Day in the Life with Level 10 National Qualifier and Jenna Olshefski from Universal Gymnasts in Ohio. Jenna takes us through her week as she leads into her first Level 10 National Championships which was held in Daytona Beach back in May. We get to see a bit of her daily life at home with balancing school with her gymnastics before taking us behind the scenes of her first nationals experience which included two top five finishes and a team win for her Junior F teammates. Let’s check out our Eye on 5 with Jenna.
USA Gymnastics Championships for 2021 rapped up with day 2 of the senior competition. Dickies Arena was electric with on the edge of your set exciting routines combined with the loud roars from the crowd. The energy from the crowd was felt by all in the arena as these fans were just excited to be able to enjoy live gymnastics again.
There was a lot ridding on this final day of competition here in Fort Worth as the national team and qualifiers for the Olympic Trials were up for grabs. Region 5 hoped to have a few more athletes in the mix but due to different circumstances only Shilese Jones from Future Gymnastics competed with a chance to move onto trials.
Shilese entered day 2 of competition in 11th place only .45 out of 5th place. She waisted no time moving up the leader board with a huge vault and bar set before struggling again on beam. She finished the day in 12th with a 108.5 and secured a place at the Olympic Trials in St. Louis in three weeks.
She launched herself into the action with a huge “JONES” (check it out here) first pass that went out of bounds but easily landed her double arabian, which she missed on night 1.
Shilese posted the the 2nd highest single vault score of the competition (tied with MyKayla Skinner) of a 15.0 with an absolutely beautiful Yurchenko Double full. It’s too bad that elites don’t get two vaults so she could try her Amanar before or after her double full. She sends this vault into the air and floats down to a STUCK landing. Check it out!
In rotation 3, her stalder piked Tkatchev that she launches or more like throws into air was finger tip caught which sent her Pak salto transition up into the air. However, in true Shilese style, she handled it with ease finishing her routine with an almost stuck double front which she turned quickly to salute the judge. Her 28.7 combined total was good enough for 5th. Those of you who aren’t aware she is pretty good on bars!
Balance beam just wasn’t her event here at this years championships even though she can be amazing when she is on. The routine started very solid with her standing arabian, and front tuck. She would however struggle with her flight series omitting her layout two feet and grabbing the beam in the process. She finished her double back dismount combo very close to the beam dropping her from 4th to 12th in the final standings.
The field for the 2021 Olympic Gymnastics Trials is set. It’s going to be an exciting two days of competition in St. Louis.
Day two of juniors at the 2021 USA Championships was one of consistency and improved performances from those on day 1. Though there were some falls here and there the competition in the junior session was very competitive with clean and confident gymnastics even if there were only thirteen of them.
The Region 5 Trio hit all four events in day two and each found themselves on the awards podium on multiple events. In the all around Gabby Van Frayen (Gym Xtreme) and Ella Kate Parker (Cincinnati) tied for 7th all around with a 102.2 to claim spots on the 2021 USA Junior National Team. Izzy Stassi (Gym Xtreme) finished 11th in the all around with a 101.00.
Ella Kate had the top individual finish with two awesome beams sets over the two days of competition to finish 2nd with a total of 26.7. Her aerial layout step out is eye catching and she always finishes it with a chin raise as if to say beat that!
Izzy Stassi nailed two bars sets to finish 4th overall with a total of 25.5. I didn’t think her Maloney uprise clear hip Ray combo could be better but it might have been today. She upgraded her dismount to a layout 1/1 out on day 2. It will be awesome to see where this routine goes in terms of composition in the coming years. Izzy also was very solid on all her landings especially her very nice 2 1/2 front tuck on day 2 to finish 8th and grab another medal in her first championships.
Gym Xtreme had two swing into the top 5 on bars as Gabby finished the two days in 5th with a 25.15. She connected her toe full to Maloney in warm-ups but turned it over the bar a little too much during competition however her Maloney Pak combo was right on along with her Jaeger which rotates so fast off the bar. Gabby also took 7th on beam with a two day total of 25.4. Her routines were both super solid though she did have to leave out her second layout in her series on day 2.
It was fun to watch this trio compete and gain that first championships experience and confidence. These three have loads of talent and the sky is the limit to where their careers take them in the future.
“That’s what I came here to do, and I am so happy to be on the national team” We caught up with Ella Kate Parker after day 2 of competition at the 2021 USA Championships. She talks about her two beam routines that earned her 2nd in the country and making the 2021 USA Junior National team.
