Grit and Grind…. Can’t Hide our Pride! 2019 Region 5 Level 10 JO National Hype video.
2019 JO Nationals Newbie: Hailey Klein (Flips)
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Name: Hailey Klein 
Gym: Flips
Age Group: Junior B
Graduation: 2023
Favorite Quote: “Hard days are the best because that’s when Champions are made. If you can push through the hard days, then you can get through anything” (Gabi Douglas)
Favorite Food: Rice with Soy Sauce
Favorite Subject: Math
Favorite Type of Music: Country
Favorite Superhero: Supergirl
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Tell us about your experience competing at level 10 regionals in 2019, compared this experience to past Regionals or Level 9 Regionals if this was your first year of 10. I felt level 10 Regionals were a bigger deal to me, then when I competed at level 9 Regionals. Each gymnast in my group was very supportive to everyone, even though we just all met that session. I think we all know the hard work that we have to put in to be a level 10 gymnast.
Talk about moving into level 10, the challenges you have faced and the success you have had over the last year. First, going into level 10 the difficulty in skill increased. At the beginning of working level 10 skills, it felt like the skill wasn’t going anywhere. After patience and hard work, the skill clicked. My successes over the year have been winning more competitions, while qualifying for level 10 nationals. At level 10, I beat my previous record on beam and got a 9.675.
What are you most looking forward to about nationals?I am looking forward to bonding with my new teammates at Nationals.
How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage?It is a little nerve-racking as well as exciting representing Region 5 in Nationals. It is a big step in my gymnastics career.
What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? My most memorable moment besides qualifying for Nationals at level 10, was getting a 38 all around score at my level 7 state meet. This made me realize that all my hard work was beginning to show.
What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? The most powerful piece of advice I have been given in gymnastics is you have to have patience, keep working hard, and take it one skill at a time. This advice has impacted my gymnastics by learning not to rush through my routines during competitions
Tell me something interesting about yourself special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc. I enjoy making all different kinds of slime. I am learning about business and created an instagram account where I sell my slime (crisp_apple_slimes) . This holiday season I knitted many winter hats for friends and I also sew scrunchies for hair. When I have extra time, I enjoy going for a run.
JO National Newbies: Katie Kowalski (Mid Michigan)
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Name: Katie Kowalski
Gym: Mid Michigan
Age Group: Senior B
Graduation: 2020
Favorite Quote: ” He who says he can and he who says he can’t, are both usually right”
Favorite Social Media: SnapChat
Favorite Type of Music: Country
Favorite Actor/Actress: Black Lively
Favorite Color: Blue
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Tell us about you experience competing at Level 10 Regionals in 2019, compare this experience to past regionals or Level 9 Regionals if this was your first year of 10. My experience at Level 10 Regionals in 2019 was definitely a lot of fun. I made sure to have a positive attitude throughout and be happy for all my teammates from other gyms. This year I wasn’t focusing on my scores and where I would place, I just wanted to make sure I tried my very best on every skill and routine. That as all I could ask for from myself
What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? I learned this year at Regionals that it wasn’t about where I stood on the podium or at the meet, it was how I stood. I just focused on having fun and making the best of every moment.
What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I am super excited to be part of such an energetic and powerful team. I can’t wait to get to know everyone and make new friendships all while getting to do the thing we love most.
How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? It feels amazing to be able to represent Region 5 because I have dreamed about being a part of this experience since I was a little girl, always looking up to my teammates who earned their spots before.
What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO Nationals? The most memorable moment in gymnastics other than qualifying to JO Nationals was winning vault and finishing 2nd place in the All-Around at Level 9 Easterns.
What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? The most powerful piece of advice I have received was from my coach who always reminds me that I need to just have fun with what I do and trust my practice. Remembering this advice helps me calm my mind and take deep breaths before I compete my routines.
Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts, etc.. I was very fortunate to have modeled for Tumbl Trak for a couple of years with my teammates. I also became quite close with the staff that was always there.
