20 Questions with Level 9 Event National Champion Olivia Orengo (Phenom)

By

-

October 15, 2019

Continuing our coverage of the 2019 Eastern National Championships our next 20 Questions Athlete is a 2 time Event National Champion. Olivia Orengo, formerly of IGI now with Phenom, took the top spots in both the Vault and Floor Exercise in the Junior 4 age group also helping her team place 2nd in the team competition. Olivia is small, but powerful opening her floor with a huge double back, with her powerful tumbling you can definitely see why she is the National Floor Champion. The power she exhibits on the Floor translates over to the Vault where Olivia performs a very nice layout Yurchenko, that I am sure will be an amazing full for Level 10. Speaking of Level 10 Olivia will be entering into her first Level 10 Season in 2019-2020 with sights set on the 2020 JO National Championships. Olivia, who is not yet in High School, will definitely be “one to watch” over the next 4 years as she strives to represent Region 5. So, let’s get to know Olivia a little better as she prepares to take on the upcoming season.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I tried gymnastics when I was in preschool, but then quit because I wanted to try other things. But, when I was in first grade, I wanted to try again and haven’t stopped since.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event to compete is floor, but I enjoy practicing both floor and bars.

Favorite skill to train/compete? I don’t have a particular favorite skill that I like to train, but I like to work bar upgrades and new tumble passes

Dream Skill? I think it would be fun to have a double layout or a unique acro on beam.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics besides learning new skills is all of the friendships I have made over the years

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is Chicago Style. I like it because it’s a bigger meet with a lot of different teams from the US and other countries and because of the meet leos and the free massages after the meet.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? I feel I have had a few big accomplishments in gymnastics so far such as scoring a perfect 10 on vault, finishing first AA at state and making it to Easterns and placing first on floor and vault.

Get 25% Jtree Gym Balm
Jtree Gym Balm Heals like a Rest Day!

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire all of the athletes, coaches and judges that commit to the sport and make everything possible

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? Most people have a go to playlist or song, but I don’t I just listen to what my mom is listening to on the way to the meet.

3 things that you could not live without?

-my dogs

-my family and friends

-my collection of shoes and blankets 🙂

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I think I would like to be a pig. They are my favorite animal. I would like to see how they live each day. But, I want to be someone’s pet and not the chosen one that gets Slaughtered 🙂

5 most important or must haves in your gym bag? Grips, tiger paws, extra tape, my heel pads, and water bottle

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Each year, I choose a dinner that I have the night before the meet. I’ve usually chosen TGI Fridays or Chilis. This past season, I found a pre meet snack that worked really well.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? When I am not at gymnastics, I like to hang out with my friends, do crafts, and travel

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Tripping while walking up to get my vault medal when I had scored the perfect ten; when I hurdled over the springboard at Chicago Style and crashed right into the vault; and being the last competitor at the state meet this year and totally wiping out on the beam with everyone watching

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would probably do track and cross country because my brother and sister do it and people have told me I should try it

How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? It feels good knowing that all the hard work that I had put in during the year paid off.

Most memorable gymnastics or JO Nationals moment? Travelling with my teammates and cheering and hanging out with them at all of the Meets.

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? Always go at 100% because there is no way to measure or be consistent at any other level.

Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself……Two interesting facts about me: I have been modeling since I was three years old and I have stood in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere at the same time.

Podcast: Season 3 Episode #1: Round the Outside Round The Outside | Training Camp, Updates and Trends For 2020

By

Jason MacDonald

-

October 14, 2019

0

Download Podcast

We are back for Season 3 Episode #1 as we dish on what went down at the 2019 Region 5 High Tech/ High Performance Training Camp, very in depth conversation on the JO Rule Changes for the upcoming season and trends we think we will see in terms of skill selection (might just break out in song Round the Outside, Round the Outside) and our favorites from the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships.

Overview of High Tech /High Performance Camp

DeVeaus Gym on hosting the camp (just not enough space)
Thoughts on camp and the 2020 season for Region 5
Any standouts that need discussion
Take aways from camp

Rule Changes/Trends for the new competition season

Video Review for State and beyond (spotting deductions, line deductions)
1 new submitted skill at JO’s this year- Pike Tsuk 1/1 9.9 ??????
Vault: NO MORE CHALK ON RUNWAYS (Velcro or Tape)
Level 6/7: Don’t Land on the Mat (Congrats Simone Biles you have a 1.0 deduction)
BOOOOOOOO Yah! NO more angle of arrival deduction
NEW up to 0.30 Failure to create rotation (basicly could gymnast flip this vault safely)
NEW up to 0.20 Insufficient length but don’t fall off the mat then its 1.00
Round the Outside, Round The Outside ( Over the Top deduction)
THANK GOD!!!!! Level 6/7 may use any manufactured vault height
Level 8 and above must use 115 or higher which is of course necessary for safety in the flipping vaults

Rule Changes/Trends Bars

Bars: extra swing/cast each 0.3 but no more then 0.5 max
9/10 must perform 2 of 3 (forward element, 3/6/7, 180 LA Turn with or without flight) only 1 of 2 (0.1) 0 of 3 (0.2)
Trends: Maloney 1/2’s, Layout Full Outs,

Joshua Tree Gym Balm: It Heals like a Rest Day”. Get 25% off your order with code Region 5. Click here to order Jtree today!

