It was a big day yesterday here in Michigan! As other gyms around the Region have gone back to practice or planned their opening dates, Michigan’s Governor has lifted the Stay at Home Order 12 days early and well as lifted some restrictions. Gymnastics Facilities however are still not able to open, but we are not in Phase 4 and Gymnastics Facilities are slated for Phase 5, so there is some light at the end of our tunnel! With that being said we are going to continue to focus our attention on our graduating seniors and today we would like to recognize a first year level 10 from the Wolverine State.
Katy Cash of Splitz Gymnastics [in Canton Michigan]has virtually completed her Senior year at Salem High School, with graduation pending, Katy is now turning her focus toward the summer months, getting back into the gym (eventually) and making plans for her Freshman year at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where she is originally from, for the fall of 2020. Katy is no stranger to National Competition having qualified to the Level 9 National Championships 3 times, representing two different Regions. In 2017 & 2018 she represented Region 4 at Westerns and 2019 she representation Region 5 at Easterns placing 3rd in the All-Around, her highest Nationals finish, and 2nd in her strongest event the Balance Beam. For Katy Beam is her favorite event and it is certainly my favorite event to watch her perform, she absolutely exudes confidence, my favorite part of her routine is her one handed front walkover and her dismount combination. I cannot wait to see this athlete compete Balance Beam in college as part of the Golden Gustie Gymnastics Team! Let’s get to know Katy a little better as she prepares to pack her bags and head home.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? When I was 5 I 
went to a friend’s birthday party at a gym. I went home afterwards and told my mom I wanted to do gymnastics
What is your favorite event? Why? My favorite event is beam because I have always felt at home on beam.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? Why? I love doing Rudi’s on floor. I love the way they feel in the air, and when I land, it feels like an exclamation point.
Dream Skill? I would love to get a tkatchev. I worked them last summer, and I can’t wait to do them again.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I love going to the gym everyday with my teammates to train.
What college do you plan on attending? I am going to attend Gustavus Adolphus College.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at was Easterns because of how we are able to come together from across the region and compete together as if we were always one team.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Either placing 3rdall-
around at Easterns or making it to level 10.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Feature or Series is the 2Q Tuesday Series
3 Things you could not live without? Family, friends, and powdered sugar angel cream donuts
If you could have 1 superpower what would it be? I would like to be able to fly.
Discuss not being able to finish your senior season like you had hoped. I’m really sad that my senior season ended so abruptly and that I never had a chance to compete at State as a level 10. I feel like I missed out on so many things that I had wanted for a long time, but I also believe that everything happens for a reason.
What are you doing to keep up your training during Corona Quarantine? I have been doing workouts at home and lots a visualization.
What do you miss most about gymnastics during this time? I miss 
seeing my friends everyday and the feeling of flipping.
What is the first thing you want to do once you can get back to gym & training? It’s hard to choose one thing, but I want to do series on beam again.
What will you miss most about being part of Region 5? I will miss the family of Region 5 and how everyone is so supportive of each other.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? When I was at my first level 8 meet, I feel off beam doing a scale.
Do you have a nickname? If so what Is the story behind it? I don’t really have a nickname. One of my teammates used to call me Cody and I’m not sure why.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I always liked Laurie Hernandez because her joy and excitement about gymnastics always seem so genuine.
Something you learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? I learned that you are the only thing standing in your way to success. Sometimes you will need help to get past yourself and there is nothing wrong with that.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or Nationals Moment? My most
memorable gymnastics moment was winning all around at regionals.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? A coach once told me, “Once is luck. Twice is a coincidence. Three times you can do it.”
How do you want to be remembered, but us here in Region 5 as well as your home club & teammates? I want to be remembered as someone who always persevered through the tough times and refused to give up on her dreams.
What is something special your friends, family, school, coaches or teammates, have done for you during this quarantine to make missing out on those special senior moments a little easier to handle? I hadn’t had the opportunity to get my senior pictures taken, and my sister did a photo shoot with me so that I could have some pictures for senior year.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I enjoy woodworking.