JO Nationals Newbies: Madison Greene, Champion (Ky)
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Name: Madison Greene
Gym: Champion (KY)
Age Group: Junior E
Graduation: Class of 2021
Favorite Quote:“To never give up no matter how hard it is.”
Favorite Color: Light Blue
Favorite Social Meda App: Snap Chat
Favorite Movie: Pearl Harbor
Favorite Superheo: Batman because of the colors
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Tell us about your experience competing at regionals in 2019: From my first regionals to this year’s regionals I gained a lot of confidence. My first regionals I was very nervous and I let the nerves get to me. I didn’t enjoy competing regionals like I should. This year at regionals I wanted to enjoy the experience but also go out there and do the best I possibly could.
What have you learned from previous experiences at regionals? At previous regionals, my mind set was only on qualifying to JO Nationals. This year was different because I focused on hitting my skills and going out there and doing the best I possibly could. My mind set was correcting the little details. From the change of my mindset it let me control my nerves and make it to JO Nationals.
What are you most looking forward to at JO Nationals? I am mostly looking forward to creating new friendships, making lifelong memories, and representing Region 5!
How does it feel to represent Region 5 on the big stage? My most memorable moment in gymnastics is catching my jeager for the first time. I will never forget that day. I was starting to get frustrated because I was catching but peeling off for a week straight. My teammate, Megan Bingham, was doing the same thing I was doing. We were talking in the chalk bucket and we both decided that this is the one. We were encouraging each other and hyping each other up. Next turn we both caught.
What is your most memorable moment besides qualifying to JO Nationals?Representing Region 5 on national stage is a little nerve wracking but it’s also very excited. I am excited to gain the experience and create memories that will last a lifetime.
What is one of the most memorable pieces of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted you in gymnastics? One of my most memorable pieces of advice that I have received is to never give up on my goals and to continue to want to better myself. At the beginning of season, we wrote down goals and one of my goals was to focus on the little details to qualify to nationals.
What are some hobbies you enjoy? Some of my hobbies include listening to music whether it’s country or hip-hop, going shopping, hanging with my friends, and by far my favorite watching criminal minds. Criminal minds is by far my favorite show to watch ever. I love everything about it and how it’s so intense in every episode.
Episode 11: Grit and Grind- 2019 Level 10 JO National Preview with Chalk Warrior
presented by: 
Click here to download podcast
Chalk Warrior’s own Lauren Stevens joins us for a full breakdown of this week’s upcoming Level 10 JO Nationals in Indianapolis. We look at each age group giving you the ones to watch and some interesting tidbits of information about the athletes you may or may not have known. How will Region 5 compare amongst the nations best? Who will win the 2019 JO Nationals Championships? We give you our predictions and more in this episode.
