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.
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, last weekend 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.
With so much to recap, over the next few days, we will breaking down the competition into the individual sessions. We will be recapping what went on with each of 5 sessions which include 2 or 3 age groups in each.
The 2021 Region 5 Championships started out with the “SENIORS” literally. These ladies competed in their final regional championships. These two age groups combined, have lots of Level 10 National experience.
As at Illinois state meet, the two oldest senior age groups here at regionals were won by Phenom Gymnastics. The top score in the session was posted by Phenom’s Skyla Schulte with a 38.6 in Senior E. Skyla who has big gymnastics on every event but especially on beam (double back dismount) and floor (full in). She is looking to close out her club career on a high note. Her power in her swing on bars and her tumbling along with her unique style makes her always fun to watch.
Tory Vetter from Universal, 2021 Nastia Cup qualifier, finished a close 2nd in the all around (38.475) and took home the regional bar title (9.7) tying Katya Sander (Perfection). Tory has great form on all four events and attacks her routines and landings with confidence. Tory’s bar routine features a nice blind full Tkatchev combination and effortless half in half out. Katya uses the Maloney Pak bar to bar connection which flows with ease and a beautiful double layout which she rocked at regionals. They have different styles on bars but both swing very well which is reflected in their score potential on this event.
The beam is the make or break event but for Gym America’s Sidney Washington it’s her playground. She performs a back handspring layout two feet that is pretty dang good if you ask me. She moon walked her way to a 9.675, fourth best score in the whole meet, to take the title and place 3rd all around with a 38.325. Though her beam is probably her best event, her floor routine is a must watch.
We had a double layout on floor in this age group from Marissa Rojas (MAG) that I don’t think many realized or even saw, that floats through the air with ease. This routine will be one you won’t want to miss in Daytona. Marissa tied for 2nd on floor with a 9.6 and will be a strong score on all four events for this team. This will be her second nationals but the first representing Region 5 (she competed for Region 2 in 2019).
Abby Singh (Phenom) and Laura Soltis (Perfection) two consistent athletes across the board round out this Dream Team for Region 5. Abby brings that power type style to her gymnastics which shows in her very nice Yurchenko layout 1/2 and in her swing on bars. Laura on the other hand has more of the graceful style with the nice lines, but if Region 5 needs a vault, Laura will be there to deliver with her nice Yurchenko full.
The vault title was won by Cassie St. Clair (Aspire) who performs a vault no one else does (at least I haven’t seen it) which is a tuck Kaz 1/2 (1 1/2 twisting vault). Cassie has some cool gymnastics and combos that you don’t always see like a bail handstand swing into an immediate gienger type release back up to the high bar…. FUN! Cassie had some struggles at regionals this year but she will be an athlete people are talking about in the MAC conference next year as a Western Michigan Bronco.
Competing in her first level 10 nationals and competing for Region 2 will be Alex Bradford from Cincinnati. Alex has a nice beam series of the kick over front to back handspring and has fluid swing on her Maloney to Pak combo on bars. She will be a strong contributor to the Region 2 team score.
Region 5 Dream Team- Skyla Schulte (Phenom), Tory Vetter (Universal), Sidney Washington (Gym America), Katya Sander (Perfection), Marissa Rojas (Michigan Academy), Abby Singh (Phenom Gymnastics), Laura Soltis (Perfection) Region 2- Alex Bradford (Cincinnati), Alternate- Eliza Millar (Perfection)
The second Phenom athlete to grab the all around win was Haley Tyson scoring a 38.575 in Senior F while swinging and balancing herself to the bars (9.7) and beam (9.575) titles as well. Haley, who competes a Yurchenko 1 1/2, Ray, Layout 1/1 out on bars, and a triple flight on beam, has a double layout on floor in her back pocket. Though we haven’t seen it in 2021, will it rise again at nationals?
Makenzie Sedlacek from Midwest Elite finished 2nd in this age group with a 38.575, but took the vault (9.8) and bar (9.7) titles. Makie, as she is known, has a beautiful Yurchenko 1 1/2 on vault that is one of the best in the country. She also has that elite look on bars with effortless swing from bar to bar that is second to no one. Her floor routine has a very unique style that opens with a big full in that she lands solid regularly. Those who listen to our College Salute podcast know I love a very good side somi on beam, Makie has that as well.
Midwest Elite was not done grabbing event titles as Gabi Stephen took the floor title with strong tumbling including a huge double pike and a very nice front double full (there is another one coming to college, again College Salute listeners will understand). Gabi uses her power on all four events which really draws you in as a spectator. She finished 3rd on vault (behind two Yurchenko 1 1/2’s) but she has one of the biggest Yurchenko Fulls that most of the time drop in on solid landing.
The form queen in this age group (she could have a claim to one of the best in the country) is Ella Chemotti from Euro Stars. Ella has pencil straight handstands, a layout layout on beam that you could put in the code as “TO TEXT” and awesome presentation. She was in the top 4 on all events except bars (which she had an uncharacteristic fall on her Tkatchev). She will be one of the backbones of this team in Daytona.
Kaitlyn Grimes from BIG, like many of her Region 5 teammates, is making her third trip to Level 10 Nationals. Grimes, as she is known, has one of the highest Tkatchevs you will see (actually may be lower than her club teammate Meredith Donovan!!). She also has a very nice Yurchenko full that has a nice line and legs glued together. Like Ella, Grimes will be one who will go about her business hitting solid routines.
The last two representing Region 5 will both be competing at Nationals for the first time. Grace Harrell (Cincinnati) was one of our R5 Twenty Five and had a solid regional championships. I love how she does a real Shaposh (you know the clear-hip not the toe shoot like everyone calls a Shaposh) and her standing layout step-out to scale. Savannah Kokaly (Bay Valley) has some unique gymnastics with a full on tuck off on vault (very complicated vault to do well), and her dismount on beam of a handstand layout step out full which is an eye catching end to that routine.
