Our next Level 9 Eastern National All-Around Champion is Junior 4 Champion Jenna Olshefski of Universal Gymnasts in Ohio presented by A-1 Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!How does it feel to be the 2018 National All Around and beam JR 4Champion?
Being all around and beam JR 4 champion is such a big accomplishment for me and feels amazing. This was always my goal and I achieved it which makes me feel good.
Tell us how your meet went today? Walk us through each moment of your day, warm ups, events etc….
Todays meet went really well for me. When I got to the arena I was nervous, but I knew I had already felt the equipment at practice the other day and could be confident in my gymnastics. When warm ups began I started to get so pumped looking around me and knowing that I had made it this far and seeing how organized and good Region 5 looks. The Jr 4 Dream Team came in knowing what they were doing which made me so excited because I knew I was going to have so much fun and do it for the team.
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What do you normally do between events to stay focused and ready for the next event?
In between events I try to stay focused by just putting previous events behind me. In this particular meet, I started on vault which is not my strong event. I just kept telling myself that I can have fun with these next events, the best is yet to come.
Tell us about the atmosphere of the meet compared to regular season meets you have been too.
Being my first year of level 9, the surroundings at Nationals is just amazing. It’s really neat seeing all the other regions working as a team to pull a win and hearing the names announced on floor was really cool too. This meet brought together the best of the best and it was time to shine.
What is it like being part of Region 5 at Eastern Nationals? (be descriptive)
Being a part of Region 5 at Nationals is such an amazing thing. Anyone in Region 5 and all the other regions know Region 5 has something special. Region 5 pumps us up so much and gets us ready to do amazing anywhere we go. Being a part of this team was so much fun. The cheers that coaches made up for us and dedication that was put towards our group is unbelievable. Being on the Region 5 team at Nationals is a lot of fun and lot less nerves.
How has your experience been here at Nationals? What have you been doing besides competing?
The whole experience of coming up with my teammate, practicing and going to the welcome party together was just so amazing. The experience at the meet, and leading up to it is something I will never forget. Focusing more on the meet, competition was a blast cheering for others and getting to know people throughout our region. It was fun getting to know my teammates that I will be seeing in the future and creating friendships. The day after competition my family and I went to Niagara Falls. When we got back home, I got my nails done because I can’t have them done during season and I am enjoying a few days off!
When the meet is over what is or what was the first thing you did to celebrate your win?
The first thing I did to celebrate my win was go out to eat with my teammate, Caitlyn, who would be competing the next day. I got her amped up and ready for her big day!
Other than becoming National Champion, what was one highlight of the meet for you today?
A highlight of my Nationals was honestly just taking in the whole experience and knowing I made it here, I wanted to do my absolute best and lay everything out there. No regrets!
Anything crazy or funny happen during your meet today?
This sounds pretty funny but I’m all about superstition so, the pins used on my number were my friend and teammates’ Tory Vetters’ from her Nastia cup win! That was pretty funny and made my confidence kick in more.
How does Region 5 compare to the other Regions out on the competition Floor? What sets Region 5 apart?
From the same warm up, to the same outfits, the tattoo, blinking glasses, team concept and good gymnastics, Region 5 is the place to be. Region 5 is set apart from the others because of how organized we are. During warm up, we were all in sync, doing the same warm up as a team and other regions didn’t have all the same warm up and extra accessories that makes Region 5 who we are.
Who inspired you the most today? What did they say to you? How did you get amped up and motivated today?
My coaches , Dave and Natalia amped me up the most because they told me how far I have come and that I can’t qualify to anything else after this meet so to look around and see my surroundings and mostly to enjoy this privilege of competing at Nationals with Region 5.
Jenna was also part of the National Champion Junior 4 Team as well as placing 1st on the Balance Beam.