Revisit 2018 Final Results- Region 1 Wins, Results Announced Wrong
Whats on MAC’s MIND- Dressing Up the Venue- Men’s JO’s
Breaking Down Age Groups
Day 1 Competition- Saturday
Junior A
Annalise Newman Achee- Region 6
Karleigh DiCello Hills and Jamie Wright World Class- Region 7
Samantha Macasu, Legacy Elite Region 5
Kaliya Lincoln Region 1
Senior A
Region 5 Strong- Tyson, Oliveros, Penamante lots of talent
Sage Thompson- Region 1 Huge Bars 2019 Nastia Qualifier
Isabel Song- Will Moor (Toe shoot double layout)
Joshua Tree Skin Care (Heals Like a Rest Day) order here
JRB- 2018 Region 3
Jamison Sears, World Class 2019 Nastia Qualifier, Power Hurdle to Frt Tuck-DB Stalder Shaposh – Region 7
Kiley Rorich, SouthEastern Beautiful Bars- Region 8
Whitney Bjerken, Georgia Elite Region 8- 1 million youtube followers
Bars of Twistars Kendall Abney and Presleigh Buck Region 5
Senior B
Maddie Johnston, Hills – Former Elite
Marigold Garrett, Elite Gymnastics Academy (Uses Memmels 2003 FX Music)
2019 JO National Team Member Cassi Barbanente, Palmers- Region 5
Gillian Rutz, Perfection Region 5
Junior C
Madison Raesly Patton (World Champions, before texas dreams) TOE POINT 1/1 on Pike off- Region 3
Gabrielle Dildy- Region 7 Stalder blind jaeger 9.8 bars
Zoe Middleton, 2019 Nastia Cup Qualifier Region 7
Nikki Smith, Oakland Region 5
Senior C
Delanie Harkness, Twistars Region 5
Kiya Johnson, Texas Dreams 10.0 on vault, 1st AA 2018 JOs 3rd at 2019 Nastia
Chae Campbell 2016 P&G competitor – Region 3
Haleigh Bryant, Everest HSP Frt Pike 1/2 ( maybe 1/1)
Nicole Wojcek (Natalie sister) Regional bars champ 9.75- Region 7
Annelise Silverman- North Stars open 1/2 in 1/2 out on floor- Region 7
Skylar Killough Wilhelm, Triad – Region 4
Predictions results after day 1
Region 5 Insider Classic coming to Fort Wayne in March 2020 (Link to Meet Page)
Day 2 Competition- Sunday
Junior D
Faith Torrez, Legacy Elite 2018 JO National Champ
Ava Piedrahita 2019 Nastia Qualifier, 1/2 on front pike off, Back 1 1/2 to Rudi -Region 7
Selena Harris, Gym Cats 2018 US Champs competitor 9.925 stuck 1 1/2 vault (Memmel turn to illusion, Khorkina though she does ray)- Region 1
Jacquie Moran, San Mateo (andrea li bars) 9.925 state 9.85 regionals beautiful swing
Senior D
Andrea Li 2018 JO National Champion Region 5
Sierra Brooks, Aspire Region 5 AA Champ
Jullian Hoffman SCEGA 9.9 FX Huge DL , 5th JOs 2018- Region 1
Cassidy Rushlow Region 6
Rylie Mundell Region 3 2017-18 Nastia Qualifier
Adriana Popp- Former elite Huge 2 BHS to Layout 2 feet Region 7
Elena Arenas, Georgia Elite – Former elite
Junior E
Jacey Vore, JPAC Region 5
Strong Bar Squad for Region 8
Lali Dekanoidze, Southeastern 2018 JO National Champ Region 8
Region 8 team dominated by Southeastern
Danae Fletcher, MG Elite Region 7
Cameron Machado First State Former elite Region 7
Amari Celestine SCEGA 10.0 on Yurch 1 1/2 Region 1
Tori Tatum TCT former elite – Region 4
Senior E
Gabby Wilson, Olympia Region 5
Strong Talented team for Region 5
Cassie Stevens 2019 Nastia Qualifier, 10.0 Yurch 1 1/2 Region 1
Raena Worley, Virginia Techniques 2019 Nastia Qualifier – Facial Expressions, Fist Pumps- Region 7
Junior F
Ellie Lazzari, Legacy Elite Region 5
Skyla Schulte, Ella Cesario, Katya Sander- Region 5 all over 38
Tiger Twins- Anapula and Jimena Gutierriez Both competed at US Classic- Region 3
Region 3 5 scores on vault over 9.825
Senior F
1,2,3 Punch for Region 5 Rivers, Richards, Doggette (dominated 2018 JO’s) all over 38.4
Chloe Widner, Texas Dreams 6th at 2018 JO’s
Hallie Thompson 2019 Nastia Qualifier Triple full, Yurch 1 1/2 2018 JO Nat vault champ tied Makarri
Abby Paulson TCT former elite
Ones to watch- We pick out top 5 or 6
Projections for the Podium (Predictions)
Final Thoughts
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