JO National Newbies: Lia Kmieciak, Phenom

By

Kim Dowis

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May 4, 2019

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Name: Lia Kmieciak

Gym: Phenom

Age Group: Junior E

Graduation: Class of 2021

Favorite Quote:“I never lose. I either win or I learn.” – Nelson Mandela

Favorite Music: Country Music

Favorite Food: Popcorn

Favorite Movie: Avatar

Favorite Super Hero: Captain America

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What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? Last year at regionals, I was very nervous going into the meet and I didn’t enjoy myself. This year, I was a lot more confident and I had fun while I was competing and stayed positive so that I could have a positive outcome and learn from my mistakes.

What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I am looking forward to competing with the Region 5 team where there is so much energy and where everyone pushes each other to be their best.

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? I feel very honored and fortunate to compete in a region with so much talent and positivity. I can’t wait to compete with the team and be up against some of the best level 10s in the country.

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? I had a lot of fun competing at level 9 Easterns! I really liked the team atmosphere and how positive everyone was. The team had a lot of energy and we were all pushing each other to do our best.

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? Mainly, just to stay positive no matter what. Sometimes you make mistakes and rather than getting upset about it, the best you can do is stay positive and continue to do your best no matter what.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc? I have three older sisters, all who did gymnastics. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends and spend summer weekends at my family lake house.

What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? Last year at regionals, I was very nervous going into the meet and I didn’t enjoy myself. This year, I was a lot more confident and I had fun while I was competing and stayed positive so that I could have a positive outcome and learn from my mistakes.

What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I am looking forward to competing with the Region 5 team where there is so much energy and where everyone pushes each other to be their best.

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? I feel very honored and fortunate to compete in a region with so much talent and positivity. I can’t wait to compete with the team and be up against some of the best level 10s in the country.

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? I had a lot of fun competing at level 9 Easterns! I really liked the team atmosphere and how positive everyone was. The team had a lot of energy and we were all pushing each other to do our best.

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? Mainly, just to stay positive no matter what. Sometimes you make mistakes and rather than getting upset about it, the best you can do is stay positive and continue to do your best no matter what.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc. I have three older sisters, all who did gymnastics. In my free time, I like to hang out with friends and spend summer weekends at my family lake house.

All Access: Legacy Elite | Upgraded Bars in 2019, Prep for Post Season

By

Jason MacDonald

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May 3, 2019

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All Access with Legacy Elite Level 9/10’s who were preparing for the 2019 Region 5 Championships. The focus on this bar workout as usually prior to post season is on routine consistency, hitting handstands, form on bar bar to releases and sticking dismounts. Anna Li talks about some of the new upgraded routines for 2019 and we get to see a few new future upgrades as well. Lots of high flying releases in this episode and maybe even the NEW WAY to watch team train… have to watch to find out more!

JO National Newbies: Molly Parris, Gym World

By

Kim Dowis

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May 2, 2019

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Name: Molly Parris

Gym: Gym World

Age Group: Senior E

Graduation: 2019

Favorite Quote: “I can do all things who Christ who gives me strength” -Philippians 4:13

Favorite Music: Rap or Early 2000s

Favorite Subject: Any kind of History

Favorite Social Media: Snapchat

Favorite Color: Pink

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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. This year at regionals I really wanted to go out there and have fun. Going into it I really wanted to make nationals but I had to focus on what I could control. I can’t control the results so I just focused on doing my best and then seeing how everything turned out. Although it wasn’t my best performance, I’m happy I made it to nationals and I’m looking forward to finishing up the season strong in Indianapolis.

What have you learned from previous experiences at Regionals or Nationals and what made this year different? I think my first couple regionals as a level 10, I was always really nervous and not as confident. Also, when I was younger I compared myself to other girls. This year since I’m a senior, I tried to go out there and leave everything out on the floor. It was my last meet wearing my club leo so I wanted to make it as memorable as possible.

What are you most looking forward to about nationals? I’m really looking forward to nationals! I’m really excited to be wearing the region 5 leo and having fun because it’s my last JO meet.

How does it feel to represent Region 5 on a national stage? It’s a huge honor to represent region 5 at nationals. It’s so cool to be apart and compete as a region. I think there’s also a lot of pride wearing the region 5 leo.

What is your most memorable moment in gymnastics besides qualifying to JO nationals? Besides making nationals, the most memorable moment in gymnastics is when I committed to Eastern Michigan on a full scholarship my junior year. Doing gymnastics in college has always been a dream of mine so I’m super excited to go to Eastern!

