Well we have come to the 3rd and final voting of the 2018 Yahtzee Awards! I would like to thank everyone who voted. If you missed the first 10 categories no worries there is still time to vote. Links to Part 1 and Part 2. Voting closes Wednesday September 12th at 11:59pm.
Winners will be announced Thursday September 13, 2018. Awards will be either mailed out to the gyms or presented to the athletes at the 2018 Region 5 Banquet.
Happy Voting!!!!
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Team Spirit
Hunts
Cincinnati
Perfection
GTC-Rochester
Legacy Elite
Favorite Invitational
Most Memorable Meet Moment
Makarri Doggette Sweeps JOs
R5 goes 1,2,3 at the Nastia Cup in the Junior Division (Tory Vetter, Jacey Vore, Faith Torres)
Briar Burden adds “The Burden” beam dismount to the COP (Routine Video)
Kaitlyn Higgins (bloody toe nail removed mid-meet could barely walk, but finished) & Taylor Devries (bloody nose from kneeing herself on her bar dismount during warm-ups for her first event, competed with tissue in her nose the entire meet) do not let blood stop them from finishing JO Nationals
Beam Queen Helen Hu makes it 3 in a row at JO Nationals.
Outstanding Coach Moment
1. The quality of the photo isn’t great but it captured a moment between coach Rachel Tracey and my now 11 year old daughter Gaby. A couple seasons ago, Gaby had a devastating injury to her elbow which required 2 different surgeries about 11 months apart. She missed her entire first season as a level 8 and barely competed in her second season. Through Rachel’s understanding and encouragement, Gaby slowly rehabbed back to where she could compete. This photo was taken just before Gaby’s return to beam for the first time at a competition. I know Rachel’s words were something along the lines of “I’m so proud of you and it doesn’t matter how you do”. In this tumultuous era of USAG, showing a child that being healthy and happy is more important than winning a YAHTZEE in my book. ” – Gaby’s Mom
2. Scott Austin, Enrique Trabanino & Shannon Hunt, step up to help athletes during 
Region 5 Championships after their teammate was injured and their coach was tending to that athlete.These coaches saw a problem and left their own athletes to make sure that the athletes of Champion USA were taken care of during their regional competition. This was truly a selfless moment and shows the camaraderie of the Region 5 Coaches. (read facebook post picture for full story)
3. Infinity Gymnastics Closed suddenly just weeks before Level 9 Eastern Nationals,they had an athlete qualify to Easterns. Maddie Rydel was left without a 
gym to represent or a facility to train in leading up to Nationals. Her amazing coaches Andrei Nitkin and Brittany Lapinski made sure she did not miss out on chance to be there. These coaches found places for Maddie to work out prior to Easterns, including high schools and open gym time at facilities near them. These two coaches, used their own funds to make it to New York. Maddie ended up finishing 2nd on the uneven bars in her age group.
[highlight]Are you ready for the new JO composition and rule changes for 2019? Not sure check out our new R5 Insider Podcast as we break it all down for you.[/highlight]
Well that is a wrap for the 2018 Yahtzee Awards!!! If you missed voting for Part 1 & Part 2 there is still time! Click the links to check out the first 10 categories and cast your vote for your favorites. All polls will be closed Wednesday at Midnight and winners will be announced Thursday!
