Senior International Elite Shilese Jones sat down with the Insider to talk about her upcoming competition in Japan, return from quarantine, the upgrades we will see in 2020ne oh yeah and “The Jones” is back. Shilese is excited and ready to get out there and compete again this coming weekend but eyes still set on preparation for the summer olympic qualifying season. She has upgraded on every event and is looking forward to adding all these upgrades into her routines during this season. Her focus has been to get consistent while focusing on merging the artistry with the skills for the complete package.
Our next 20 Questions athlete is 2021 Senior Olivia Bowsman. Olivia is a level 10 from BIG Gymnastics in Illinois. Olivia made a BIG jump in 2018 skipping level 9 and heading directly to level 10 she then qualified to the 2018 JO National Championships, not bad for an athlete who was a level 8 the season before. One thing I remember most about Olivia from those National Championships was her sky high full out dismount to a rocked stuck landing! Her feet did not move it was incredible. Olivia, who will be headed to Towson University next fall, is preparing for her last JO season with not only BIG Gymnastics but Region 5 as well. Let’s get to know Olivia a little better as she polishes up her routines and perfects her stuck landings for the 2020-2021 season.
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you?
I started out in rec classes at 4 years old. I quite after a year and decided to do cheerleading and figure skating. But I just missed gymnastics so much that I decided to come back at around 7 years old.
What is your favorite event? Why? My favorite event is bars because I love the feeling of excitement from catching a release move.
Favorite Skill? Dream Skill?My favorite skill would have to be a tkatchev and my dream skill would be an onodi on beam.
Favorite part of Gymnastics? Why?
What I love about gymnastics is that you are not just a part of a team, you are a part of a family. Your teammates become your sisters, and you know that they will be there to support you through absolutely anything.
Biggest Accomplishment in Gymnastics so far?
Making it to Nationals my first year as a Level 10.
1st thing you did when you were able to get back into the gym? Swing on bars. That’s the only thing I wanted to do as soon as I got back because I missed it so much.
Talk about returning to training post COVID, being out for so long (how long?) The struggles, successes, how long it took to get skills back and how it was adjusting to our new normal. I feel like this pandemic has changed our lives so incredibly much and has made me realize that I should never take a single thing for granted. Not being able to practice for 3 months was an eye opener for sure. I remember the first week back I was so sore that I could barely move. I realized that it was really just getting back into the swing of things that took longer than getting my actual skills back. At first, I would definitely say that it was difficult getting used to the new normal. All I wanted to do when I came back to training was give my coaches and teammates a hug, but I guess air hugs were good enough!
Most embarrassing meet or training meet? When I missed my foot off of the back of the beam on a round off dismount and I had to get back up and do another one. But this time was even better. This time, I missed my foot on my hurdle and as I went down, I missed my hand too. After that meet, I never did another round off dismount.
Something you have learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? Gymnastics has taught me to realize that not every day is going to be perfect, and that’s ok. As long as you give it all that you had, then it was a good day.
Who is your biggest role model? Why? My biggest role model is my Mom. I strive to be the type of athlete that she was. She was a competitive figure skater and she always pushed herself to do the absolute best that she could every single day.
What is something that sets your gym and/or your team part? We have such an incredible bond that we truly are like sisters. Every single person on the team only wants the best for each other and to see everyone accomplish their dreams.
What is your role on your Level 10 Team or your role in your gym in general? I, along with the three other seniors on my team, are the leaders. We are the ones that people come to if they are having a bad day or struggling with something and just need someone to talk to.
Most memorable Gymnastics moment? When I stuck my dismount on bars at Nationals.
How would you explain the year 2020 to your future children/grandchildren? 2020 was a year where many amazing opportunities were missed. There were many tragedies that came out of this year, but it made me realize that nothing should ever be taken for granted. Your whole life can change in an instant without ever seeing it coming. Be grateful for each day!
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coaches have given you? That it is okay to get upset of frustrated, but don’t be so hard on yourself to the point where you get nothing out of your day. Even if it’s not the greatest day, always find something good in it.
