) and took our more lucrative beginner’s business by significantly undercutting our rates.

In 1987, I left the club because it was taking too much time from my college teaching and family. The team parents took over and soon left it to Rob. The gym is now called CATS. That same year I married one of the gym parents, the beautiful Kathleen (then Taylor). My two daughters were 18 and 14. Kathy’s daughter was 12 and so we had our hands full with three teenage daughters living with us!

We completely remodeled our Victorian house in Boulder (had to make room)! It has been on a couple of house and garden tours.

Our first grandchild was born on Thanksgiving Day 2000. Four others came, all about a year apart. All five live with their parents in or near Boulder.

I have published and given talks on the biomechanics of gymnastics and I authored a teaching manual for major textbook in physics. I have also published several papers in plasma physics, and teacher education. I have been chair of the department at Metro since 1995.

In 2005 I was inducted into the University of California Athletic Hall of Fame.

In December, 2008, I had a total knee replacement due to an old injury, (snapped my ACL while tumbling on our new spring floor during our winter clinic, 1979). Note the pre-surgery left knee in the Venice (not Las Vegas) picture.

I am glad Pat thought of contacting me even though I am not an “official” 60’s alum. I have many good memories of Colorado completions, clinics, NORCO camps. Etc. but most of all, the people I met. I am grateful for the help and memories many of you gave me, CU and CAAG.

Have a great reunion!

Sid

Well, as promised I'm baaaack...
So if you have comments, observations, photos or whatever you can send them to me and I'll get them posted. For me the reunion went perfectly and I thank all of you for your many kind words. For me it was a "labor of love" but you can leave the labor out. All of you know how good you feel when you are able to give someone you care about a special gift - well that's how I felt this past weekend.

The two who had to miss the banquet, one because of work and another because of a delayed flight were able to participate in the other weekend events so they weren't left out.

The blog will remain up and a number of you have indicated you still have old photos and clippings to contribute plus I hope you'll send photos of the reunion as well. If your conversations went like mine you probably discovered you did and said a lot of things you don't remember.

Today I want to feature the coaches in the photos and from the time Friday night it's obvious how much they meant to all of us. In alphabetical order we had Ben Coleman, Jim Hartman, Don Robinson, Dave Wardell and Art White with us. Now those are the golden oldie coaches but a lot more of us coached as well and I can only hope our legacy will be as rich as their's with the men and women we coached. One of my few regrets was that I didn't think to get a group shot of these coaches together.

These comments explaining his score for the reunion came in from Sam Sargent today. While I don't always agree with his scores I can't argue about his creativity.
Pat (I'll be in the mountains and off the net until Thursday the 13th when we'll post other reunion "scores." And Bob Mullins claimed the missing camera - you'd think a ringman would have a stronger grip than that.)

Dear Fans,
I took a deduction for the error , missed combination requirement, two or more attempts to a hold position, he also required an extra swing to complete the combination, plus form errors. Pat has been flawless to this point in the Reunion routine so I decided to get my 1968 FIG code off the shelf and looked up article 65 which first documented mitigation as a judging technique, never being one to use this rule, as you all know I never used a rule I didn’t like, I decided to make an exception in this case. The gymnast will be given the opportunity to restart the routine with no deduction, an unsportsman-like deduction will be assessed to the visiting team for forgetting the camera in the first place. Pat ….please continue
Sam Sargent

I also took a 0.5 deduction for the fall and gave him 30 seconds to remount
Sam

Some of you are like me and wake up early whether you want to or not and may even be hoping some pics have been already posted on the blog this early Saturday morning. I don't think I have the right combination of soft and hardware to get photos posted at my in-laws but I'll work on it later this morning. If you don't check e-mail a Nikon Coolpix camera was left at the reunion so contact me if it's your's.
Only two of the guys registered didn't make it last night so the turnout was almost 100%! Thanks for all your expressions of appreciation but just being with all of you is more than thanks enough. You also need to know someone gave me a very generous donation that underwrote almost if not all of the extra expenses I incurred organizing the reunion.
For those who couldn't attend last night the award categories and winners were:

