Region 5 is making their move into 2019. Check out some of the new skills being done from our gymnasts around the Region. If you want your upgrades to be included in future Making Your Move posts upload your video to your Instagram page (must be public or put up on gym IG) and tag us @region5gyminsider. #R5MakingMovesMonday
Haley Tyson (Phenom Gymnastics) Working on a layout full out on floor (Pretty Nice!)
Our Next 20 Questions Athlete hails from Phenom Gymnastics in Illinois. Haley Tyson who is the currently 2018 JO National Floor Champion, has been a Level 10 for 2 years and has qualified to JO Nationals both years. Haley is an incredible talent with big skills all around the gym. For me this athlete kind of flew under the radar last year, but this year definitely made her name known. She is a powerful athlete who always has a smile on her face on the competition floor. Not only did Haley pickup a gold medal on floor at Nationals she was also part of the winning Junior E Team. Lets get to know Haley a little bit better as she finishes up her summer training and heads towards her 3rd level 10 season and her 3rd run at the JO National Championships.
What is your favorite event?My favorite event is bars because I love the feeling of flying through the air.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you?I was five years old and my best friend invited me to “bring your friend to practice day”.
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skills to train are the Ray on bars and the Yurchenko 1.5
Dream Skill?My dream skill would be a full twisting double layout on floor
What is your favorite part of gymnastics?My favorite part of gymnastics is being able to practice and compete with my friends.
What college do you plan on attending? I am currently undecided.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why?Bravo classic! It is so much fun to have all your teammates cheering for you. I also love JO nationals because it is an amazing experience and tons of fun.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far?Making the JO National team my first two years in level 10 and winning floor at the 2018 JO nationals.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics?I most admire Aly Raisman because she is a leader in all aspects and an amazing gymnast.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series?Region 5 all access because I like to see what other gyms do and what they are training.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets?I don’t have a specific playlist but I like to listen to “todays hits” on the way to meets
3 Things you could not live without?Family, friends, and my phone. In that order
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why?I would be a Monkey because I could swing around in the trees every day.
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag?The most important items are grips, water bottle, tiger balm, heel pads, and hair ties.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Some of my pre-meet rituals are: I eat pasta the night before, I wear the same socks, and I like to do my hair the same for every meet.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I like to hang out with family and friends. I also like to go shopping and take family vacations.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment?In level four after finishing my beam routine I saluted in the wrong direction! All while the coach was trying to signal to me to turn around.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try?I would like to try track and field or diving.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why?I respect all athletes that give 100% every day to be the best they can be.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you?The best advice I have gotten is to trust the process and believe in your ability
Bonus Question:Tell me something interesting about yourself….I have family in Iceland. I don’t like mint or carbonated drinks. I also love cereal!
Region 5 is making their move into 2019. Check out some of the new skills being done from our gymnasts around the Region. If you want your upgrades to be included in future Making Your Move posts upload your video to your Instagram page (must be public or put up on gym IG) and tag us @region5gyminsider. #R5MakingMovesMonday
Jazlynn Chism (Midwest Elite) Toe Handstand Maloney Combo
What do you call a competition with the former World and current Olympic champion along with the current World All Around Champion? A show you couldn’t miss….
The energy in Schottenstein Center was already high during warm-ups as the crowd filed in to watch the return to competition of Simone Biles. Though the 6,190 spectators strong let a big roar out for Simone when she was introduced, the loudest applause came for the current world champ Morgan Hurd. Our Region 5 athletes had a pretty large cheering section as the meet was held in the city (or close to) where Shania Adams and Shilese Jones train hailing from Buckeye Gymnastics and Future Gymnastics respectively.
The first rotation found Shania up first on bars, the event she had some struggles on in podium training but rocked her set including that Maloney Pak combo that gave her problems for a 13.75. She finished the routine and came off the podium to a huge hug from coach Kittia Carpenter. Meanwhile over at beam Shilese nailed her standing arabian that lands like a dart into the beam. She finished up the near wobble free set with a stuck two backhandsprings into a double back and a 13.2. Shilese began on beam at American Classic and fell so she was happy to get that one done.
video by: USA Gymnastics
In rotation two Shilese used her power (walks into a huge double double) and clean landings on her double arabian and full in to score a solid 13.3. Her coach Christian was clapping with excitement on every landing. Shania began her beam routine as she always does with near perfect triple to double wolf squat turns but unfortunately was off on her layout layout series and though tried to surf save it came off. She was a bit off on her double full dismount and scored a 12.45. The standings after the midpoint of the meet had Shilese in 10th and Shania in 13th (remember both had already qualified to championships).
As she mentioned in her interview, Shania has been nursing a back injury and watered down some of her routines at American Classic. Here at US Classic, she put back in her double arabian to stag jump but was slightly off to side and stepped out of bounds. She was a little off on her 2 1/2 front tuck stepping out of bounds again but finished with a strong double tuck for a 12.85. Though her tumbling was a bit off today, her performance quality of her routine was very nice and of course her turns including the triple Memmel turn at the beginning (not easy at all) stand out everytime. Shilese launched a 14.45 double twisting Yurchenko into the air and landing back on earth in 5th place after 3 events.
video by: USA Gymnastics
In the final rotation Shania went early in the rotation and attempted her double twisting Yurchenko but was a quarter short landing in a deep squat and falling onto the mat. She only competed a full in Utah at American Classic so it was good for her to put it out on the competition floor for experience before nationals. Shania was able to put in all her upgraded routines and will now be looking to polish them up before nationals in Boston.
Shilese went last in the final rotation just as Simone was wrapping up a 15.2 on balance beam. However Shilese was on fire swinging her way to a 13.85 on bars and 4th place in the all around with a 54.9. This session was filled with everything you could imagine… comebacks, double twisting double layouts here and there, new upgrades all around the arena and most of all the anticipation of a great competition in Boston 3 weeks from now.
