Well we have had some soaking in the sun and today lots of gymnastics at the 2021 Level 10 Dev Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. Day 1 of competition has concluded and we had bit of a roller coaster ride however highlighted by the Senior B’s winning their age group national team title. Region 5 captured it’s first all around national champion of 2021 as Sarah Moraw of Champion USA claimed the Senior A title with a 38.375 and shared the beam title with her 9.525.
There were 5 event national champions from Region 5 on day 1: Sarah Moraw (SRA Beam- 9.525), Lauren Harkins (JRB Bars-9.725), Railey Jackson (JRB Beam-9.675), Paige Thaxton (SRB Bars-9.75), Nikki Smith (SRB Floor-9.825). Check out all 5 routines in the gallery below.
Day 1 Region 5 Team Finishes:
Junior A- 7th / Senior A- 5th
Junior B- 3rd/ Senior B- 1st
Junior C- 5th / Senior C- 6th
There are a lot of stories to tell when we look back on 2020. Though it wasn’t what we all envisioned when the year began, we have each grown and learned from something over the course of the last 12 months. As we look forward to the first ever Level 10 Developmental Nationals, some of our athletes reflect on their experiences and how it has impacted their gymnastics today. We have survived a stressful year, survived Region 5 Championships and now we THRIVE AS FIVE! Check out our tribute to what we have survived that has made us Thrive in 2021.
The 2021 Michigan State Championships was certainly one to remember in the time of COVID. Masks, Distance, Virtual Coaching, & The newly crowned Level 10 Team Champions!!! Michigan got a late start this season having spent almost 8 months out of the gym. However, the level of talent exhibited at this State Championships was absolutely incredible! For some you would have never even knew they had spent most of the summer practicing in garages and parking lots. As our heavy hitters have all gone off to college and we missed out on last season, we have a new crop of big guns on the competition floor and this group of athletes will certainly make a statement come regionals and nationals! We have at least 2 or 3 future JO National Champions (my prediction) in our mist, with 5 38+ All-Arounds and 4 more on the brink (there were a few falls) the future is bright in Michigan.
Hannah Scheible of all American Flames took first place in Child A with an outstanding 38.300, she also was the Vault & Bars Champion with a pair of 9.650s. JO Nationals veteran and third place finisher Kaia Tanskanen of Michigan Elite also pick up the Floor title with her always impressive Floor Routine scoring a 9.675 to do so and rounding out the Child A podium was Capital City Flips Lili Cosman. Another notable finish to be our fourth place finisher Dani Fuertez of Olympia, who side somi’d her way to the Balance Beam title. ChA Full Results
In the Junior A division Nikki Smith of Eurostars took the top spot with an impressive 38.825, she also tumbled her way to the first place podium in the floor exercise with a 9.825. This age group was jam packed with the top three all around all scoring above 38. Savannah Miller of Michigan elite took second place and 30 875 as well as the uneven bars title with a 9.75 i’m right behind her was Paige Thaxton of Michigan Academy 38.525. Definitely some heavy hitters in this age group with the top seven all around finishers having previously competed at The National Championships. Jr A Full Results
Senior Halle Faulkner of Gym America Top of the podium in our last Michigan State Championship with a 38.325 Halle also picked up a pair of titles on the Vault and Balance Beam with a 9.7 & 9.6 respectively. Another notable finisher was our fourth place all arounder Sidney Washington, who swung her way to the Uneven Bars title with a well deserved 9.7. This was the last go around for our senior athletes, they definitely were living in the moment and taking it all in, I can’t wait to see what happens next at the Region 5 Championships this weekend at the Duke energy convention center in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. Sr. A Full Results
The Level 10 Team competition was incredible Michigan crowned a NEW Team Champion this year EuroStars Gymnastics (113.700) hit every routine to take the top spot with only 3 people!! The last time a 3 person team graced the podium was when R-Athletics took 3rd place in 2015. Michigan Elite placed 2nd with a 113.600 and Gym America 3rd with a 113.300.
Level 9
We had two sessions of Level 9 competition with 6 different age groups. Catherine Guy of Capital City Flips topped of the podium with a 37.125 also dance her way to the floor title 9.625, her teammate Macy Nihart finished right behind her with a 36.775 and also clean the uneven bars title with a 9.525 and rounding out the top three was Cailyn Waibel of Bay Valley with a 35.525, Cailyn also On the Beam title with a 9.125. Another know where the performance was our current place finisher Cecilia Arico of Gym America who claimed the Vault title with a 9.450. L9 JrA Full Results
In the Junior B group Aubrey Patterson of Michigan Elite walked away with 3 State titles topping the podium in the All-Around, Balance Beam and Floor Exercise, just behind Aubrey was Eurostars Ana Tanaskoska and all American Flames Noella Marshall. Noella also claimed the Vault and Uneven Bars titles. Jr. B Full Results
In the junior C age group Michigan Elite had two place in the top three with both also earning individual event titles. Keeley Kohler finished in the top spot with a 36.925 as well as the Balance Beam with a 9.425, her teammate Erin Wilbanks took 3rd in the All-Around 36.650 and earned the Floor title with a 9.400 and sandwiched in the middle was Mid Michigan’s Madison Harvey with a 36.775 and the Uneven Bars title with a 9.300. I know where the performance came from out fourth place finisher Addison Angel of GTC who flipped her way to the Vault title with a huge handspring front tuck and a 9.375. Jr.C Full Results
Ami Cosman of Capital City Flips picked up the senior A All-Around, 36.500, and Uneven Bars, 9.425, titles followed by Samantha Towers of Michigan Academy and Kayla Forsyth of GymTactics. Kayla tied with Bounce’s Olivia Tocco for the Vault title while Alisa Murray of Capital City Flips claimed the Beam title and Jade Golembiewski took the Floor title. Sr.A Full Results
Taylor Gaies of Michigan Academy, who shares a few special Floor skills with her Wolverine sister, topped the podium in the senior B age group followed by a pair of Michigan Elite teammates Maya Hervey who also picked up the Vault and Uneven Bars titles and Ava Downie who topped the podium on Balance Beam. Lindsey Girard of Hunts tumbled her way to the Floor title. Sr. B Full Results
To wrap up Level Ellie Greco of Michigan Elite took the senior C All-Around, Bars and Beam titles followed by Naomi Brattinga of GTC and Alexia Inquilla of KGI. Izzy Smith of Splitz grabbed the Vault and Floor Exercise titles. Sr. C Full Results
