Eye on 5 with IGI Level 10 Mackenzie Sedlecak. Makie as she is known, has had many ups and downs in her young gymnastics career but 2018 was a year of joy and pride for her finishing in 2nd place at JO Nationals in Junior E while contributing to a winning regional team performance. Mackie takes us back to learning to flip for cheerleading, training and competing at the elite level, and the impact making JO Nationals had on her. Kat Musso, her coach, reflects on all the hard work and the “Quiet Force” in the gym has on both the gymnastics arena and her teammates. Let’s get to know this future Arkansas Razorback.
Is your head preventing you from achieving your goals in competition? In this episode we are talking everything you need to be Mental Tough. Most performance problems that gymnast or athletes in general struggle with are not a result of poor conditioning, inadequate coaching or a lack of physical skills or technical ability. Yes sometime these do play a role in a not so good competition performance. However letting nerves get the best of you, poor concentration, lack of confidence or pure negative thinking before and during a competition or routine is usually the contributor to poor performance. How much time are you putting into making your mind as strong as your body. Mental toughness is the key to success and as with skills in gymnastics you need to develop the skills to create a tough mind. Joining us today is the owner of Head Games, creating an unshakable mind through mental toughness training, Dr. Alison Arnold, Doc Ali as she is known, gives us some great tools to use to get yourself mentally tough.
*** We have a few free give aways and a big announcement during this show so listen in for those ***
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Show Breakdown
5:10 – Introduction to Mental Toughness
8:14 – Technique #1: Mental Choreography/ Cue Words (Building Your Mental Muscle)
34:16 – Technique #2: Creating the Competition Bubble (Fack it to you Make it)
38:13 – Technique #3: Dealing With Adversity
4 Steps to Flip IT
55:16- Technique #4: Compete Free (LET IT GO!)
Struggling with mental toughness in competition? Would like to find out more about Head Games Web Camp or any of their mental toughness tools? Check them out at www.headgamesworld.com Try the Head Games Web Camp for 2 weeks free just click the link to head over to the head games website. Want to win a free month of Head Games Web Camp listen to our podcast and upload your video to your social media and tag us to enter the contest.
Check out the Sherpa 1/4 Zip Embroidered Pullover and many more gymnastics apparel items from Gym Treasures
We go Around the Gym at the 2018 Region 5 High Tech Camp. Check out an all access look at our level 10’s perfecting skills and working the new skills for the upcoming 2019 competition season. This camp is always a good opportunity to bond and continue to grow the friendships created through being a part of Region 5. Lots of cheering and fun antics are had during the weekend while training and working hard to prepare for the season.
Our next 20 Questions Athlete is Mia Figola, from Legacy Elite in Illinois. Mia is a 2018 Level 9 Eastern National Champion and medalist. Mia is a solid competitor who shows great skills all over the gym and well as a mixture of power and grace. My favorite event to watch Mia on is both the beam and the floor, her floor routine moves effortlessly and is engaging and her beam routine is confident and sharpe. Mia certainly is an athlete to keep an eye on this season. Let’s get to know Mia a little bit better as she heads into the new competition season.
How did you get into the sport of Gymnastics? How old were you? When I was about three years old my mom put me into gymnastics classes because she thought I was too clumsy. I ended up falling in love with the sport and have been doing it for 13 years.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is bars. It’s so different than any of the other events and it is so satisfying when you hit a solid routine.
What is your favorite skill to train/compete? As of right now, my favorite skill to train is a pike jaeger on bars. My favorite skill to compete is a front tuck on beam.
What is your dream skill? My dream skill is probably a shaposh on bars.
What is your favorite part of Gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is the training. I love being pushed to do skills I never thought I would be able to do. And even though conditioning at practice is tough, feeling sore afterwards is so rewarding and makes you feel accomplished.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is nationals because it’s so exciting when you get to compete as a team with people from different gyms and different states. The pressure is still high but you are able to go out and compete for the team rather than just yourself.
What is your biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far was winning All-Around at level 9 nationals last year.
Who do you admire the most in the sport of Gymnastics? In the sport of gymnastics I admire my coaches the most. The amount of compassion they have for the sport and for all of the girls they coach is incredible. Not only have they been successful gymnasts themselves, but they have led so many of their girls to success as well.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite region 5 insider series is “coaches wired.” I think it’s so interesting to hear all the different coaching types, but it also reveals more about all of the coaches’ personalities that we don’t usually get to see.
Help us out
What is your go to song or playlist before meets? I usually listen to throwback songs before meets.
What are 3 things you could not live without? The three things I couldn’t live without are coffee, hoodies, and chapstick
If you could be any animal what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would probably be a goose or a duck because they can swim, fly, and walk on land.
What are the 5 Most important or Must have items in your gym bag? The 5 most important items in my gym bag are: Tuff skin spray, Extra hair ties, Pre-wrap/tape, Ibuprofen and Grips/ wrist guards
Do you have any rituals or superstitions before meets. Before every meet I have to have oatmeal for breakfast, I like to think that it’s good luck.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of the gym I like to take pictures and explore new places outside. Or I like to watch movies/ youtube videos inside.
What is your most embarrassing meet or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment was about 5 years ago when I was competing bars and I wouldn’t go for my giants. I had to compete anyway and ended up not going. I started sobbing in the middle of my routine and got down and saluted half way through my routine. All of which my dad got on video.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast, I’d probably try diving or track.
What athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? The athletes I respect the most are those who do water polo. The fact that they can tread water without their hands completely blows my mind.
What is your most memorable meet or nationals moment? Most memorable gymnastics meet was probably Leenda’s Island Adventure last year because I scored my first 38 all-around.
What is the best advice or words of wisdom you have received from your coaches? My coaches always tell us to “trust the process,” which is probably the best advice I’ve ever gotten in this sport
Our next 20 Questions Athlete is Aubrey Patterson of Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy in Novi, Michigan. I first heard about Aubrey in 2017 when at 10 year old she was called up from an alternate position to compete as part of the Level 9 Region 5 Junior 1 Team. I thought it was so incredible that this young athlete was able to step up with very short notice and deliver in such a big way. After this moment I absolutely knew that little Aubrey was definitely going to be “one to watch” in the years to come. Aubrey not only is an incredible Level 9, but she is also a HOPES athlete trying to go down the elite track. Aubrey is such a joy to watch on the competition floor, especially during her floor routine, she just makes you smile, you can definitely tell she loves what she is doing out there and doing it with pure joy in her heart. I cannot wait to continue to follow this incredible athlete and see what gymnastics has in store for her. Aubrey certainly is the future of Region 5 Gymnastics.
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? I first stepped foot in the gym for a Parent Tot Class as soon as I could walk. When I was 5 years old I competed in my first fun meet. I wanted a medal so badly! You could say that MEGA has been my second home ever since.
What is your favorite event? Floor is probably my favorite events. I love to dance and perform my routine. Especially this year, I really love my floor routine this year!
Favorite Skill to Train/Compete? My favorite skill to train/compete is Front Aerials on Beam, they look pretty and I feel like I am flying!
Dream Skill? There are a lot of skills that I want, but a double layout on floor is something I can’t wait to get into my floor routine.
What is our favorite part of Gymnastics? Gymnastics is an amazing sport. The thrill of flipping upside-down on a 4″ beam is incredible! Getting to spend days and nights with my teammates, traveling with them to different states and even countries. Nothing compares to working hard and getting your butt kicked with your teammates and friends.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? Eastern Nationals is my favorite meet to compete at. Region 5 is a great Region to be a part of . From the moment we practiced together at training to walking onto the competition floor for march-in with flashing glasses, we made memories that we will never forget.
Biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? I am really proud of all my accomplishments in the sport! One that stands out is when my coaches told me that I made TOPs A Camp for the 2nd time! To make it even more exciting everyone crowded in my hotel room at bar camp (on my birthday weekend) and my coaches told me that I made it!
Who do you most admire in the Sport of Gymnastics? Madison Kocian is the gymnast that I admire the most because she pushed through injuries to pursue her dream of being and Olympian. I love watching her on bars and I still enjoy watching her today with the amazing UCLA Team.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? The Region 5 All Access is my favorite series to watch. It’s fun to see all the different gyms in Region 5 training and watching the different drills that they do.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? Most of the time I need to be pumped up before a meet so I listen to songs like “Unstoppable” by the Score and “Believer” by Imagine Dragons”. It may sound silly but my teammates and I love listening to “Love Doesn’t Stand a Chance” from the TV Series Once Upon a Time! We love singing loudly and dancing to this song!
3 Things you could not live without? I could not live without my family, they make me laugh, take care of me, and make sure that I get picked up from practice (LOL)! I also need my phone so I can listen to my music. Most importantly I could not survive without fluffy,, soft blankets (I have 9 in my bed!)
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? A Unicorn of course! Unicorns are unique, graceful, special and loved by everyone! I mean, who doesn’t love Unicorns.
5 Most Important or Must Have Items in you gym bag? My gym bag is full of important things, I have to have my gym journal, chapstick, my oils, my Doc Ali Tight Mind Tool Deck and my fuzzy blanket!
Do you have pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I always have to have my hair in a side braid (from my left to right) pulled back into a bun! So after my hair is finished my coaches tell me to wake up extra early so my body can “wake up!”. Before I go out on the floor I put my oils and I am ready to go!
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I love to play games with my family! We like to play Scattergories and Clue. I also like to play flag football with my little brother (in the family room of course!)
Most embarrassing meet or gymnastics moment? When I was a little Level 3 I was competing a handstand flat back and I did not make it to the handstand let alone finish the Vault!
If you weren’t a Gymnast, what sport would you do or try? Baseball!!!!! We play family baseball and I am the designated hitter!
Which athletes (any sports) do you respect the most an why? Any athlete that has ever overcome something that they never thought they could overcome! These athletes prove that you can do anything you set your mind to!
Most Memorable Gymnastics or Nationals Moment? 2018 JO Eastern Nationals. Our first event was bars, I hit a solid bar routine and stuck my dismount! It was a great feeling to hit that first event and hear everyone cheering for me. I got a big hug from my coaches and I was ready to hit the rest of my events.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? My coaches encourage me to keep pushing myself even when I’m tired and want to give up. They tell me to keep thinking about my goals and dreams and push myself to get there.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself….I’m obsessed with Wonder Women!!! I have a Wonder Woman blanket, lunch box, necklace, bracelet and I dressed up as Wonder Women for Halloween.
