Competition Video Gallery (via USA Gymnastics Youtube)
The 2025 US Classic back in Chi-town…. well in the suburb of Hoffman Estates!
This competition is the final opportunity to qualify to the 2025 US Championships to be held in New Orleans August 7-10. In order to move on athletes must have achieved a 52.0 in the all around (or 39.6 for 3 events, 26.8 for 2 events). Region 5 had to two represented in the field of senior athletes. However a fall during warm-ups caused Izzy Stassi from Gym Xtreme to pull out of the competition just before the first rotation began. Izzy is already qualified to the upcoming USA Championships.
The seniors were divided into two sessions with one open rotation in each. Avery Moll of Buckeye Gymnastics competed in the first senior session and was the first athlete to compete executing a very nice Yurchenko Full and a 13.1. She soared thru her bars routine with ease before watering down to a double tuck rather than her planned tuck full out.
The moment of the meet came when she nailed her straight body layout to two feet mount on beam. She struggled with the alignment of her mount during podium training but arrow straight when it counted. She continued that into her series nailing her layout and layout. After some wobbly dance elements, she sprung her double pike dismount into the air landing on a 12.6.
Her leg up double turn at the beginning of floor was very nice but she struggled with the landing on her full out and fell out out of her double wolf turn before stepping out on her double back. This brings a close to her elite career at least with Buckeye. Avery will head to the University of Georgia this fall. She is a very talented athlete and we look forward to what lies ahead in her NCAA career and hopefully elite!
Avery Moll, Buckeye Gymnastics congratulated by coach Charlie Tamayo after her bar routine at the 2025 US Classic
Competition Video Gallery (videos from USA Gymnastics YouTube)
Kylie Smith of Cincinnati Gymnastics took 3rd place in the all around with a 51.8. She finished tied for 2nd on floor 12.95, 4th on bars with a 13.25 that was in the top 3 for most of the competition. Kylie has been competing strong this season and looks good going into Championships a few weeks from now. Congrats to Kylie as she will be headed to the Junior Pan Ams in Paraguay.
Elaina Sliney also from Cincinnati finished 6th on both bars 13.1 and beam 12.4 to finish 7th with a 50.8. Elaina looked really strong from the first salute despite one mistake on her first tumbling pass on floor. She will join Kylie as our only two junior qualifiers at US Championships.
Kylie Smith, Cincinnati Gymnastics 2025 US Classic 3rd All AroundElaina Sliney, Cincinnati Gymnastics 2025 US Classic 7th All Around
Complete breakdown of the 2025 US Classic Junior session is in our Live Blog below.
Big Yurchenko 1/1 for Elaina small hop back and a 13.4. One mistake on her first pass on floor otherwise great meet for Elaina. 50.8
Kylie 13.2 for a nice Yurchenko 1/1 and a 51.8
Carla 9.25 on beam, she had a great competition other then that triple flight series. 47.0
Ansley 12.1 on her vault 48.1
Yurchenko 1/1 for Isla Lazzari on vault slight pike down score 12.9 finishes with a 47.85
Carla Fronc will lead off on beam- front aerial, BHS Layout layout totally missed the beam, nice aerial small wobble, nice Ondi small wobble, switch 1/2 sissone not connected, 2 1/2 a short of twist step forward. Cross your fingers!
Rotation 5
It’s that time score needed to achieve is 49…. Ansley will need a 13.0 on vault, Carla will need a 11.25 on beam, and Isla will need a 14.05 on vault.
We are now headed into the final rotation. A trip to New Orleans and the 2025 US Championships is on the line for many of these athletes.
Carla Fronc next on bars- Nice Inbar Stalder 1/2 to Endo 1/2 Stalder Pac immediate Inbar Stalder arch but pulled it back, Maloney 1/2, Blind Full, Double layout slightly piked small hop back. She fought through the routine. score: 12.6
Only one Region 5 athlete to compete in this rotation as Carla Fronc will compete on bars.
Rotation 4
Not posting results per rotation because some are one event behind.
12.6 for Ansley on floor
Isla 12.45 on floor
Ansley now on floor- double pike small hop back, 1 1/2 front pike hop forward, 2 1/2 a bit under rotated step to side. Nice routine overall!
