Gymnastics on the Grand is hosted by Grand Rapids Gymnastics Booster Club at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids Michigan. This was the 10th year of this competition. The highlight of the meet is the show stopping Event Finals on Saturday evening where the best gymnasts compete head to head.
We are back! Our 20 Questions series took a few weeks off to revamp a few questions and select our featured athletes. This week we are focusing on 2018 JO National Qualifier and 2020 Graduating Senior, Naomi German, from Olympia Gymnastics! Naomi is an athlete that has kind of flown under the radar, but she is definitely an athlete to watch. Naomi is beautiful, graceful and powerful, she has some high flying and gravity defying skills, her leaps and jumps are in the rafters! I am very excited to feature this future MSU Spartan as well as follow her a little more in her Senior Season. Meet season has started and Naomi will be kicking off her final JO Season this weekend at the MAG Christmas Classic in Novi, Michigan. Let’s get to know Naomi a little better as she heads into her Senior season and makes a run at one last JO National Championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? My mom always thought gymnastics was cool but she never got the chance to do it so she decided to put my sister and I in it. I was 5 years old.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is Bars
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train/compete is my Piked Jaeger
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Nabieva on Bars
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is being a part of a close team who supports each other and push each other to become better
What college do you plan on attending? I will be attending Michigan State University in the fall
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is the Gymnastics on the Grand because it’s in December so it’s really festive
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far is being a JO Nationals Qualifier
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Feature or Series is the Yahtzee Awards!
What kinds of things really make you laugh? Stand up comedy really makes me laugh
3 Things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without are my phone, my family and Gymnastics
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be an eagle so I could fly super high
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? 5 Must have items in my gym bag would be a water bottle, hair ties, deodorant, tape and Joshua Tree Gym Balm
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I listen to Bob Marley in the car on the way to the meets
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of Gymnastics I like to travel and go to Basketball Games
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment was at my first ever gymnastics meet, I was 6 years old and in level 5, I forgot the beam routine. The only thing I could remember is that there was a cartwheel in there somewhere so I did one and then just got down off the beam.
Do you have a nickname? If so what Is the story behind it? At gymnastics everyone calls me “nome” or“nomes.” There’s no story behind it, it just kind of happened. I assume it’s because it shortens the name to one syllable making it easier to cheer.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect Michel Jordan because of how confident and consistent of an athlete he was and how he has all the accolades to show for it. Furthermore, he was able to win three championships in a row, retire and do minor league baseball, and then go back to basketball and win three more in a row.
Something you learned from Gymnastics that you will take with you? Something I learned from Gymnastics and take with me would be to stick with it through the hard times because it’s only temporary, but in the end it will pay off.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable JO Nationals Moment would be just the comradery and team spirit region 5 at nationals and how fun the whole experience was.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most vault piece of advice or wisdom my coach has given me would be to SMILE– there is researcher that shows that smiling actually boosts your mood at others’ around you and can actually increase your performance.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I was born in England and moved to the U.S. when I was 6 years old.
The excitement and anticipation is growing as the 2020 NCAA competition season is fast approaching … about four weeks away!
The teams are gearing up for their intrasquad and exhibition competitions which officially brings a close to the preseason training. Many of the schools hold intrasquads in their competition arenas or training gyms that are judged by official certified judge(s) giving it the feel of a actually competition. However in the last couple years, some of the schools have come together for a three or four team exhibition competition simulating what the conference championships as well as the NCAA qualifying round and championships competitions will feel like.
Quad Exhibition Meet on Saturday – Check out CMU, EMU, WMU @ Michigan (Live stream link) * need BTN+ or Flogymnastics subscription to watch
The Mid American Conference (MAC) has become very competitive with the level of gymnastics increasing every year. Region 5 is very well represented in this conference with 49 #R5Alums total on team rosters across the seven schools in the MAC. We have compiled a list of former Region 5 athletes at each school and provided some bio info for each so you know who to look out for this season.
“The MAC Attack” In this first episode of the 2020 NCAA season we preview what the MAC conference looks like for the perspective of our Region 5 alums. We break down the seven teams in the MAC with discussion on each terms returnees that will make an impact as well as the incoming freshman. Lots of talent Region 5’ers will compete in MAC this season we give you insights on who and what to watch from this underrated conference.
Very competitive conference across the board
What will we focus on this season with the College Salute
Break Down each of the 7 Schoolsin order of finish at 2019 MAC Championships
We end our 2019 Eastern National Championships coverage with 2019 Junior 7 Uneven Bars National Champion, Bailey Hebert. Bailey, from Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center in Indiana, made big waves in her first year of Level 9 not only qualifying to her first National Championships, but coming away as a National Event Champion as well. Bailey, who is a Freshman in high School, not only rocks on the Uneven Bars, but is exceptional on the Floor Exercise as well, her routine is fun and powerful and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her first Level 10 season. Let’s get to know Bailey Hebert a little better as she swings her way into Level 10 and a run at the 2020 JO National Championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? My mom used to tell me stories about me running around and being a “ball of energy” so she decided to put me in gymnastics. I was 3 years old.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is floor.
Favorite Skill to train/compete My favorite skill to train is a Yurchenko ½ on vault.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a double layout on floor.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is creating so many incredible and long-lasting friendships with my teammates and other gymnasts from other gyms.
Do you love chocolate? Are you looking to get some more protein in a tasty way?
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet I have competed at is Eastern Nationals. The energy from the region 5 gymnasts, staff, and other gymnasts was indescribable and unforgettable.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is winning bars at level 9 Eastern Nationals.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? In the sport of gymnastics, I most admire my coaches. The amount of hard work and effort they put in to help all of us gymnasts achieve our goals is inspiring.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Insider Feature/Series is Making Moves Monday. Seeing the gymnasts of region 5 progress is so fun and incredible!
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go to playlist/song is anything country because it will pump me up.
3 Things you could not live without? Three things I couldn’t live without are my family, water, and food!!!
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 are happy all the time and have a very chill life.
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? The 5 most important items in my gym bag are tape, pre-wrap, grips, tiger paws, and hair ties.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Before each meet, especially if it is in the morning, I like to eat fruit and eggs. I also always listen to music right before I go onto the competition floor.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics, I like to swim, hang out with my friends, and go to concerts!
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a gymnast, I would like to try volleyball.
How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? Being a Level 9 Eastern National Bars Champion is a feeling that is indescribable and the most amazing feeling I have ever felt.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable JO
Nationals moment is my coach’s speech right before bars. He told me if I do what I have trained in the gym and stay tight, I have the ability to win bars. These words helped me throughout my entire routine and achieve my goals.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most valuable piece of advice my coach has ever given me is to believe in myself and to have confidence. “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right.” Whatever you tell yourself and you believe, that is what is going to happen!
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I played softball when I was 6 until I was 10 while I was also doing gymnastics!
