The 2021 NCAA Championships will always be remembered as the team champions club gained its newest member. The University of Michigan became only the 7th program to win the Women’s NCAA Championships while posting a program high score. Oklahoma Senior and Region 5 Alum Anastasia Webb won the all around and two event titles putting on stamp on her career. Region 5 Alum Olivia Karas was front in center for all the action at NCAA’s in Texas and she is back to break it down with us. Lots of behind the scenes discussion from this historical championships.
The Region 5 Championships are always an exciting meet and this year was no exception. It was awesome to be able to have the event in 2021 and watch our talented region do some great gymnastics. Over the course of 4 days, two weekends ago in Cincinnati, Ohio the Level 10’s had twelve age groups that were battling (in a friendly way, it is Region 5 after all) for 7 +1 (alternate). A few age groups were able to qualify a few extra athletes to nationals, by filling spaces for other Regions.
Our next three age groups Junior C, Junior D and Senior A feature a majority of new level 10 national qualifiers with only 6 having national experience at Level 10.
Junior C is composed of 2 veteran national competitors (L10), 3 Eastern National competitors (L9) and 2 complete newcomers, which makes for an exciting competition.
Kirchner (JPAC) took the top spot in the all-around with a 37.800 as well as the balance beam with a 9.625. Lucie is no stranger to national competition having represented Region 7 at the 2019 Level 9 Eastern National Champions. Lucie is a confident & sharpe competitor on the balance beam with a double full that soars over the competition.
In the runner up position is 2019 Eastern National Balance Beam Champion Josey Kiefer (CGA). This is Josey’s 2nd year at Level 10, but her first time qualifying to Level 10 Nationals due to Covid in 2020. Josey is another exceptional beam worker with another double full dismount that she pretty much walks into not to mention an awesome triple flight. At the 2021 regionals she was 2nd on beam behind her dream teammate Lucie. Josey had a consistent performance to finish 2nd in the all around 37.5
Kaitlyn Schwab is a 2nd year Level 10 (Aspire) and a 1st year national qualifier. Kaitlyn excels on the Uneven Bars where her sky high double layout dismount and natural swing is an eye catcher. Kaitlyn finished 3rd all around with 37.15.
Veteran national competitor & Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier Sammy Macasu (Legacy Elite) will help lead this team of national newcomers, along with Ava Wellmeier, in Daytona Beach. Sam is a steady competitor who excels on the vault and uneven bars. What I love most about Sam is her fun, high energy floor routine that really makes you want to dance along.
This next qualifier Lauren O’Brochta, also from Legacy Elite, is one of my favorite athletes to watch on the floor exercise. As a Level 9, she had one of the most beautifully choreographed floor routines in the Region. I was pulled into her performance every time she took the floor, so of course I was excited to see what kind of routine she would have as a Level 10. Lauren also excels on the balance beam with the same effortless and strong movements as she shows on the floor.
Ellie Monahan (CGA) is the partner in crime to Josey Kiefer. I absolutely LOVE watching these two athletes together! They are definitely the best teammates and friends. Like Josey, Ellie is an extremely strong floor worker taking the top spot at regionals with a 9.650 just a head of her CGA teammate. I am extremely excited to see these two teammates compete in their first Level 10 Nationals together.
Rounding out the Junior C Dream Team is National veteran Ava Wellmeier (Buckeye). Ava took the top spot on vault with a 9.500 only to injure her ankle on the last event the uneven Bars. So, we are sending positive thoughts and good vibes her way for a full recovery before Nationals!
Junior D will be lead by nationals veteran Hannah Scheible (All American Flames). Hannah has been on fire this this season hitting 38+ All-Arounds like its her job! At Regionals, Hannah almost completely swept the medals in her age group finishing in the top spot on every event, but balance beam where she placed 2nd. For Hannah, gymnastics is a family affair training at her parents gym alongside her twin brother who also qualified to Level 10 Nationals on the men’s side. So needless to say, 2021 Nationals in Daytona Beach is going to be an extremely special event for the Scheible family.