What is the most powerful piece of advice you have received and how has it specifically impacted your gymnastics? I’m not sure if this is considered advice or not but I my teammates and I always ask each other “How bad do you want it?” Everyone has a specific goal in mind so when we ask each other that, it definitely pushes us and makes us remember our goals and what we’re working towards. I think it pushes me and reminds me to push through the hard or bad days.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….special talents, hobbies, interesting facts etc Interesting facts: I was adopted from China when I was nine months old

R5 Spotlight: Madison Greene & Megan Bingham | Tackling nerves together inspired by their teammates

By

Jason MacDonald

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May 1, 2019

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This week’s spotlight is on Champion Gymnastics’ Level 10’s Madison Greene & Megan Bingham. They both talk about thier teammates that served as motivation and how they worked together to keep their nerves in check. They acknowledge that it was their ability to stay positive that helped them both earn a spot on the Region 5 Dream Team at their first JO Nationals!

20 Questions with JO National Qualifier Kyla Podges (Legacy-KY)

By

Kim Dowis

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April 30, 2019

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presented by:

Our next 20 questions athlete has a remarkable story that she recently shared via instagram. Kyla Podges of Legacy Gymnastics in Kentucky almost wasn’t, as an infant she was literally abandoned on the streets of China, thanks to a local police officer she was taken to an orphanage and later adopted by her loving American Family at the age of 2. This talented young lady has thrived in her life, qualifying this year to her first JO Nationals and accepting a full scholarship to Texas Women’s University where she will be heading in the fall. Kyla, who is always happy and full of life is a joy to watch on the competition floor, she always has a smile on her face and really seems to be enjoying what she is doing. As JO Nationals is approaching and Kyla’s time with Region 5 and Legacy Gymnastics is coming to a close let’s get to know this incredible young lady a little bit better as she prepares to leave one chapter behind and begin a new.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? When I was 19 months old, I was adopted from China. I was developmentally delayed for my age, so my mom wanted to put me in gymnastics to improve my motor and social skills. I began doing “Mommy & Me” classes at the age of 2, and I’ve loved the sport ever since!

What is your favorite event? Floor is my favorite, though it used to be beam. I love being able to dance to my music and show off my routine.

Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is a front double on floor. My favorite skill to compete is my yurchenko full-on, tuck-off on vault.

Dream Skill? Definitely a full twisting pak!

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? There are so many parts of gymnastics that I love, but being a part of such a tight knit group of girls is something that can’t be beat. I wouldn’t trade my Legacy family for the world!

What college do you plan on attending? I plan on attending Texas Woman’s University and joining their gymnastics team this fall. I can’t wait to compete for my future school, go Pioneers!

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? Competing at Elevate the Stage is always fun because the meet is on podium and everything is a bit more bouncy

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is committing to TWU on a full-athletic scholarship. But qualifying to JO’s comes in at a close 2nd!

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I like watching the “Eye On 5” series!

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? Before meets I listen to songs that I can sing to and get pumped up to. Mostly rap, Ariana Grande, or throwback songs from like 2008

3 Things you could not live without? I definitely couldn’t live without socks (feet gross me out), a phone charger (my phone is literally in low power mode all the time), and my one contact I wear in my left eye (because I’m blind)

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would be a giraffe so I could be tall and have long legs. Also because I think giraffes are cool, and they’ve been my favorite animal since I was little.

5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? Some must have items in my gym bag include tape, coband, Tiger Paws, lotion, and Ibuprofen

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I don’t really have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions, besides listening to music. Though I do always bring a certain foam roller with me to meets, just in case I get sore from traveling.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gym I like to bake, watch Netflix, sleep, and go out with friends

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment was at State Meet in 2016. I had the flu all week leading up to State, so I was not feeling 100%. Long story short, I face planted on my double pike on floor… in front of everyone.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would probably give diving a try

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect LSU gymnast, McKenna Kelley, the most because she is the perfect example of a fighter. She worked hard to get back after tearing her achilles and earned a perfect 10 on her senior night!

What part of JO Nationals are you most looking forward too? I’m looking forward to being able to represent Region 5 and to compete alongside some of the best level 10’s in the nation

Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? My most memorable gymnastics moment was meeting Martha Karolyi when I went to The Ranch for National TOPs testing

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? The most valuable piece of advice my coach has given to me is to trust myself and do every skill with confidence.

Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I’m legally blind in my right eye. Oh, and I can wiggle my ears haha.

Fun Fact: Kyla got to do TOPs Testing with 2016 Olympic Team Gold Medalist Laurie Hernandez