How did you stay motivated during your COVID Quarantine time out of the gym? I made sure to have a routine every day so that I would do everything that I needed to get done. We also had daily workouts over Zoom with the team which also helped a lot.
Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it? What is the story behind it?
Yes, everyone calls me Bowsman. But there’s really nothing too special about it since it is just my last name!
What really makes you laugh? When I’m hanging out with my friends; they always know how to put me in a better mood
If you could have any superpower what would it be? Why? I would want to have the ability to read minds because I think it would be so cool to know what other people are thinking, or so I can help people.
What motivates you to work hard? What motivates me the most are the little girls in Level 3 and Level 4 because I was I their shoes before and I know how it felt to want to be like the big girls in Level 10. Now that I am one of the big girls, I just want to set an example for them and motivate them to achieve their dreams of getting to this point one day.
Bonus Question: Tell us something interesting about yourself……….. I love animals, but I’ve never had a pet!
This is our last Making Moves Monday for the 2020/2021 preseason. Region 5 looks ready to show off all the upgrades for this upcoming 2021 competition season. We are one week from November and itch worming closer to the start of the competition season. Enjoy our last list of upgrades and we look forward to see all the upgrades around region during this competition season.
Our next 20 questions athlete is a former Level 9 Eastern National Bars, Beam and All-Around Champion, she is also a 2021 Senior! Lane Rodocker of Hartland Gymnastics, in Michigan, has always been one of my absolute favorite athletes to watch especially on floor! Lane is a beautiful dancer and all of her routines are so expressive and so well put together, showing off her incredible dance ability as well as her personality. One of my absolute favorite routines though was when she had River Dance Irish music! I cannot remember the year and I wish I had a video of it, maybe Lane might have one she can post later for us, but I loved that routine and she did it so well!!! Since winning her Level 9 Eastern Nationals Title, Lane has experienced a few minor setback with injuries and of course COVID, but I am excited to watch her in her senior year and see where it takes her! Lane, who is uncommitted, would be a great asset to any college team she is a team leader with great personality who is always smiling and happy on the competition floor. So, let’s get to know Lane a little better as she continues her preparation for her senior club season.
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? My mom noticed from a young age that I had a lot of energy, so she put me in the preschool gymnastics class when I was 4.
What is your favorite event? Why? My favorite event has always been beam! The way things flow and connect together is fun.
Favorite Skill? Dream Skill? My favorite skill would have to be back layout step-outs on beam because I love the feeling of floating when I do them! My dream skill is a double layout on floor.
Favorite part of Gymnastics? Why? My favorite part of gymnastics is the feeling of accomplishment and confidence you get when you nail your skills or when you nail your routine at a competition. Also, being a part of a team and seeing your team as a family succeed and persevere together is so fun. That’s what makes all the hard work worth it.
Biggest Accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? So far, making it to level 10 or placing first on bars, beam, and all-around at L9 Nationals in 2018 would have to be my biggest accomplishment.
1st thing you did when you were able to get back into the gym? The first thing I did when I was able to get back into the gym was see how much I could still do. I played around with some skills and did things like back handspring back layout step-out back layout step-out’s and side-aerial back layout step-out’s on a line on the floor.
Talk about returning to training post COVID, being out for so long (how long?) The struggles, successes, how long it took to get skills back and how it was adjusting to our new normal. My team was out for about 5-6 months. It was a struggle to start working old and new skills again because everything felt differently, but I feel much better than last season due focusing on strength and endurance during quarantine. I’m continuing to do extra conditioning to maintain that strength. I’m still working on getting back my skills but I’m almost there. I feel I’ve adapted to the new normal fairly well.
Most embarrassing meet or training meet? My very first meet of level 9, Gymnastics on the Grand, was definitely the most embarrassing! I was intimidated by the other level 9’s and 10’s so I wasn’t performing how I practiced. I learned my lesson! Always focus on yourself and your team, and trust your training.
Something you have learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? I’ve learned that hard work ALWAYS pays off. It may take days, weeks, or months for progress to show but as long as you’re giving 110% effort everyday, progress will show. Sometimes You just have to be patient.