Isla Lazzari on floor- front 1/1 to a nice double back, Switch side 1/2 Popa nice but judges will probably not think so, nice 1 1/2 front pike, double pike low landing hop forward but nice job!
Nice Yurchenko 1/1 for Carla Fronc for a 13.0
Elaina 11.9 on floor
Kylie Smith on floor- nice full in small hop back, 1 1/2 front 1/1 very nice, front to double back hop forward. Very high energy music nice routine for Kylie.
Elaine front layout front double full front tuck and sits down, nice 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 bounce out of bounds, double poke hop back. She really tires to project her choreography to the audience.
Now on floor Elaine Sliney
Rotation 3
11.95 on beam for Ansley
Isla beam score: 11.5
Ansley Stevens now on beam- 4 for 4 on split mounts, very nice BHS layout layout she is so good at those, front aerial small wobble, side aerial, double full chest forward a bit on landing.
Isla another split mount, nice front tuck struggled with that in podium training, BHS Back pike (supposed to be layout) will get poke credit, switch leap broke connection pause switch side, nice side aerial, big wobble on full turn, nice double back step back! Way to come back from her fall on bars.
Kylie 12.4 on beam
Isla Lazzari will be next up on beam
Kylie Smith next up on beam- split mount as well, BHS Layout always looks like she wants to do another but stops, front aerial, side aerial nice finish, very strong double back dismount small hop!
12.4 on beam for Elaina
Elaina is now up on beam- Split mount, super solid 2 BHS to layout, nice combo of 4 leaps/jumps, good correction on side aerial, solid front aerial, 2 1/2 hop on landing. Another strong routine for Elaina.
Very nice Full in from Lavi Crain of GAGE! GO Region 4!!!!!
Touch warm-ups are over and competition in rotation 2 has begun. Elaina will be the first for Region 5 to compete as she will go 3rd on beam.
Rotation 2
Elaina 13.1 on bars
Carla on floor 12.15
Kylie Smith, Cincinnati now up on bars- nice Stalder blind, huge Jaeger, nice low bar Stalder blind 1/1 combo, small hop on her layout full out. Very good start for Kylie. score 13.25
Carla opened with a very nice 2 1/2 front layout, double leg up turn was not completed with leg up so will probably lose that skill value, double full big hop back, nice double back to close. Nice over all routine!
Carla Fronc, Palmers now on floor
There will be 5 routines in the junior session as there are too many athletes for 4 groups so each rotation has a bye rotation which is after floor before vault.
Nice cast handstand to start routine, very nice Jaeger, floaty Pak, Maloney 1/2 and stuck double layout. Very clean form throughout the routine. Great start for Elaina.
Elaina is already qualified to US Championships with her performance at the American Classic
Elaina Sliney from Cincinnati will be next up on bars
score: 11.45
Ansley Stevens from Cincinnati next up on bars- very nice Blind Full and Pac salto, Toe up, Blind FG 1/2 and double pike well executed routine.
score 11.0
Clear hip immediate Tkatchev and unfortunately comes off the bar, blind 1/1 blind front giant to a very nice double front dismount which is new for the elite season.
Isla Lazzari from City Clubnow up on bars
Touch warm-ups are underway for the Juniors here in the NOW Center and the 2025 US Classic. Follow along as we highlight the competition from our 5 junior athletes.
Competition Routine Gallery (videos from USA Gymnastics YouTube Channel)
Agnes Song from Legacy Elite broke the top 10 all around finishing 8th in the 13-14 age group with a 46.65. She makes it onto the podium for bars with her 11.15 for 3rd place which was her first event of the competition. She also took 4th on beam with her 11.95.
Agnes Song, Legacy Elite 3rd place bars- 2025 HOPES Championships
Claudia Lasak from Legacy Elite just missed out of the top eight finishing 9th on bars with a 11.15, pretty impressive considering she was a level 8 during the 2025 season. This was the biggest meet of her young career and she will be one to watch next season when we look to make up that Level 9 Dream Team for Eastern Championships in Savannah Georgia.
Check out a full competition breakdown including photos from the competition in our Live Blog recap below.
