Life got busy the last few days so Making Moves Monday is Making Move Tuesday this week!!
The prep for another competition season in Region 5 is in underway. As our gymnasts set and work towards their goals for 2022, we will be featuring many of the new skills and combos. Every Monday all summer long and into the fall we will have our Making Move Mondays showcasing the upgraded skills that our gymnasts post on their Instagram channels.
If you want your upgraded skills to be included in future making your move posts, upload your video to your gymnastics Instagram page or your clubs page (must be public) and tag us @region5gyminsider and #R5MakingMovesMonday.
After a wild and crazy season which ended with a new member of the NCAA National Championship team club, we get a chance to look back on all the ups, downs and toe arounds that went on this season from the perspective of our Region 5 Alums. Our first Alumni Conversation is with a member of that National Championship team, Michigan Sophomore Gabby Wilson. We look back on Region 5 memories, crazy moments from this past NCAA season and of course all about Michigan’s first national team championship (for the women). We also through in some of the wall non gymnastics questions to give you a better understanding of who Gabby is beyond the gymnast.
Region 5’s only Olympic Trials competitor Shilese Jones from Future Academy finished 10th overall with a combined two day total of 109.632. Shilese finished 4th on vault amongst all competitors when you take into account first vault only. She was not offered an alternate position on this years Olympic Team but has her sights set on the world championships this fall and a possible run at Paris 2024.
Thank you to Lloyd Smith (photographer for Inside Gymnastics) for sharing some of his incredible photos from the weekend for our gallery below.
Check out her beam and floor routines that where shown on the NBC broadcast. @nbcolympics.com
The prep for another competition season in Region 5 is in underway. As our gymnasts set and work towards their goals for 2022, we will be featuring many of the new skills and combos. Every Monday all summer long and into the fall we will have our Making Move Mondays showcasing the upgraded skills that our gymnasts post on their Instagram channels.
If you want your upgraded skills to be included in future making your move posts, upload your video to your gymnastics Instagram page or your clubs page (must be public) and tag us @region5gyminsider and #R5MakingMovesMonday.
Do things happen for a reason? Is there a plan for how your life will unfold?
What if hard work meets at the crossroads of luck and fate?
ST. Louis, June 26, 2021- US Olympic Trials Day 2 for men and the final night of competition to decide a 5-man olympic team and the 5 replacement athletes. One of the athletes looking to earn a spot on Team USA for Tokyo put all his chances on one event.
The one event that was on the weaker side when talking about the US Men’s program…. Pommel Horse.
But with a four man team, taking a specialist could be risky in the pursuit of a team medal at the Olympics. Thanks to the USA Men’s performance in Brazil (specifically Paul Juda) at the Pan American Championships, one nominative spot was awarded to the United States and would most likely go to a specialist.
June 26, 2009- 12 years to the date of day 2 of Olympic Trials, Alec Yoder sat down at a folding table at Indy School of Gymnastics with coach Gene Watson to decide whether he would switch gyms. Alec had taken part in a trial week of training with Gene the week prior to this meeting.
Gene Watson, one of the most respected men’s coaches in Region 5, asked Yoder at this meeting ” What do you hope to get out of your gymnastics career?”
“I want to represent the USA at the Olympic Games” – Alec Yoder.
On an ancient Apple laptop was a plan: “Alec’s Path Spreadsheet.” It detailed what needed to be accomplished during his career for his goal of being an Olympian to come to Fruition.
– Future Stars Team, Level 9 Nationals, Level 10 Nationals, Qualify to USA Championships, Make National Team, Represent USA on International Assignment, Make Olympic Trials, Qualify to the Olympic Games-
These are only highlighted milestones on the detailed path that Gene and Alec set out to accomplish, with the help along the way from the Ohio State coaching staff, the program for which he competed in the NCAA.
“I followed it and wish he was here to see it come to fruition” – Alec Yoder.
Gene Watson passed away in April of 2020, 3 months before Yoder was to hopeful reach that ultimate goal of the plan- MAKE THE OLYMPIC TEAM. However the Pandemic postponed the Olympic Trials for another year.
June 2021- The announcement of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 and on that list… Gene Watson. The induction ceremony would take place in St Louis following Day 2 for men’s competition at trials.
Was this fate? Or a lucky coincidence?
Alec Yoder performed two solid pommel horse routines over the two days of trials and accomplished what Gene and him set out to do 12 years ago, be named to the Olympic Team.
Gene was a man of very few words but Alec knows a hug and a good job would have followed the Olympic announcement.
“I feel like it was meant to be; This was my tribute to Gene”- Alec Yoder.
As Alec’s mom Rebecca said so eloquently on Facebook, “What a testament to Gene’s vision and brilliance, Alec’s belief and work ethic, and God’s faithfulness and goodness.”
Yoder with Gene Watson
Gene Watson with Casimiro Suarez (OSU coach)
Hard work, coaches that believed in Alec, the plan, and some luck and fate all wrapped into one. Everyone has a story behind the scenes that leads to the monumental athletic accomplishment.
Now only one more bullet point on the plan remains,
