Awards will be given out to athletes & coaches at the 2019 High Performance/High Tech Camp, if you or your athlete will not be attending this camp please send us an email or Instagram message and we will mail the award to your gym. For any athletes who are already off to college please let us know where you would like your award sent as well. Thank you and Congratulations to All!
Continuing our Level 9 Eastern Nationals Coverage our next 20 Questions Athlete is the 2019 Junior 5 Level 9 Eastern National Champion. Breelyn Rickey, a first year level 9, from Perfection Gymnastics in Cincinnati Ohio took the top spot in her age group while not feeling 100% (read below to find out why). I absolutely loved watching Breelyn compete at the 2019 Eastern National Championships, her presence on the Balance Beam was captivating, she moved sharp and confidently throughout the routine finishing with a beautiful Cartwheel Layout Full dismount. However, it is her Bar Routine that provides the most entertainment because of her unorthodox dismount! Breelyn, who placed 3rd on the Bars at Easterns, performs the giant swing to handstand snap down back tuck dismount, which is always incredible to watch. Breelyn, not yet in high school, has a bright future ahead of her in the sport of Gymnastics. I definitely look forward to watching this young athlete group and progress, she will definitely be a future “one to watch” I am sure. As summer ends and fall begins let’s get to know Breelyn a little better as she heads into her first year of Level 10 and a run at the 2020 JO National Championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you?I was 6 years old when I started gymnastics and I wanted to do it because my sister did it.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is beam.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to compete this year was a yurchenko layout.
Dream Skill?My dream skill would be a Ray on bars.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I like the feeling of working hard and seeing my friends everyday
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet is Nashville nights because I like the environment of the meet.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Winning my first level 9 eastern nationals.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? Aly Raisman because she’s an amazing gymnast but she’s also a strong woman and stands up for herself.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Series or Feature is 20 question Tuesday!
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I don’t really have a song or playlist but I do have a confidence audio that I listen to the night before a meet to calm my nerves.
3 Things you could not live without? I couldn’t live without Family, dogs and popcorn.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would be a bird because I would get to see the world through different perspectives and I would get to travel for free!
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? I always bring an extra leo, ponytail holders, tape, pre-wrap, and a snack for after practice.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I listen to my confidence audio, I always use the same ponytail holders and I always do the same makeup routine.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like to play the piano, swim and shop.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? At level 5 state on floor I did my split with the wrong leg so the rest of my routine was off!
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I was not gymnast I would do lacrosse or volleyball.
How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? It feels great! Last year I didn’t compete all events as a level 9 and it’s amazing to see all the commitment and perseverance pay off. I couldn’t have done it without my amazing coaches and parents.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable meet moment was hitting my bar routine and matching my season high score.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? “Be in the now” because when you’re at meets you don’t want to think about how good or bad your practice was yesterday you want to “Be in the now” and show off your best routine.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I actually competed nationals with strep throat.
The competition season is right around the corner and Region 5 continues making their move into 2020. As the summer training comes to an end and training switches more to combinations and half routines, we will only have one more Making Moves Monday post remaining. If you want us to post those last few upgrades you are planning on using during this upcoming competition season, upload your video to your Instagram page (must be public or put up on gym IG) and tag us @region5gyminsider and #R5MakingMovesMonday. Region 5 has been on fire this summer with some awesome new skills that we look forward to talking about throughout this the 2020 season.
Well we have come to the 3rd and final voting of the 2018 Yahtzee Awards! I would like to thank everyone who voted. If you missed the first 10 categories no worries there is still time to vote. Links to and Voting closes Tuesday September 10th at 11:59pm.
Winners will be announced Wednesday September 11th, 2019. Awards will be either presented to athletes at the 2019 High Tech/High Performance Camp in Indy or mailed to the individual gyms.
Happy Voting!!!!
