The 2019 Region 5 Championships are less then a week away. As we approach the action packed weekend, we will be focusing on the up & coming gymnasts that you may not be aware of from each state in our great Region to keep your eye on. Region 5’s Twenty Five “Ones to Watch” continues with 5 athletes from Hoosier State….Indiana. These athletes either are first year level 10’s or looking to qualify onto their first Region 5 JO Dream Team.
For more videos of our Indiana gymnasts or more across our region check out and subscribe to our new Youtube Channel
For complete coverage of the 2019 Region 5 Championships, hosted by Branch Gymnastics (April 11-14) in Battle Creek Michigan, please continue to follow us on all forms of social media. We will be live streaming all weekend along with updates, videos and interviews.
Good Luck to all the athletes, coaches and judges participating in the 2019 Region 5 Championships and a special thank you to our gracious hosts Branch Gymnastics.
The 2019 Region 5 Championships are a week away. As we approach the action packed weekend, we will be focusing on the up & coming gymnasts that you may not be aware of from each state in our great Region to keep your eye on. Region 5’s Twenty Five “Ones to Watch” begins with 5 (+1) athletes from The Prairie State….Illinois. These athletes either are first year level 10’s or looking to qualify onto their first Region 5 JO Dream Team.
For more videos of our Illinois gymnasts or more across our region check out and subscribe to our new Youtube Channel
Gwendeyln Cantu, Aspire Gymnastics
Jasmine Conn, Gym ETC
Maddy Hickey, Energym
Lia Kmieciak, Phenom
Samantha Macasu, Legacy Elite
Sara Wabi, IGI
For complete coverage of the 2019 Region 5 Championships, hosted by Branch Gymnastics (April 11-14) in Battle Creek Michigan, please continue to follow us on all forms of social media. We will be live streaming all weekend along with updates, videos and interviews.
Good Luck to all the athletes, coaches and judges participating in the 2019 Region 5 Championships and a special thank you to our gracious hosts Branch Gymnastics.
Our next 20 Questions Athlete is a tiny dynamo from World Class Gymnastics in Illinois. I first noticed Rhyley Pitts last year while we were putting together our Region 5 Twenty Five feature, I was completely blown away by this young talent, she was tiny yet powerful. Rhyley, who won’t graduate from High School until 2024 , throws some serious skills on the competition floor. I was completely caught off guard last year when I saw her BHS BHS Double Tuck Beam Dismount, I definitely was not expecting it, but was so impressed by the stuck landing. This year in 2019 Rhyley has upgraded her Balance Beam to include a triple series, but still launches that dismount a bit higher than before. Rhyley, who made JO Nationals her first time around, definitely is a talented young athlete and one to watch for the many years she has to come in gymnastics. I expect great things for Rhyley Pitts, this is name we might see on the world stage some day.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I started gymnastics when I was four. It happened while I was watching an episode of Curious George and he was playing around on the equipment. After that my mom asked if I wanted to join and I said yes.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is floor, because I love to tumble and show off my routine to everyone.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? I would say my favorite skill is a double layout off bars.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is to have a double layout on floor or a Maloney on bars.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is to compete with my teammates. We get to have a lot of fun together while creating memories.
What college do you plan on attending? Why? I have gotten mail from three schools so far. I am keeping my options open. Every gymnast have a dream school and I have my mine. I would like to attend the school because of their academic and gymnastics program. They are really close as a team/family, they always have fun, and they do a lot of volunteering or helping people who need it. I love this school and can see myself there.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet is our home meet, The Gateway Challenge, because after you compete your session, the following day is another session that is like a college meet. Everyone dresses up ( even the judges ), and each team put their best gymnast on each event to compete against each other.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? I would say my biggest accomplishment would be going to Nationals, because it was a really fun experience and a chance to meet other people that are not from my own gym. It also lead to an invite to attend developmental invite camp which was another highlight of 2018.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? Why? I most admire Simone Biles, because she always gives it her all, even if she is away from the gym for a while. I also think it would be cool to have a couple skills named after you.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I enjoyed spotting myself in some of the highlight videos throughout the 2017-2018 season. My favorite Region 5 video would be the best of the OMG moments of 2018 featuring some of the fails and bloopers.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I have multiple songs I like to listen to before a meet, but all of them are either super upbeat or a song that makes me feel like I can do anything.
3 Things you could not live without? I can not live without someone to talk to, my phone, and any type of light( I strongly dislike being in the dark ).
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal, I would want to be a dog, because I would have people to take care and play with me, while still living inside of the house.
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? The most important items I have to have are my grips, tiger paws, pre-wrap, tape, and deodorant.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? My pre-meet ritual for home meets is to eat the same breakfast (boiled eggs with toast topped with peanut butter) Before touch the floor to compete I always do a prayer with my family. My ritual for beam, I wipe my feet on velcro mats before I go. Last, on vaut I do my mini drills.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like to do any type of crafts (mostly painting ), play games, go to different places, and hang out with friends and family.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Over the years I have experienced a lot of embarrassing moments. I have four that was really embarrassing. My first most embarrassing gymnastics moment happened when I went to the developmental invite camp, and lets just say I cut the cheese about three times while showing my bar skills. Also, one time at practice, I was running really hard for my first pass on floor and I tripped, then ended up sliding like a penguin across the floor. Lastly, at a meet on bars either two or three years ago, I made the whole first half of my routine and got to excited on my dismount, which caused me to flip superfast and land straight on my back. Once I even hit my head while jumping to the high bar, while competing.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast I would do either track, softball, and maybe tumbling.