A little more than a full point separates Hannah from the next closet qualifier which is Legacy Elite’s Layla Hammer. Layla is no stranger to high level competition having qualified to the 2020 Nastia Liukin Cup just prior to the COVID shutdown last march. Layla swung her way to a 2nd place uneven bars, and all-around finish as well as balanced her way to a podium position (3rd) on the balance beam in Cincy.
Gym World’s JoJo Valahovic was a 2019 Level 9 Easterns All-Around National Champion, so she has national competition experience. JoJo has been on my “ones to watch” since that all around win 2 years ago. Another young athlete who missed her shot to make her nationals debut in 2020, has grown a few inches and added some difficulty to her gymnastics. JoJo is a constant and confident competitor who I am excited to watch in Florida, the same state she won her Easterns all around title.
Madison Gustitus is another consistent competitor placing in the middle of the field on every event except the balance beam where she topped the podium with a huge 9.700. Madison simply attacks beam with a double full dismount that hangs in the air right over her coaches head. I am extremely excited to watch this athlete at nationals.
Hannah Milton (BIG) is another 2019 Eastern Nationals competitor making her Level 10 Nationals debut in 2021. Hannah comes from a long line of exceptional national competitors from her home gym in Illinois. My favorite event to watch Hannah on is the balance beam, where she placed 3rd in 2019 (Easterns), its her unique side aerial to front toss series that captures my attention.
Many might remember Taylor DeVries as the Junior A athlete that competed on the uneven bars with tissue in her nose after kneeing herself in the face in warmups back in 2018. A 3x Level 10 Nationals qualifier, who along with Scheible, will help lead this Junior D Team in Daytona Beach. Taylor qualified to nationals competing for Flips Gymnastics but returned to Legacy Elite, her former gym, after regionals. Taylor has been killing it on bars this season, so I am excited to see what she will bring to the table in two weeks.
Rounding out the Junior D Dream Team is Olivia Giunta (Legacy Elite). Olivia is a 1st year national competitor, but has served as our alternate at nationals in 2019. This time around Olivia, who has as beautiful Yurchenko full that finish 3rd at regionals (9.525), will add depth to this Junior D team who could challenge for the age group national team title.
For me the Senior A’s were one of the most anticipated age groups at Regionals with 5 nationals newcomers, 2 veterans, 1 of which returned to the gym after over 1 year off. The Senior A Dream Team is the only team without a gymnast from Illinois on it, which is very rare considering they are the 3rd largest gymnastics state in the nation.
Taking the top spot is national newbie Retoshia Halsell from Champion (KY). Toshia, who you definitely do not want to miss on the floor exercise, has definitely put in the work and the upgrades this season to make a run at the top spot. She also grabbed the uneven bars title with her unique higgins to straddle back handstand, on her way to winning the all around and making the dream team.
Right behind Toshia is 2019 Level 9 Eastern All-Around & Balance Beam National Champion Juliet Horenziak. Juliet is a 2nd year Level 10 from Perfection Gymnastics in Ohio. After her 2019 win in Florida, she has been on my “Ones to Watch” list. Taking 2nd on the uneven bars and 3rd on the balance beam in 2021, Juliet will definitely make an impact on this Senior A Dream Team.
One of our Senior A veterans, Sarah Moraw, of Champion USA (MI) went huge on vault scoring a 9.800 on a sky high Yurchenko Full that I fully believe is still up dusting the rafters at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Sarah, who slipped on the Uneven Bars on her huge Jeager, took the top spot on the balance beam. This is no surprise considering she has connected over 13 beam skills together at one time (in practice not competition). She finish 2nd on the vault and floor exercise with one of my absolute favorite routines. I am looking forward to the impact this athlete will have in 2021. Sarah will lead this Senior A Team as a 4x national competitor along with 2x qualifier Sage Kellerman.
Sage Kellerman took some time off from gymnastics following her 2018 Nationals debut only to return a little bit prior to COVID and return better than ever. You can hardly tell Sage took time off from the sport. Her front handspring front pike half vault could give Haleigh Brandt (LSU) a run for her money. Sage vaulted her way to the top of the podium with a huge 9.875. This is one vault you do not want to miss at Nationals.