Representing Region 2 will be Kara Welsh (Aspire) and Lucy Ault (Aerial) both competing at level 10 nationals for the first time. Kara does one of my favorite bar releases a Gienger and has a very nice Yurchenko full that was top 7 at regionals. Lucy does the kickover front to back handspring on beam and my favorite front thru to double back on floor. Lucy also has very nice floor presentation with her eyes always up and full extension in her movements.
Region 5 Dream Team-Haley Tyson (Phenom), Makenzie Sedlacek (Midwest Elite), Gabi Stephen (Midwest Elite), Ella Chemotti (EuroStars), Kaitlyn Grimes (BIG), Grace Harrell (Cincinnati), Savannah Kokaly (Bay Valley) Region 2- Kara Welsh (Aspire), Luch Ault (Aerial) Alternate- Sarah Kuper (Premier West)
These two age groups will be fun to watch on Sunday afternoon and evening closing out the Level 10 Nationals. These are two very stacked teams that will challenge for a Level 10 Team Championship. Check out videos from these two age groups below (routines are timed stamped)
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Level 10 Bars SRE SRF Group A1 2021 Region 5 Championships
Kaitlyn Grimes, BIG | L10 Floor 2021 Region 5 Championships
With the 2021 Region 5 Championships now behind us and 2021 DP National Championships on the horizon let’s take a look back at the Best of Kentucky’s Level 9’s & 10’s at the 2021 KY State Championships where we highlight powerful vaults and tumbling from Champion Gymnastics, high flying releases from every team, beam precision from Agility Gymnastics Academy and where we welcome new Level 9’s and 10’s from Champion, Agility, Becca’s Place Gymnastics, Kentucky Gymnastics Academy, Excel Gymnastics and Legacy All Sports – Gymnastics, Cheer, Camps, Parties and Ultimate Ninja!
The 2021 Region 5 Championships begin today! The host state of Ohio is sending a talented group of young ladies to this years championships. Here are 5 “Ones to Watch” from the Buckeye State. These athletes either are first year level 10’s or looking to qualify onto their first Region 5 JO Dream Team.
For complete coverage of the 2021 Region 5 Championships, hosted by Cincinnati Gymnastics (April 15-18) in downtown Cincinnati, please continue to follow us on all forms of social media!
Good Luck to all the athletes, coaches & judges participating in the 2021 Region 5 Championships and a special thank you to our gracious hosts Cincinnati Gymnastics!
The 2021 Region 5 Championships are in less than 5 days! It has been 732 days since we have gathered together at a Regional Championships. Over the next few days we will be focusing on the up & coming gymnasts that you may not know (and a few you may) from each state that makes up our great Region! Despite Michigan’s crazy mandates and getting back into the gym months after the rest of the Region, we are still sending an incredibly talented group of young ladies to the Region 5 Championships. Here are the 5 “Ones to Watch” from the Wolverine State.
Sage, who competed in the 2018 JO National Championships before taking some time off from Gymnastics, has been on my “Ones to Watch” list since she returned to gym prior to the COVID and she has been looking amazing! Sage, a junior, recently committed to Michigan State University to continue her gymnastics. At the 2021 MI State Championships Sage walked away with the 2021 JrA Vault Title as well as recording the highest Vault score, 9.800, of the competition. If she hits all her events like she can, she can easily be in the 38s and make an impact in the All-Around.
Marissa Rojas: Michigan Academy of Gymnastics
Marissa, represented Region 2 at the 2019 JO National Championships, is trying to make her 1st Region 5 Dream Team in 2021. Marissa may be seen as a more reserved athlete, but her Gymnastics speaks volumes. Marissa should have no trouble making her 1st Region 5 Dreams Team this time around. Marissa has jam packed difficulty all over the gym, especially her Balance Beam and Floor Exercise, she is not one to miss! This is another athlete that has been on my “Ones to Watch” list for a while now.
Stephanie Lebster: Champion USA
Stephanie is no stranger to National Competition having earned the Balance Beam Title at the Level 9 Eastern National Championships in 2019. However, due to COVID, this will be her first Region 5 Championships as a Level 10 and her first opportunity to make the Region 5 Dream Team for Nationals. Stephanie is another athlete who is strong on all 4 events, but it is her floor routine that is my personal favorite! You may recognize Stephanie and her sister Genna from our “Day in the Life” Quarantine Qorner Feature. This athlete is surely one that you do not want to miss at Championships.
Lili Cosman: Capital City Flips
Since we last saw Lili Cosman, she has had a substantial growth spirt adding a few inches onto her frame and gymnastics. Lili, who took 2nd place in the All-Around at the 2019 Level 9 Eastern National Championships, is looking to make her first Level 10 Dream Team in the Junior A division. Lili will impress all over the gym for years to come.
Dani Fuertez: Olympia Gymnastics
Dani is another talented athlete who has added a few inches of height to her gymnastics. Dani, who looked great at state meet, is looking to make her first Region 5 Dream Team in 2021. Make sure to check out her Balance Beam routine which includes an impressive press handstand mount, a side somi (Jason’s favorite skill) and a beautify double full dismount.
For complete coverage of the 2021 Region 5 Championships, hosted by Cincinnati Gymnastics (April 15-18) in downtown Cincinnati, please continue to follow us on all forms of social media!
Good Luck to all the athletes, coaches & judges participating in the 2021 Region 5 Championships and a special thank you to our gracious hosts Cincinnati Gymnastics!
