Neon Twisters - Jump Rope Team

Teanna Rose is the unexpected coach of Abilene’s only competitive jump rope team, the Neon Twisters.

Eighteen years old and a senior at Cooper high school, Teanna took over as sole coach of the team two years ago, after her young co-leader Kaitlin Copelin died suddenly.

Teanna was a student at Bassetti Elementary and started jumping at age nine. After seven years of competition, the P.E. teacher who coached the team was ready to step down. At the time, the team was named the Jammin’ Jumpers.

“I was captain on my other team, so was already teaching the younger kids,” she explains. She describes feeling bad that they were just getting started, and might not be able to continue in the sport without a coach. So she and another 16 year-old teammate, Kaitlin, decided to take over. Then after a short illness, Kaitlin died.

Teanna wasn’t sure she could go on by herself. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be, but she took a step at a time.

The sport itself appears to have brought healing.

The first jump rope team was the brainchild of Cheryl Edgar, who was inspired after finding out about competitive jump rope during involvement with a Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser.

Says the former coach and advisor via email, “… the [Neon Twisters] carry on in honor of Kaitlin … [and are] preparing for the national Jump rope competition in Long Beach, California in June of next summer.” 

Teanna says, “It’s a super competitive sport, but we all kind of cheer each other on because we go to the same camps. There are workshops and camps all over Texas and the U.S.”

Going far beyond simple rope skipping or playground double-dutch, competitive jump rope moves include the diamond, the eggbeater, and the rainbow.

“Freestyle jump rope is gymnastics, in the rope,” says Coach Rose.

She comments on four different aspects being judged: accuracy and flow, diversity, multiples – which include repeat movements and footwork, and creativity.

The team practices for two hours at a time, twice a week at Bassetti Elementary. Beginners start off learning basic footwork and then “work their way up to the fitness.” They also learn how to be good turners. “Turners have the hardest job,” says Teanna.

“People are surprised at how good it is for you – jump roping for 30 minutes is like running 40 miles or something.”

The Neon Twisters team consists of girls and boys, ages kindergarten through teens. The sport has no age limit however, and Teanna says she’s seen 70 year-olds out there.

To make possible travel to competitions, the team solicits sponsors from businesses. They haven’t been able to afford to attend all events.

“My favorite thing is meeting all the new people,” Teanna says wholeheartedly. “We’re all part of USA Jump Rope.”

When asked how she manages coaching, being a student, and working part-time, Teanna answers, “Oh, um, it’s craazy…”

She relays that she’d originally planned on attending a university out of town, but is now considering Cisco College in Abilene to begin her studies, so that she can stay on as Neon Twisters coach.

www.usajumprope.com

Neon Twisters Facebook Group  

Fun videos of team jump rope routines. One set to Beyonce’s “Move Your Body” song.

Comic Book Artist

Steve Rude "The Dude," famous comic book artist, listens as one of those present introduces themselves at a workshop/lecture coordinated by Mike Jones, Dean of the Art Department at Hardin-Simmons University.

Abilene Heat

The "summer" of 2011. Which started in April and continues into October. Although at this point 88 degrees fahrenheit is FIFTY degrees cooler than some of those record-busting days.

These men were building a sidewalk along Rebecca Lane. I admired and was awed by the one guy's extra-large-brimmed cowboy hat and the extra shade it provided. I also saw him wetting down the hat under faucet attached to a work truck. How drought-smart is that?!

Saturday Morning Soccer World

Starting at 9:00 a.m. and going on throughout the afternoon, there is a hidden world of activity that many don't know exists, and are happily sleeping in oblivious of.

I'm talking about Big Country Soccer leagues.

The season now is Fall Soccer, lasting for 8 weeks. There is also a Spring season.

Cars arrive in a stream starting at 8:30, turning off of Maple Street onto the dusty gravel road under the entrance to the fields near South 27th. Parents and grandparents help children unload stadium chairs, coolers, regulation-size balls. Players are dressed in elaborate uniforms of bright neon, with matching patterned socks with the likes of stars or flames.

Competition is fierce, at least for some of the parents. Many of the younger kids are still caught up in the simple joys of kicking a ball and running. They make easy mistakes like, "Which goal belongs to our team again?"

Level of play can be high though and some of the girls and boys will go on to play in high school or college.

Until then, their 'fan clubs' (again, parents and grandparents) come to watch them, wearing team colors, some using umbrellas as a shield from the sun.

One girl had a pink blanket from her bed with her to spread on the grass, and I saw a woman carrying a box of donuts.

It's quite an event.

Resigned Sign

"There is nothing left to steal. Please stop cutting my fence." I can only imagine the stories behind this. Think about the time it took to stencil the sign and hang it. On Maple near Berry.

Donut Shops

BK Donuts (not sure what the BK stands for - I'd like to find out) is run by an Asian family. Fresh & tasty donuts in my opinion. Plus, it's kind of interesting to see what items will be in place in front of the Buddha's well-fed altar. Once, I saw a piled-high bowl of donut holes. Another time, a stacked tower of oranges. The owner's little granddaughter is often coloring at one of the tables, with a big basket of crayons in front of her.


AM Donuts is a local pastry institution apparently, with two locations. Find a good mix of locals, some still in pajamas, on any given morning to pick up pastries for breakfast. They have slightly larger-than-average sizes. The glazed donut holes seem popular, as well as the cinnamon rolls. I like the iced cake with sprinkles, and the chocolate old-fashioned.