Who is your biggest role model? Why? Grace Kaiding, my former teammate from Stars and Stripes Gymnastics, would have to be my biggest role model. She went through so many obstacles and tough injuries, yet she made it through all of it with a positive attitude. She is probably the strongest person I know.
What is something that sets your gym and/or your team part? I believe my team’s genuine camaraderie in practice and especially at competitions sets us apart. We cheer for everyone and there’s nothing but hugs and smiles after each person’s routine, no matter how it went.
What is your role on your Level 10 Team or you role in your gym in general? My role is to set a good example for everyone around me. I try to show the little ones and the girls close to my age what having fun while working hard and a good teammate looks like.
Most memorable Gymnastics moment… My most memorable moment would have to be when I finished the first event, bars, at L9 Nationals. Despite feeling a bit nervous, I nailed my routine like I had been in practice and hearing my teammates cheer and congratulate me made me realize how grateful I was for that opportunity, and I knew I just needed to be confident and the rest of the competition would be fun. And it was.
How would you explain the year 2020 to your future children/grandchildren? I would explain how it was a year of learning and growth. All the setbacks put what’s really important into perspective.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coaches have given you? “Believe in yourself”. A lot of times we get stuck in our own heads and forget that fear is just a feeling. Believing in yourself is one of the keys to success.
How did you stay motivated during your COVID Quarantine time out of the gym? I wrote down my goals for the next season and looked at them everyday. I watched gymnastics videos of me and college gymnasts to keep my goal in perspective and remind myself of why I need to continue to work hard.
Do you have a nickname? If so what is it? What is the story behind it? Everyone in gymnastics usually calls me “Laney”. I know my mom started to call me that when I was younger and I’m not sure why.
What really makes you laugh? Dad jokes and puns.
If you could have any super power what would it be? Why? I would want to be able to read people’s minds because I think it’d be very interesting to know what other people think about.
What is a question not on this list that should have been? Add your question we should of asked you and then answer it. A question I would add is “What is your dream job?” My dream job would be a sports medicine doctor. I love anatomy and sports so I know I’d love that job.
Bonus Question: Tell us something interesting about yourself………..I know about 100 digits of pi! I memorized it for a contest years ago and I haven’t forgotten them.
Our next 20 questions athlete is Molly Freeman of Branch Gymnastics in Kalamazoo , Michigan. Molly, who is a senior, recently committed to continue he gymnastics and academics at Western Michigan University in the fall! In 2019 Molly qualified to the 2019 Level 9 Eastern National Championships, placing 8th in the All-Around and 2nd as a team. My favorite event to watch Molly on is the Uneven Bars! she is a natural swinger with an incredibly hard and unique dismount. You can definitely see why Uneven Bars is Molly’s favorite event. In 2020 Molly moved into her 1st year of Level 10, unfortunately her debut season was cut short due to COVID, like the rest of s. I look forward to seeing Molly this season out on the competition floor in her last JO Club session with Branch Gymnastics before she heads off to college and hits the mat with the Broncos. Let’s get to know Molly a little better as she finishes up her preseason training and gets ready to take on her senior season.
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? I was 8 years old when I started gymnastics. My mom put me in gymnastics classes because I was constantly doing cartwheels everywhere. She said I was on my hands more than my feet. What is your favorite event? Why? My favorite event is deFinitely bars. I just love the feeling of Flying that it gives you, and the excitement of learning a new bar skill. Favorite Skill? Dream Skill? My favorite skill is either a jeagar on bars or a front toss on beam. My dream skill would have to be a piked full-in on Floor.
Favorite part of Gymnastics? Why? My favorite part of gymnastics is working toward and conquering goals, because I love seeing what I am capable of, and doing things I did not think were possible before.
Biggest Accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics is committing to WMU, because competing at a D1 school is something I have always dreamed of, and has always been my goal.
What was the 1st thing you did when you were able to get back into the gym? The first thing I did once I was able to get back in the gym was an overshoot on bars.