Another incredible vaulter and 1st year national qualifier Makayla Tucker (DeVeau’s) took the 3rd place podium spot with a 9.750 as well as 3rd in the Uneven Bars. Senior A could actually sweep the top of the vault podium in Daytona.
Making her Nationals debut is 2nd year Level 10 Olivia Rickle (Integrity). Olivia, who is coached by USA great Blaine Wilson is no stranger to Dream Team action having competed at the 2019 Eastern National Championships, taking 3rd on the Floor.
And rounding out the Senior A Dream Team is 2019 Level 9 Eastern National Balance Beam & Floor Exercise Champion Stephanie Lebster (Champion USA). Stephanie, struggled a bit on her first two events, but kicked it up on vault and floor exercise to take the final Dream Team spot. Stephanie is another one with a can’t miss floor routine. I am looking forward to seeing this athlete make her Level 10 Nationals debut.
The Region 5 Championships are always an exciting meet. It was awesome to be able to have the event in 2021 and watch our talented region do some great gymnastics, over the course of 4 days, two weekends ago in Cincinnati, Ohio. Level 10 had twelve age groups that were battling (in a friendly way, it is Region 5 after all) for 7 +1 (alternate). In a few age groups, we have a couple who will represent another region.
Our next two age groups Senior C and D feature a majority of new level 10 national qualifiers with only four having national experience.
Savannah Miller from Michigan Elite gymnastics won the Senior C age group in dominant fashion claiming all four event titles and posting a 38.45 in the all around. Savannah has complete command of her gymnastics with a perfect balance of difficulty and execution. She has added a full in on floor this season and finished as one of the top 5 floor routines of the entire regional competition.
Gym Kinetics Jocelyn Harbeck finished second with a 36.825 qualifying to her first level 10 nationals. Jocelyn who was a former Eastern qualifier isn’t new to the level 10 scene however has made a big jump this season. She was one of our R5 Twenty Five to watch and she didn’t disappoint. Jocelyn has solid gymnastics on all four events but her Yurchenko full is one to check out for sure.
It’s been an up and down last few years for Capitol City’s Lexi Xiromeritis but she has found her stride during this championship season. Lexi took the silver medal on both bars (9.425) with a very nice maloney to bail combo and beam (9.35) which features a nice aerial cartwheel immediate back handspring flight series. Lexi totaled a 36.725 to qualify to her first Level 10 Nationals.
Shannon Chase from Emeth has been on the recovery path from an ankle injury. She had a consistent competition throughout finishing 4th all around and grabbing a bronze medal on beam, a routine that features a standing layout step to scale. Shannon will be making her first trip to Level 10 Nationals as well.
BIG’s Olivia Herrera, 2021 Illinois State Vault Champion, took home 2nd place on vault (9.45) with her very nice Yurchenko Layout 1/2 while, 2021 Illinois State Bars Champion, Mackenzie Patricelli from Midwest Elite tumbled her way to a 2nd place finish on floor (9.525). They finished 5th and 6th in the all around to qualify to their first Level 10 Nationals.
Annie Worley of Olympia, whose music is I need a hero from Footloose, started off her competition with a strong floor routine and capped the day off with a solid back handspring layout stepout on beam and 4th place finish to qualify to Nationals.
2019 JO National Qualifier Madison Greene, known as Polly to her teammates, won this age group with a very consistent performance on all four events. Polly opens floor with a nice full in but is working a double layout!!! There has been talk that we might see this at nationals so stay tuned!
There was a lot of excitement on the competition floor from the Flip Zone coaches Irving, Michelle and Chelsea for good reason as Madina Rose French had one of the best meets of her level 10 career finishing in the top 5 on floor (her first event) and closing the meet on beam with a beautiful back handspring layout layout and a 9.5 for the regional title. Madina finished 2nd all around with a 37.525 to qualify to her first level 10 nationals.
The vault champion in this age group was Maddie Pike from Perfection with a beautiful Yurchenko full that lands nice and tall for a 9.675. Despite one extra swing on bars, Maddie was solid throughout the competition to grab third all around (37.5) to qualify to her 2nd Level 10 Nationals.