What are you most looking forward to this competition session? I am most looking forward to competing my yurchenko full this year, since I had a little trouble getting it last year.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? I would say the most valuable things my coaches had said to me was to take one skill at a time, be confident/ believe in yourself, and to trust the process. These help me a lot, because sometimes I forget what I’m capable of and how far I could go with my gymnastics.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself….It is hard for me to make new friends, because I always act shy at first. When I’m really a loud and silly person who just always wants to have fun. After qualifying to Nationals and hanging out with my Region 5 Junior group, it helped me get to know new people more without being shy, missing out on the fun, and some really nice people.
Two School make history with first program wins, Status Quo in the BIG 10, Close battles in the SEC and BIG 12 and a 10 explosion in the PAC 12. We are breaking down all the conference championships and giving you the 411 on how our Region 5 Alums did across the country. NIU made history at home and we sit down with MAC Beam Champ and NIU Sophomore Mia Lord for our Alumni Conversation.
3:18 MIC Championships (Midwest Independent Conference)
* Cami Topp MIC Floor Champ ( Kim choreographed this routine)
7:51 ECAC Championships (2 different competition/sites)
We are recapping all five state meets in Region 5. Illinois state meet was one of the most competitive meets in many years. Makarri Doggette scores big and tops all level 10’s in Region 5. Michigan and Kentucky both were tight for the team championship. Indiana vaulted and tumbled circles around their bars and beam scores. We are talking the rise of the 2 pass routines, and who can remember all those comp deductions. Also Megan Bingham , Elaina McGovern, Sierra Brooks and Payton Richards talked to the Insider about their individual state performances.
Topic Discussion
4:50 2 Pass Floor Routines at Level 10
*Are we taking the comp deductions?
*Are we a getting the 10.1 if earned?
* Are there too many comp deductions to remember?
15:55 Artistry vs the Big E Pass
* Are there so many little deductions that they just aren’t taken?
* Impressive Tumbling over shadows artistry?
23:09 Major Single Bar Release….. Special Requirement or Compositional
* Routines like Kai Rivers and Andrea LI
* Maloney Pac/Bail Routines
* Higher value to single bar release
Breaking Down the State Meets
30:16 Indiana Level 10 State
*2 Senior Age Groups…. No Juniors?
* Handspring Front Vaults
* Reasons for lower bars and beam
36:52 Ohio State Meet
* Makarri Doggette highest score for all states 39.375
* Tory Vetter- 2 pass routine, Talking composition on floor
* Gabby Van Freyen bars set
* Olivia Rapp example for two pass routine
* Mickayla Stuckey artistry on floor
Joshua Tree Skin Care (Heals Like a Rest Day) order here
50:09- Kentucky State Meet
* Increase in major releases and Yurchenko 1/1’s
* Elaina McGovern (Legacy) Senior State AA Champion- Interview (51:57)
* Megan Bingham (Champion) Junior State AA Champion- Interview (54:32)
Region 5 Insider Classic coming to Fort Wayne in March 2020 (Link to Meet Page)
* Kendall Abney- bars composition, beautiful Toe Full into maloney
* Sarah Morraw- Quiet Storm, Huge Tumbler, Consistent
* Pac out of Maloney combos are very impressive this year
* Paige Thaxton bar spreader issue Yahtzee Award Nominee
* No Alyssa Al-Ashari for regionals but Beam State Champion
* Senior B’s dominate 4+ 38’s
* Sidesomurry!!!!
* Smiling with Twistars Beam Routines
* Karlie Franz Velcro stuck Double Arabian 9.825
* Matti Waligora new floor routine could make you cry in joy!
* Best Illinois State Meet 149 Level 10 entered into state
* Triple Flight Explosion- 14 triple flights on beam
* Rhyley Pitts- Triple Flight will be entering elite after JO Session
* Faith Torrez then WHO?
* S Triple E- Skyla Schulte, Ella Cesaria, Ellie Lazzari, Erika Penamante all over 38.5
* H 2 O T- Hannah Oliveros, Haley Tyson each have a new big skill/combo
* Trump your Ace with a Q- Sierra Brooks, Andrea Li and JerQuavia Henderson
– Double Layout alert…. Andi warmed-up a Double Layout on Floor, Sierra has double layout
in her back pocket
– Sierra Brooks talk to us about graduating early and winning her first state AA title
(1:36:27)
* Richards for 4- Payton Richards wins her 4th State AA title in a row
– Power of Linda Zivat
– Payton talked to the Insider about her 4th state AA title and her bars routine (1:43:17)
