20 Questions with 2018 Level 9 Eastern National Champion Mia Figola (Legacy Elite)

December 4, 2018

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

20 Questions with Level 9 Eastern National Competitor Aubrey Patterson (MEGA)

Kim Dowis

November 27, 2018

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.

Around The Gym: High Performance Training Camp | Fixing the Little, Execute the BIG

Jason MacDonald

November 26, 2018

Around the Gym with our athletes and coaches at the 2018 Region 5 High Performance Camp at the University of Michigan. We filmed an all access look at day 2 of camp focused on drilling the shapes while letting the girls go do the skills and combos they are looking to compete this season. This video has some great drills for front tumbling and foot placement on vault hurdles. #R5AroundtheGym #R5HighPerformanceCamp #R5TrainingCamps

20 Questions with Level 9 Eastern National Event Champion Rachel Rybicki (Olympia)

Kim Dowis

November 20, 2018

presented by:

Our next 20 Questions Athlete is a 2018 Level 9 Eastern National Bars & Balance Beam Champion. she comes from a gym with a long standing history of National Champions & National Qualifiers. Rachel Rybicki of Olympia Gymnastics in Shelby Twp, Michigan is certainly “one to watch” this coming season. Rachel is an extremely talented athlete all over the gym, and is certainly eye catching with her gymnastics, but it is her mega watt smile that captivates those around her. You can truly see the pure joy and happiness she exhibits on the competition floor. When watching Rachel you cannot help but smile, especially during her floor routine, she is truly a performer. Let’s get to know Rachel a little bit better as she begins her journey to the 2019 JO National Championships this season as a first year Level 10.

How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you?My mom was very involved in gymnastics, but she wanted my to try all the other sports as well. So I tried a bunch of different sports, but once I tried a gymnastics class with my sister I loved it, and I have been doing it ever since – I was 4 or 5 when I started.

What is your favorite event? I like to do bars and beam. I like bars because when I do my skills I always get an adrenaline rush and I love the feeling of flipping and flying through the air

Favorite Skill to train/compete? I like to train my pac on bars because it is really fun to flip between the bars and float for a second. I also have been training it for a while now so I am able to make little changes each time and notice more as I do the skill

Dream Skill? I would love to do a triple twist on floor. I love twisting and I feel like it would be a cool and unique skill to try.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is being able to go to the gym and work on something that I love to do. I am able to be myself and make goals for myself to achieve. I have fun everyday at the gym with my friends and teammates and it is always something I look forward to.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why?My favorite meet to compete at is Athlete Warrior Challenge because it is our home meet so a bunch of people from our gym come and a lot of my family is able to make it too. There is always so much cheering and excitement at the meet.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment was when I became Eastern National Champion on bars, beam, and with my Region 5 team.

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Jordyn McIntyre. She is always at the gym helping me to have a positive attitude and to focus on the good. She helps me with my nutrition and I was able to coach with her throughout the summer. She always reminds me to have fun with gymnastics and she is always there to cheer very loud for you. She was very accomplished in her gymnastics career, but she is also an overall great person.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I like Breaking it Down Features. I think it is cool to see how other gymnasts prepare for their skills or what they think about during them. Some of the things they say can also help me if I have never thought of it that way before.

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I have a playlist on my phone with a bunch of songs I listen to before meets, it is mostly music to pump me up, and I also have some inspirational music.We have a bar playlist at gym, and some of the songs from that are on there. My favorite to listen to is Rise by Katy Perry

3 Things you could not live without? 3 thing I could not live without would be my family and friends(including my dogs), my fuzzy sweatpants, and my mom

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would want to be an elephant. They are my favorite animal, but they are also so big, and I am so small. I think I am just curious to see what it would be like to be that big, and they seem like such calm and beautiful animals.

5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? The 5 most imporant must have items in my gym bag are water, grips, green band, lacrosse ball, snack

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Yes, I always listen to my playlist before meets, and I also visualize my routines while I listen to my music. Before each meet I also say a quick prayer to have a safe and fun time competing

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? In the summer I love to boat. We live right near the lake, so my family and I spend a lot of time out on the water. We ski and tube, but it is also nice to just be out in the sun, or swim in the water.

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment was when I was at level 8 regionals, and I was up on the podium and I passed out.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would want to try silks or hand balancing. I don’t know if it is a sport or not, but it looks so pretty and really fun. The people who do it are so talented, and it is a pretty cool trick to have up your sleeve.

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect any athlete who gives 100% to the sport they do, the ones that make their sport a big part of your life. It takes a lot of work and time, and I have a lot of respect for anyone who does this.

Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? I was first up on bars and it was our first event, I was also one of the first people to compete at the session. I was nervous because it was my first event and I was at nationals. I had a pretty good warm up, but I wanted to hit and start off strong for the team. I went and I hit a really good bar routine for me and I was super proud of myself, and I ended up the bar champion

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? You can’t get down on yourself when you make a mistake, nothing good will come from that. You have to realize your mistake, and try to learn from it – figure out how to fix it or change it for next time.

Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…. I want to become fluent in Spanish, and hopefully have a career in sports medicine or physical therapy.

Coaches Wired: Kyle Grable, JPAC | Lock, Line, Hold

Jason MacDonald

November 19, 2018

presented by:

Kyle Grable from JPAC is mic’d during bar warm-ups and competition of the Junior D session at the 2018 JO Nationals. The Junior D’s were leading the competition going into their final event bars. 2018 Nastia Cup junior silver medalist Jacey Vore kicks it into high gear and nails her routine for the team. Listen in as Kyle guides her through the process of a hit routine.

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