Traveled the farthest distance: Cliff Gauthier from West Virginia
Biggest Waistline: Tom Proulx (over 47") Nobody even tried to compete with him!
Best Blog submission: Ben Blea (Jaouen, Fulcher, Pomeranz and Proulx were also finalists)
Best Handstand: Gary Pomeranz - he actually did a straight arm, straight leg press and held it with good form. This was judges by the coaches. Nicoletti and Schroeder were in contention along with several others.
Best Golden Oldies Blog Creator: Pat Edwards - a unilateral award given by Jack Ryan.
The awards were extra-large t-shirts emblazoned with the words: "I was once a gymnast."

Some random observations:
Dennis Berg actually wears wingtips rather than "beetle boots."
Vince Nicoletti really can do all that stuff in his youtube video.
Ed Klanecky is as big as ever (and as nice).
I have the impression you still don't want to mess with those guys from North.
The guys from DU kept trying to convince me they are just working-class guys who are extra smart and attended school on scholarships.
People like Sam Sargent, Bob Popp, Ed Klanecky and Larry Hoffschneider don't seem to age like the rest of us.
Some of the guys brought "trophy wives" but they shall remain nameless.

I'm looking forward to posting your observations and photos in the next few weeks so don't let me down.
Pat

Larry Hoffschneider writes: Blogging is not my cup of tea. Better late than never.
After graduation in January 1969, Carla and I moved to Connecticut for my first job. I went to work for Pratt & Whiney Aircraft designing and testing jet engines. While in Connecticut we had our first child (She is married to an F16 pilot and lives in Texas). We moved to Florida in 1970 and continued working for Pratt & Whitney at their Florida Research & Development Center. We had our second child in Florida in 1972 and he lives in Aurora, CO.

We moved back to Denver/Aurora in mid 1974 and I went to work for Stearns-Roger in September of 1974. We have lived in Aurora since 1974. I have worked for Stearns Roger/Stearns-Catalytic/Air Products/United Engineers & Constructors/Raytheon Engineers & Constructors/Washington Group International since 1974 except for 3 years working for Martin Marietta. The current name of the company I work for is URS Washington Division. I am currently a Project Engineering Manager for the company. I have had the good fortune of working on launch complexes at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base. I worked on the Titan IV project while at Martin Marietta. I have had the opportunity to work on power plants, petroleum & petrochemical, test facilities, and numerous other assignments over my carrier. Also had the opportunity to visit Pad 39 with the Space Ship Atlantis on the pad and stood under the engines.
As our son was growing up he participated in gymnastics at the Aurora School of Gymnastics and was coached by Gil Salazar. I also helped coach on a part time basis for Gil.
Since I was not able to maintain my activities in gymnastics I branched out in to other sport activities. I have been running since 1981 and have participated in 16 marathons including the Boston Marathon. Since 1991 have been biking off and on just to stay in shape as well as running at a much slower pace. I have gotten into playing golf as well.
I have a wonderful and loving wife whom most of you know since we were married in 1967. Yes! This year makes it 42 years. Of course Jack & Tracey have us beat on that record. I’ll give them a 10. As you may have noted above we have two children, which has now resulted in 4 grandchildren of which the oldest is 14 and the youngest is 4. We enjoy spending time with our grandchildren and I look forward to the days when I am retired and have more time to enjoy them. Carla has worked until recently and she has retired this year. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.