Olivia Bowsman from BIG, 2018 JO National Qualifier, used a huge Tkatchev and stuck full out to win the bar title (9.575). She finished in the top 10 on beam and floor to qualify to her 2nd JO Nationals.
Legacy Elite’s Cheyenne Pratola has always been in the shadows of many of her teammates but her gymnastics is not to be looked over. She has nice lines on bars, and a huge Jaeger. However her floor execution and presentation is some of the best in the region, not to mention her dance turns. Cheyenne took 2nd place on floor with a 9.625 and will be competing in her first level 10 nationals.
Ariana Gilley from JPAC finished her floor routine with one of the highest Rudi’s (front 1 1/2 twist) I think I have ever seen and won the event (9.675). She tied Legacy Elite’s Abbey Scanlon for 6th all around (37.175). Abbey used a jam packed beam set which features a side somi to finish 2nd (9.475) on the event and finished with solid double pike on floor to grab 3rd with a 9.6. Both Ariana and Abbey will be making their first trip to level 10 nationals.
Dream Team- Madison Greene (Champion KY), Madina Rose French (Flip Zone), Madeline Pike (Perfection), Olivia Bowsman (BIG), Cheyenne Pratola (Legacy Elite), Ariana Gilley (JPAC), Abbey Scanlon (Legacy Elite), Alternate- Annie Eggerding (Gymnastiks Unlimited)
These two age groups will be competing on Saturday Night (SRC) and Sunday Morning (SRD) at Level 10 Nationals. Check out videos from these two age groups below (routines are timed stamped)
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Level 10 Vault Group B1 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Vault Group B2 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Vault Group B3 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Vault Group B4 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group B1 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group B2 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group B3 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group B4 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group A1 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group A2 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group A3 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Bars Group A4 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Vault Group A3 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Vault Group A2 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
Level 10 Beam Group B3 SrC SrD 2021 Region 5 Championships
This weekend the American Classic took place at Gymnastics Factory in Indiana, home to the USA National Team Training Camps. It was the first qualifying meet (outside of national team camps) for the USA Championships in Fort Worth, Texas at the beginning of June.
Region 5 had four athletes participate at the Classic, 2 juniors and 2 seniors: Faith Torrez- Legacy Elite (Senior), Hailey Klein- Flips (Senior), Gabby Van Frayen- Gym Xtreme (Junior), Izzy Stassi- Gym Xtreme (Junior).
The qualifying procedures for USA Championships were completely based on score. There are 2 and 3 event scores that senior elites can achieve to qualify to championships but the all around totals are 52.0 for seniors and 51.0 for juniors.
This competition was live streamed on FloGymnastics with archived videos from the competition up on their site (must have FloPro to watch any of the classic coverage).
The senior competition featured some of our countries best elites, a few in the mix for the Olympic Team selection. Region 5 had youth and experience in the senior age group. Faith Torrez from Legacy Elite won this competition in 2019 in her first big elite meet. In 2021, Faith is bouncing back from an injury she sustained at the Winter Cup back in February, so some routines are still watered down. Faith only competed a Yurchenko Full on vault and took out her layout full out on floor however her 13.65 and 12.95 were each good enough for top 6 respectively. Faith fell on her Brani on beam but nailed her standing full and a solid aerial layout to finish 6th on beam as well with a 13.5. Faith totaled a 52.55 in the all around which was good enough to qualify to her 2nd USA Championships.
Hailey Klein from Flips is in her first year as an elite. Hailey has some big skills on all four events but balance beam and floor are her strongest. Hailey started the competition on vault with a nice Yurchenko full (has a double full in the works) for 13.55. She missed her Hindorff (clear- hip Tkatchev) on bars but nailed her aerial layout layout on beam (omitted this at Winter Cup) for a 13.0. The video unfortunately cut out and we didn’t get to see her floor routine but she totaled a 48.85. Hailey will get another opportunity to qualify at the GK US Classic in May.