Rule Changes/Trends Beam

Beam: Skill Value Change 2 1/2 raised from D to E 9/10 must perform 2 of 3 (forward element, 3/6/7, 180 LA Turn with or without flight)
+0.1 bonus for a triple flight with minimum C salto/aerial so BHS BHS Layout +0.1 (normal) + .1 new bonus
BHS Layout Layout +0.3 and +0.1 new bonus= +0.4
Trends: Layout Layouts (and into dismounts), How many 2 1/2’s will we see? variations of aerial skills

Rule Changes/Trends Floor

Floor: skill value raise C to D for ring jump 1/1
Didn’t happen but thoughts on considering not allowing the front double full to count for the +0.1 bonus for 10.1 on floor
Trends: Full ins, Double layouts, Front thru to D, E, Front Double 1/1 ??? more

Thoughts on Worlds

Discussion on what has happened
Favorites from the competition

Next for Region 5: All Star trip to Puerto Rico

Thanks again to our sponsors and Patreon supporters

Support the Region 5 Gym Insider- Become a Patreon

Thank you to all our Patreons, followers and subscribers.

Follow us on all our social media accounts Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Related Podcasts

Episode #23: Flex on Em 2019 JO Nationals Recap with guest Sierra Brooks

Episode #22: Grit and Grind 2019 Level JO National Preview with the Chalk Warrior

Around The Gym: 2019 High Performance | Region 5 Gymnastics Training Camps

By

Jason MacDonald

-

October 11, 2019

0

Camp Coverage Page
High Performance Photo Gallery

Around the Gym at the 2019 Region 5 High Performance Gymnastics Training Camp. We take a behind the scenes look at High Performance camp hosted by DeVeaus Gymnastics.

20 Questions with Eastern National 2 Event Champion Sherrye Zhong (Michigan Elite)

By

Kim Dowis

-

October 8, 2019

0

Continuing our coverage of our 2019 Eastern National Champions with the Junior 8 Balance Beam & Floor Exercise C0-Champion Sherrye Zhong of Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi, Michigan. Sherrye, in her 2nd Eastern Nationals also placed 8th in the All-Around and helped her team take the top spot for Region 5 in the Team competition, shared her Event honors with two other Region 5 Athletes. So, I guess if you are going to tie might as well tie with teammates. What I love most about this athletes is the joy and happiness she expresses while competing, she always has a smile on her face even if things are not going right. Sherrye may be tiny, but definitely has a big presence in her gymnastics, especially in her floor routine. If you haven’t seen her routine yet please check it out on our Youtube page, her dance is dramatic, expressive and sharp along with powerful tumbling she will definitely be “one to watch” heading into this coming season. Sherrye, who is a sophomore in high school, will be joining the ranks of Level 10 this coming season, so let’s get to know Sherrye a little better as she prepares to kick off her 2019-2020 season in December with the 2019 MEGA Magic meet.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was at an open gym and I grew into the sport. I started when I was 6 1/2

What is your favorite event? I love competing beam, I love the challenging aspect of beam and I love performing on beam also.

Favorite Skill to train/compete? I love to train rays on bars

Dream Skill?I would really love to learn an arabian on beam and compete it also

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I love the competitiveness and meeting new people everywhere I go.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at was eastern regionals. I loved representing region 5 and meeting life long friends.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? I think me biggest accomplishment so far was making it to two eastern national meets. They both were super fun and gave me a lot of experience.

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Peng Peng Lee the most. I love her attitude in the gym, and her determination to get back into the sport after her injuries.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I love Making Moves Monday, the girls help me push myself and try different skills.

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I have a playlist filled with songs that are calming, I do best when I’m calm

3 Things you could not live without? I couldn’t live without my phone, my family, and my friends

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be a panda bc everyone thinks i’m pretty chill

5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag?The 5 Most important or Must have items in my gym bag would be food, grips, tape, kt tape, water

[highlight]What’s great to have in your gym bag…… a great tasting protein bar with healthy ingredients to give you the energy you need for practice or competition. Get 10% off your order with code R5Insider or click banner below.[/highlight]

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? My pre-meet rituals would be that I always listen to music

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of Gymnastics I like to hang out with friends, baking, and sleeping

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? An embarrassing meet moment would be when I was level 4, I was super short so I penguin slid at my first meet on vault.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a Gymnast I would try volleyball or dance

How does it feel to be a Level 9 Eastern National Champion? To be the Level 9 Eastern National Beam and Floor National Champion feels really good, I feel like I accomplished a lot and my hard work paid off

Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable Nationals moment would be this year when I won 8th All around at eastern nationals even though I messed up on vault.

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? My coach once told me a story about her gymnastics career, and how she couldn’t compete at the collegiate level. This was the time I didn’t want to do gymnastics, and after that talk I really started to enjoy the sport again.