If you missed voting for any of the previous 11 categories – Part 1 | Part 2
Sierra Brooks-Aspire (Level 10)
2019 National All-Around Champion
2019 National Vault Champion
2019 National Beam Champion
2019 National Floor Champion
2019 Regional AA Champion
2019 Regional Beam Champion
2019 Illinois State AA Champion
2019 Illinois State Vault
2019 Illinois State Beam Champion
[/one-fifth-first]
[one-fifth]
Ellie Lazzari-Legacy Elite (Level 10)
2019 National AA Champion
2019 National Beam Champion
2019 National Floor Champion
2019 Regional AA Champion
2019 Regional Vault Champion
2019 Regional Beam Champion
[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]
Helen Hu-IK (Level 10)
2019 National Bars Champion
2019 National Beam Champion
2019 Regional Beam Champion
4 Time Repeat National Beam Champion
[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]
Regan Flannery-Stars & Stripes (Level 9)
2019 Eastern National AA Champion
2019 Eastern National Bars Champion
2019 Eastern National Floor Champion
2019 Regional Beam Champion
2019 Michigan State Vault Champion
2019 Michigan State Bars Champion
[/one-fifth]
[one-fifth]
Railey Jackson-Legacy Elite (Level 9)
2019 Eastern National AA Champion
2019 Eastern National Bars Champion
2019 Eastern National Floor Champion
2019 Regional AA Champion
2019 Regional Beam Champion
2019 Regional Floor Champion
2019 Illinois State Floor Champion
[/one-fifth]
JO Nationals Newbie of the Year
Team Spirit
Buckeye Gymnastics
Olympia Gymnastics
Gym America
Phenom
JPAC
Lots of great flavors!!! Built Bar is high in protein, low in sugar, and made with clean ingredients. Click on the banner and get 10% off your order today!
Favorite Invitational
Most Memorable Meet Moment
1. Helen Hu (IK Gymnastics)-4 time repeat Balance Beam National Champion! I mean who does that! Beautiful and incredible.
2. Matilyn Waligora (Olympia) Cry me a river! Matilyn literally brought me [Kim] to tears while filming her Senior Floor Routine at the 2019 Luau in Leos Meet. I have never cried while filming a routine. The mixture of Mati’s story and this music had me crying the entire time.
3. Grace Heys (Gymnastiks Unlimited) Grit & Grind, Can’t be stopped! Grace, who injured her ankle in floor warm-ups prior to being first up to compete, showed true grit and determination as she decided she would not be held back and compete. Grace, who was definitely the team leader for the Senior 7 Team, was determined to push through and finish the meet not only for herself, but for her team. It was a show of true determination and grit by an inspiring young lady.
4. Brett Wargo (Twistars USA) FLEX ON EM! This year Brett inspired the entire Region with his FLEX ON EM theme. Brett started this theme with his own gym Twistars USA for their competition season and carried it into the Championship Season. It became the driving force of the Region in 2019. Everyone really took this theme to heart and embraced it for Both the Eastern Nationals and the JO Nationals! Every age group, every session had their own cheers and even group cheers across the gym, Region 5 could definitely be seen and heard with this one.
Outstanding Coaching Moment
1. Melinda Scheible (All American Flames) Mel Saves the Day! During the 2019 Michigan State Meet Melinda Scheible made an incredible spot and save. During Paige Thaxton’s bar routine, Mel saw that the bar spreader was not properly tightened and slide up after Paiges release move. Melinda thought quick, sprinted over to the spreader and literally hung her body from it to help secure it for the rest of the routine. Paige who unfortunately fell during the routine did not sustain any injuries and was able to later qualify to the 2019 JO National Championships. Melinda’s quick thinking and call to action could of prevented great injury.
2. Claudia Kretschmer (Gym America) & Michelle Kocan (Midland) Step up and Step In! During the Level 7 State Meet a young athlete competing in the morning session found herself without a coach for her state meet session (the coach did not show up). Claudia & Michelle were rotating with this young athlete, once they were alerted to the situation they stepped up and stepped into the role of coach for this athlete moving bars, timing warmup, offering spots, and giving hugs for a job well done. If it was not for these two incredible coaches taking this athlete under their wing and making her a part of their teams, she would of not been able to compete. Claudia & Michelle are two of the most selfless individuals I know and this act of kindness shows they see the bigger picture and are truly deserving of this nomination.
3. Isabel Remond (Olympia) Coach Izzy! Isabel Redmond of Olympia Gymnastics qualified to her final JO National Championships in the alternate position, but found herself acting as coach for her younger teammate Rachel Rybicki. Olympia qualified many to the 2019 JO National Championships, so the coaches were having to go between both the Junior & Senior Gyms during the training day. Izzy, who could of been over with her Senior Teammates or her age group teammates, was by Rachels side during her beam training. It was incredible to see the admiration and respect Rachel had for Izzy listening to her every word as she went though her skills and routines. Izzy is an incredible mentor and inspiration for all.
Well that is a wrap for the 2019 Yahtzee Awards!!! If you missed voting for & there is still time! Click the links to check out the first 10 categories and cast your vote for your favorites. All polls will be closed Tuesday at Midnight and winners will be announced Wednesday!
Lots of great flavors!!! Built Bar is high in protein, low in sugar, and made with clean ingredients. Click on the banner and get 10% off your order today!