Region 5 had two juniors participate at American Classic both of which train at the same gym. Gabby Van Frayen and Izzy Stassi from Gym Xtreme choose to pull out of the 2021 Region 5 Level 10 Championships to focus on the American Classic. Both Gabby and Izzy were featured in our Region 5 Twenty Five athletes to watch. Gabby finished top 3 on both vault (13.5) nice Yurchenko Full, and beam (13.15) solid layout layout, to finish 5th in the all around 51.15 and qualified to her first USA Championships.
Izzy Stassi, 3rd in the all around at the Hopes Championships in 2019, had an unfortunate fall on her aerial cartwheel on beam but then repeated it into a nice solid layout stepout. She had a beautiful 2 1/2 front tuck on floor but bounced out of her two double backs. After a nice 13.4 Yurchenko Full that finished 6th, Izzy finished the competition with a nice combo of Maloney to uprise clear-hip immediate Ray and double layout dismount on bars to total a 48.85.
The 2021 American/Hopes Classic is going on this weekend at the National Training Center (Gymnastics Factory) in Indiana. The first two sessions of the weekend were the Hopes 11-12 and 13-14 year olds looking to qualify to next months Hopes Championships which are held in conjunction with the GK US Classic. This meet comes directly off the heels of the level 9 and 10 regional championships held around the country last weekend.
Region 5 had six athletes participate between the two age groups. It was a busy last two weeks for five of these athletes as they recently competed at last weekend Region 5 Championships with 4 moving onto either Level 9 Easterns or Level 10 Nationals.
The qualifying procedures for Hopes Championships are you must achieve a 46.00 (11-12) or 48.5 (13-14) all around score and finish in the top 18 to qualify. In the 11-12 age group there were only 14 so it would be completely based on the all around score.
The competition was streamed by Flo Gymnastics and all the archived videos are up on their site to view (Flopro members only).
Cincinnati’s Quinn Harris will be a busy gymnast for the next month. Last weekend she tied for the Level 9 Junior 1 All Around title at Region 5 Championships qualifying to Easterns in May. She continued her success finishing 3rd in the all around at the Hope Classic with a 48.2. Quinn had to make some slight changes to her Level 9 routines but hit four solid sets including a 12.0 on floor which feature a nice double pike to open and tied for 2nd on the event. She upgraded her beam dismount to 2 back handsprings to a double full (1 back handspring to full at regionals) for this competition. She qualified to the Hopes Championships so will be preparing for two big competitions over the next month.
Sadie Goldberg from Buckeye finished 5th all around with a 47.55 grabbing a silver medal on vault with her 13.4 Yurchenko full. Sadie had some struggles on bars at last weekends Region 5 Championships and finished 12th in Junior A but rebounded here to qualifying to the Hopes Championships.
Buckeye gymnastics had two athletes participate in this Hopes age group the second being Addie Oiler-Velez who finished 10th with a 45.55. Addie had a very nice beam routine which features a double wolf turn and solid back handspring layout stepout. She also has a unique snap down back tuck bar dismount. Addie didn’t achieve the Hopes Championships qualifying score but will be representing Region 5 at Level 10 Nationals as a member of the Junior A Dream Team in Daytona Beach in three weeks.
Tori Kitzmiller from Naperville finished 13th with a 43.7. Tori who is just off an injury and resumed training only a few weeks ago was able to make all four of her routines and finish top 6 on bars with a very nice Pak salto and toe handstand toe up combo (11.15).
Region 5 had two athletes compete in this age group. Carly Weinburg from Buckeye, 2019 Hopes Championships qualifier, finished 11th with a 49.2 to qualifying to her 2nd Hopes Championships. Carly had a very nice Yurchenko layout 1/2 on vault, and a 2 1/2 dismount off beam and beautiful double layout dismount on bars. Carly is another athlete who will be busy over the next month as she has also qualified to Level 10 Nationals on Region 5’s Junior A Dream Team.
Emma Becker, who changed gyms this past week, competed for Naperville in this Hopes Classic finishing 25th with a 47.0. Emma has beautiful stalders on bars one of which she blinds out of into a very nice Jaeger. A fall on beam on her flight series kept her from qualifying to the Hopes Championships but she will be taking a trip to Daytona Beach as she fills the important roll of alternate for Region 5’s Junior B Dream Team.