Welcome everyone to our HOPES Championships live blog.
Touch warm-ups for competition have begun. Our Legacy Elite Duo begins on bars.
Claudia Lasak will be 4th up in the first flight of rotation 1.
Claudia next up on bars- Level 8 competitor during the 2025 meet season now on the podium at HOPES Championships.
Nice Toe handstand clear hip Pac combo to open. Blind Front Giant 1/2 and Double fly big step.
Touch Warm-ups for the second 1/2 of rotation 1 is underway. Agnes Song 2025 Level 10 national qualifier will be the last to compete on bars.
Legacy Elite fans are in full force here at NOW Arena taking up almost a whole side of the arena.
Agnes caught her jaeger with one hand in warm-ups but holds on IMPRESSIVE! Hope both hands get on in the competition.
Ok Agnes is now on the podium getting ready for her first routine of these championships. The COME ON AGNES from the crowd and cheers as her name is announced up next!
Nice blind piked Jaeger, Clear hip Stalder Pak combo, Blind 1/1 and double layout (slightly piked) dismount big hop forward but HIT!
11.15 for Agnes identical to Claudia to close out bars in rotation 1.
In rotation 2, Claudia will be 2nd up on beam in the first 1/2 and Agnes 2nd up in the second 1/2.
The squads are now rotating around the arena.
Just in case you are not aware of the HOPES competition, we have two age groups 11-12 and 13-14 which will each have their separate champions crowned. Claudia Lasak, Legacy Elite is in the 11-12 with Agnes Song, Legacy Elite in the 13-14 respectively.
Claudia getting ready with final words from coach Andi.
Nice split mount! Nice leap series but off on BHS layout. Solid standing back tuck and front aerial and a RO Full dismount with a solid landing. That will be a very nice Level 9 routine next session.
Kim working hard on the floor check these photos of Claudia from bars.
10.55 on beam for Claudia
Bell signaling the touch warm-up for the 2nd 1/2 of rotation 2.
Love seeing Shilese Jones out there coaching but can’t to see her back out competing.
WOW what a start to the second 1/2 of rotation 2…. Huge Yurchenko full from Cassandra Tan, BIG Jaeger from Alexis Reiner and an Ondi from Alden Dante.
Agnes is getting ready to mount the beam.
A bit slow on the wolf turn but made it, solid BHS layout and side aerial, good switch switch 1/2, cross split jump 1/2, nice double full dismount small hop! Very nice routine!
I think she has a Korbut in her routine as well but I missed it as a USA Gym Tech guy is fixing the live stream camera in front of me.
11.95 on beam
Over on bars an impressive 13.25 from Avery Haines (First State) very nice Stalder 1/2 endo 1/2 Stalder Maloney combo.
Both Agnes (1st 1/2) and Claudia (2nd 1/2) will go last on floor in 3rd rotation.
More from Kim- Agnes on Beam
Anna and Andi doing the mat changes as Agnes is next up on floor.
Love this music…. it’s Macko Caquatto’s old music. Nice double pike to open, solid 1 1/2 Front pike, nice back spin, pretty solid wolf double, 2 1/2 had to save the landing stepping back and squatting to keep from falling down.
Score: 11.75
Good Luck Knuckles between Andi and Claudia as she is next up on floor.
Nice wolf double, Layout full to open (She did double back first pass at American Classic if I remember correctly), nice 1 1/2 front and front 1/1 last pass with a big cheer from the crowd!
Claudia- Pike Yurchenko step forward on first vault. She was much better on her 2nd attempt (athletes in HOPES allowed to do 2 vaults even if the same vault) big step back but more height on 2nd.
11.85 on vault for a 44.6 and remember she was a level 8 this season. Watch out for Claudia next season!!!!!
Highlights from our Region 5 junior athletes during the 2025 US Classic Junior women’s podium training. NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates Illinois is playing host to this years US Classic and Region 5 has five juniors competing in the competition with two already stamping their ticket to the US Championships in New Orleans held in August. Here are some behind the scenes moments and gymnastics highlights from podium training
It’s that time of year again! Time for my Region 5 Top 10 Favorite Leotards, which really should be Top 25 since I can never decide, of 2025. Each year it gets harder and harder to compile a list of only 10 leotards without having a ton of extras! However, if you have followed along with the Region 5 Insider you should be well aware by now I cannot make a list to save my life. This year, as usual, was an exceptionally difficult as there were so many great leotardsout on the competition floor. So there might be a few more honorable mentions that usual, but that is okay because its my list!
