2021 Region 5 Championships Rewind: Senior C and Senior D

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April 26, 2021

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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.

Senior C
Full Results

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.

Dream Team- Savannah Miller (Michigan Elite), Jocelyn Harbeck (Gym Kinetics), Lexi Xiromeritis (Capitol City), Shannon Chase (Emeth), Olivia Herrera (BIG), Mackenzie Patricelli (Midwest Elite), Annie Worley (Olympia) Alternate- Sophia White (Aspire)

Senior D
Full Results

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

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Torrez and Van Frayen Qualify to USA Championships

By

Jason MacDonald

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April 25, 2021

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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).

Seniors
Full Results

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.

Juniors
Full Results

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.

Three from Region 5 Moving on to Hopes Championships

By

Jason MacDonald

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April 24, 2021

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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).

Hopes 11-12
Full Results

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).

Hopes 13-14
Full Results

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.

2021 Region 5 Championships Rewind: Senior E and F

By

Jason MacDonald

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April 23, 2021

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presented by

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.

Session 1- Senior E and Senior F
Results- Senior E | Senior F

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

Makenzie Sedlacek, Midwest Elite | L10 Floor 2021 Region 5 Championships

Savannah Kokaly, Bay Valley | L10 Floor 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Bars SRE, SRF Group A2 (Part 2) 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Bars SRE SRF Group A2 (Part 1) 2021 Region 5 Championships

Sarah Hopfensperger, Legacy Elite Level 10 Bars SRE 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Bars SRE SRF Group A3 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Beam SRE SRF Group A2 (Part1) 2021 Region 5 Championships

SR E SR F Level 10 Beam Group A3 Part 1- 2021 Region 5 Championships

SR E SR F Level 10 Beam Group A1 (Part1) 2021 Region 5 Championships

SR E SR F Level 10 Beam Group A1 Part 2 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Vault SRE SRF Group A4 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Vault SRE SRF Group A2 2021 Region 5 Championships

Level 10 Vault SRE SRF Group A1 2021 Region 5 Championships

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Best of 2021 Kentucky State Championships

By

Jason Buttons

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April 22, 2021

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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!

#R5BestOF #Level10KYState2021 #Level9KYState2021