Last weekend was suppose to be the weekend that every college gym fan waits for, pines over and celebrates. Last weekend the top 8 schools of the NCAA were to meet in Texas to tumble, swing and vault it out for the 2020 NCAA National Championship Title. Instead we were all at home rewatching previous National Championships and counting down the days until 2021. One of my most favorite aspects of Championships weekend is seeing all the new leos the teams would be wearing. Most save their newest, brightest and most bold leos for this Championships moment, however last weekend we did not get see any of those new leos instead we will have to wait until next season to drool over the sparkle an shine of the NCAA National Championships Lovely Leos.
We may not get to break down this years 2020 NCAA Championship leos, but we can still close the NCAA Season with our Lovely Leos Final! I have tirelessly searched the internet for each schools Loveliest Leos in the NCAA!
Check out our gallery below to see our pick from every school around the national. The season may be done but the leos will live forever!
**All Photos provided courtesy of University Athletics, Athlete Social Media & Team Social Media** Thank You to all who shared these fantastic photos with us.
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R5 Alumni Conversation with Florida Senior Amelia Hundley. We talk floor routines, smiling full turns, the HUNDLEY SHUFFLE, her Gator Chomps, memorable and embarrassing moments, favorite skills and more from this future college coach. Check out her College Salute 5 Most Important Questions on our Youtube Channel.
Show Breakdown:
Adapting and training with a team mentality
First experiences competing for Florida
Discussion on her floor routines through the years
Why no Double Layout ?
Most Outstanding Performance
Moments that stood out in each of her 4 years
Full Turn Smiles on Balance Beam
Thoughts on the New Regional Format
Looking back on her NCAA Championships Experiences
Thoughts on the abrupt season end (Covid-19)
#Flippin5k
Favorite skills, embarrassing moments
Roadblocks in her career
How she wants to be remembered
Most embarrassing moments during her career
Sparkle and Shine- Amelia’s favorite Florida Lovely Leos (Link to Photos)
Athletes from Division II & Division III schools were all suppose to be meeting together in Ithaca, New York for a change to tumble it out for the 2020 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships, instead like everyone else their season came to an end before it was suppose too. So, instead of donning their leotards for one last weekend they were all at home coaching up over ZOOM, FaceTime & Skype. What I look forward to most while viewing any gymnastics competition is the leos! Many DII & DIII schools have made our weekly NCAA Lovely Leo List in the past and since the season was cut short that means so was our weekly Leo List! So, I tirelessly searched the internet and compiled all my favorite leos from every school around the country!
The season may have ended, but the Shimmer & Shine of the Lovely Leos List will last forever!
Check out the Lovely Leos from DII & DII Schools in the gallery below
Well it’s been 6 Weeks of Coronation and we here at the Region 5 Insider are still going strong to bring everyone in Region 5 Land as much content as we can during this crazy time! Gymnastics may be cancelled right now, but we definitely are not. So, to continue with our 20 Questions Feature, our next featured athlete is a 2 time JO National Qualifier, 2 Level 9 Eastern National Qualifier & 2 time Eastern National Event Champion (Vault & Bars). Mila Brusch, who followed her older sister into Gymnastics, is an exceptional athlete with jam packed routines all over the gym. This being Mila’s 3rd season as a Level 10 she is still definitely “one to watch” and guessing by how she started the season, I can only imagine how she was going to finish it out. Mila, who graduates in 2022, has two more years here with us in Region 5 to shine on the National stage because she heads off to college at I am sure any place of her choosing. So, as Coron-acation continues let’s get to know Mila a little bit better as she trains from home in anticipation of a return to normalcy and her childhood gym…Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? When I was a toddler, I loved to flip on the couch and I always had a lot of energy. My mom enrolled me in classes at Cincinnati Gymnastics at 3 years old and I have loved it ever since.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is bars because I love swinging and the feeling of catching a release.
Favorite Skill to train/compete My favorite skill to train is my shaposh half on bars, but I really have fun competing my piked full-in on floor
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a double double on floor because they are so impressive and stand out.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics are my friends. They always push me to be my best and motivate me to work hard in the gym. Meets are so fun with them and we have the best bond.
What college do you plan on attending? I am not committed yet, but my goal is to obtain a D1 scholarship at a school that fits my athletic and academic needs.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is JO Nationals. I love making new friends with my age group and we always have the best energy.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics was this year when I place 3rd on vault and 4th on floor at 2019 JO Nationals
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? The blooper reel at the end of the year is my favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series because it always makes me giggle and I know I can always watch one of them whenever I need a laugh.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go to songs are anything by JuiceWorld. They always get me pumped up and excited for the competition
3 Things you could not live without? I can’t live without my phone, my friends, and water.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be a koala because they like to sleep 18 hours a day, and that is how much sleep I aspire to have!
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? Grips, water, tiger paws, deodorant, and a healthy snack
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I have to drink an iced chai latte from Starbucks before every meet
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics, I like to shop, hang out with my friends, and play the piano.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? At the 2017 JPAC Meet, I had to stop while I was running for my first pass of my floor routine and start over because the judges couldn’t hear my floor music. I was really confused when they stopped my music, and I stood in the middle of the floor for a hot second. Fortunately, when I re-did my floor routine, I hit it and scored a 9.5!
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast, I would either play soccer or tennis.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect all athletes because it takes so much hard work and determination to do the sport they love.
Something you learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? From gymnastics, I have learned that hard work always pays off and that a team is the best thing you could ever have.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable moment was from JO Nationals this year, I was the last competitor of the competition, on floor. The senior region 5 competitors had just finished and they all came over to watch me. My teammates Mickayla Stuckey and my sister Aria gave me pep talks before I saluted. There was so much energy, and I performed one of the best floor routines of my life, placing 4th. It was a great way to end the 2019 season.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? My coach always tells me to trust myself, which is definitely a tool I will use throughout my lifetime.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I am left handed!