So sit back, relax and enjoy part one of our top 10 (or more) favorite Region 5 Leotards of 2025.
10. PGC (Illinois 1st year) Moreau 10. CITY Club (Illinois 1st year) GK
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In the number 10 spot is PGC & CITY Club, respectfully, it is the first year on the list for both these gyms. I had a hard time deciding between these two beautiful sublimated leotards by Moreau Sports & & GK Elite. I have always LOVED how CITY Club used the Chicago Flag in their leotards. Last year they had a similar one with red, but there is just someone iconic and eye catching with the mixture of the light & navy blue really allowing the red stars to pop! The same cam be said about PGC’s leo, it has a very European look too it, which I absolutely LOVE, I have always wanted to try this company! Growing up this was the company that most of my favorite European Teams used and I was always jealous! PGC’s European inspired leotard has an elegance to it that makes you take notice not just of the beautiful leo, but the gymnastics as well.
9. Five Star (Ohio 3rd year) Ozone
In the number 9 spot is Five Star! I first saw this leo at the Lady Luck Meet in Las Vegas and instantly loved it. I am not one who usually loves navy blue (13 years of private school will do that to you), but there was just something beautifully classy about this leo that drew me in. The white belt is well placed making it look great on everyone and it has a key hole back, which as someone who did gym in the 90s give me a key hole back any day!
8. Legacy Elite (Illinois 5th year) Ozone
Legacy Elite is no stranger to this list having appeared 4 times previously. What I always love the most about a Legacy Elite leo is the branding! You know immediately what team this leo belongs to with their signature colors and dragon! The dragon on the leos is always my favorite part. There truly has not been a Legacy Elite Leo that I have not loved.
7. Naperville (Illinois 4th year) Sylvia P
Naperville! This SP leo is so different with its beautiful design and color, but it really is the details of the back and the chest that do it for me along with the subtle jeweling throughout. I love how this leo stands out on the competition floor
6. Vernon Hills (Illinois 1st year) Sylvia P
VERNON HILLS, from the first moment I saw this leotard on one of their younger athletes, I prayed I would see it again at level 9/10 Regionals because it HAD to make this list! Both a favorite of Jason and mine. Vernon Hills came to play in the beautifully elegant black and white bejeweled number! The high neck and key hole back are what dreams are made of and VH certainly hit it out of the park with this one! It also looks sensational on all athletes from 8-18 this one is a classic!
Honorable Mention #1
FLYTZ-SP (Ohio), UGA-Ozone (Illinois), GTC-IN-Ozone (Indiana)
Honorable Mentions are so difficult because there truly were some amazing leotards out on the competition floor, but I am really working on keeping it to 3 per post. I also really value the input from others to help me decide especially when it comes to the honorable mention list.
1. Flytz (Ohio)-Flytz never disappoints with their leotards and this one is no exception. There were a few great all black leotards in Region 5 this year, but this one really stands out with the beautiful jewels! It reminds me of an elegant ballgown and it looks great on everyone!
2. UGA (Illinois)-UGA was actually one of the inspirations for this list way back in 2014 when at Regionals I got this bright idea to compile my favorite leotards list. I can still remember that leo to this day it was sensational and really stood out, just like this beautiful blue Ozone leo. Now I know others have similar patterns to this one, but its the high neck & keyhole back for me.
3. GTC-IN (Indiana)– GTC has gone back to their signature blue & white, which I love! It always reminds me of Greece! Last year they went a different direction with light blue and black, which I loved, but this one really pops especially with the awesome criss-cross open back.
Disclaimer: To be eligible for the Region 5 Top 10 Favorite Leo list at least one athlete must compete at least one event at the Level 9/10 Region 5 Championships. Reminder: The Region 5 leotardlist is opinion based, 100 non-affiliated individuals are also polled to help in the selection process.
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