Guys,
I arrived safely in Denver last night and Ben Blea and I are going to check on the banquet facilities in a few minutes for your dining pleasure.
Eric Singer wrote to say health issues are going to keep him from coming so if you pray keep him in your prayers. BOB MULLINS, BEN COLEMAN, DENNIS AND JIM HARTMAN just called and will be joining us. We're guys in our 60's who competed in the 60's and now there are more than 60 at the reunion! Gymnasts can still sign up easily today - tomorrow is problematic but we'll try to get everybody in who wants to and of course Saturday is totally open. I'm looking forward to the next few days.
Pat

Steve Schroeder – I still have, in my back yard, the 8x16 Gym Master folding trampoline I bought from Jim Hartman in 1968. We have put dozens of beds on it over the years. I can still swing backs and fulls, although the doubles, triples and half in rudy out flifus are things of the past. I was the Arapahoe High School’s Men’s gymnastics coach in the late 80’s & early 90’s; my boys were on the team.

My wife Janie (32 years of marriage now) is a gift from God. We raised my 3 boys Troy 39, Todd 36, Travis 34 and our daughter Tiffany 29.

We are blessed with 3 grandchildren Jackson 2 ½, Landon 9 mo and Eva 3 mo. I can’t wait to get them up on the trampoline.

I have been in the Real Estate and Mortgage business since I graduated from DU where I received a Real Estate degree. I am still in the business full time, but today I am also a graduate student at Denver Seminary. I am very active in my Church and someday hope to retire into full time ministry.

For the last 18 years on Saturday mornings (9:00 am - 12:00 noon) I have been in the South Suburban Goodson gym teaching gymnastics to little boys ages 5 – 12, it gets harder every year to walk on my hands across the gym.

Only one thing keeps me from going with Vince Nicoletti to fly on the trapeze, and that is FEAR. I just know my mind will write a check that my body can’t cash!

I sent over a picture of Jim Hartman, I owe him everything. He made sure that I went to college in 1968 to UNLV on a full gymnastics scholarship. Then in 1969 he and Doug Dewitt helped me transfer to DU on a half gymnastics and half diving scholarship. DU was killing their gymnastics in 1970 so I received the last scholarship they gave for gymnastics, which I received until graduation in 1973.

Thank you Jimmy & Doug, you made a difference in my life.

Steve Schroeder

303-809-7789 cell

Thought you would like to know Tom Jenkins felt the need to defend his honor so I include the following note which refers to my "artsy" photo post. It still didn't aggravate the other collegiate athletes enough to get me more photos to post.

Good Eye on the photos.......but me spend money? I was so dirt poor in college that I remember Bob Poston and I raiding the dorm coke machine for returns to get enough for a pitcher at the Tule. As I remember Daves picture was taken same time as mine by the same photographer. I was soph and Dave a senior. Some guy came over from the school paper and did an afternoon of shots. He blocked out all the windows and used lights. He used that same picture and turned it into a high contrast silhouette that was used in the year book. I just lucked out. Thanks for noticing. Tom

Dan Evans and Brian Krogman just signed up to attend the reunion so keep contacting people.

Well, I took your money to the bank today and they accepted it so I think I'll be able to pay for the banquet although I think it goes on Ben Blea's tab and he gets stuck if I don't give him enough! I have deposits for 50 of you and 6 more who say they're coming to the banquet but I'll have to wring the money out of them Friday night. I'm sure some of you ringmen will help me if necessary. In addition to the 56 there are others who can't come Friday but will be attending Saturday's events. So far the blog has had about 1200 hits so lot's of people are reading it. Don't forget one of the awards Friday night will be for the best bio/article so read them carefully and come prepared to vote for your favorite.

I don't have any more material from you guys but I know almost every gymnast likes artistic photos so I'll post a couple of my favorites. I think the coolest one on the blog is of Tom Jenkins doing a maltese on the rings - he must have spent the bucks for some professional to do it! Some I chose primarily for artistic merit (according to me) and others because of the execution shown - like Dave Wardell's perfect iron cross.

In my experience the worst place to take photos was in CU's practice gym (if it could be called that) and the best place was Moby Gym at CSU because it was so huge you got these dramatic black backgrounds. If you have an artsy photo send it in and some of you have been promising me material for several months now so get going - TIME IS SHORT.

And in case you didn't notice these are all of CU guys because the guys from DU, CSU and CSC refuse to provide glam shots for me to post!