Talk about returning to training post COVID, being out for so long (how long?) The struggles, successes, how long it took to get skills back and how it was adjusting to our new normal. I was so excited to return to training after being out of the gym for 6 months. While it has been difLicult to trust my body and skills again after not doing them for so long, I am so excited to Finally be training again. I missed being able to Llip around at practice, and see my coaches and teammates again. It took a while to get my skills back, especially because gyms in Michigan were not able to open for a long time. However, now I feel a lot better and more adjusted to this new normal that is training post COVID. I am just so grateful to be able to do what I love again!
Most embarrassing meet or training meet? My most embarrassing meet would deLinitely have to be an inter-squad that my gym was doing when I was a level 7. We were on beam, and it was my turn to go. I started my routine, and it was going Line, then I went to step behind for a part of my dance, and I completely fell off the beam. This was really embarrassing because I made all of my skills, but fell on a very small dance portion of the routine. After that, my coach and I decided it would be best to take the dance part out for the rest of the season.
Something you have learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? Something I have learned from gymnastics is how to overcome obstacles to achieve success. This is a lesson that I will take with me into the future, because when I am faced with an obstacle, I will not see it as the end of the line and back down, but instead will Lind a way to work through it.
Who is your biggest role model? Why? My biggest role model is my mom because she is kind, strong, and hardworking. She has taught me to treat others as I would want to be treated, and I try to apply this to my life everyday.
What is something that sets your gym and/or your team part? Something that sets my team at Branch Gymnastics apart from the rest is how close we all are. I know that I could go to anyone on the team when I need help or am having a rough day, and they would be there for me. The whole team is really like family, and this is something I think distinguishes us from the rest.
What is your role on your Level 10 Team or you role in your gym in general? I feel I have a role as a leader in my gym. I always want to be a good example for younger gymnasts, and lead my team in any way that I can.
Most memorable Gymnastics or meet moment? My most memorable gymnastics moment is the moment that my teammate and I found out we had both qualiLied to level 9 Easterns. We weren’t sure where we were in the standings of the competition because the scoreboard was no longer up. When our coaches came over and told us we had made it, we were both super excited to be going, especially together. This is such a happy memory for me, and I will never forget it.
How would you explain the year 2020 to your future children/grandchildren? I would explain the year 2020 to my future children/grandchildren as a year of many obstacles, in which I realized that nothing should be taken for granted. There was definitely a lot to conquer in 2020, especially with COVID stopping almost all training, and it made me realize how lucky I am to be able to do this awesome sport of gymnastics.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coaches have given you? The most valuable piece of advice that my coaches have given to me is to not be so hard on myself. This has helped me in a lot of tough moments to remember that beating myself up about my mistakes is not going to help me in any way. Instead, they have taught me to move forward and take the next steps to succeed.
How did you stay motivated during your COVID Quarantine time out of the gym? I stayed motivated during my COVID quarantine time out of the gym by remembering what my goals were. This pushed me each day to get up and take steps to reach those goals. For example I knew that I wanted to have a smooth transition back into training, so each day I would condition and stretch so that it would be easier for me once the gym was open again.
Do you have a nickname? If so what is it? What is the story behind it? I do not really have any nicknames, except some people call me Molls instead of Molly. There isn’t much of a story behind except I think it’s easier for my teammates to cheer than saying Molly every time.
What really makes you laugh? My teammates deLinitely make me laugh a lot. I can not even count the laughs that we have shared in and out of the gym over the years.
If you could have any super power what would it be? Why? If I could have any super power I would want to be able to instantly transport anywhere I wanted. I would want this superpower because I love seeing new places and traveling, and it would be so cool to be able to travel anywhere around the world by just thinking of it.
What is a question not on this list that should have been? Add your question we should have asked you and then answer it. What is your favorite season and why? My favorite season is summer because I love being outside in nature, and my favorite thing to do is go to the beach.
Bonus Question: Tell us something interesting about yourself……….. One interesting thing about myself is that my family loves animals and I have a lot of pets. Right now, I have 3 dogs, a cat, 2 guinea pigs, and 2 birds. At one point, I had 12 chickens, 4 bunnies, 2 cats, 2 dogs, and a Fish.
