When it came to putting together the honorable mentions list, I asked some of my colleagues and my own athletes for their input on what leos they liked that didn’t happen to make the 1-10 list. Many of the honorable mentions are leotards that friends, colleagues and my athletes put on their own lists. The Honorable Mentions are in no particular, but I will be giving descriptions for each leo.
Aspire (Ill)
I first saw Aspires leo via social media and I was so extremely excited to see that they finally got a new leotard! Aspire made our list in 2015, it is great to see them back in the mix here in 2018. What I like about this leo is the small incorporation of green in the jeweling on the leo. I did not realize until I got up close that the jewels were indeed green which made it stand out a bit more. There were a few other gyms that had this same leo, but in different colors, but I really thought the black and white was classic.
Legacy (KY)
The girls from Legacy Kentucky definitely stand out in this new leo. There are not usually very many athletes competing at Level 10 from the state of Kentucky, so its nice for them to stand out with an eye catching leotard and this leotard is definitely eye catching.
Branch (MI)
There is something about this leo that I just absolutely love, I wish I could of put this on the 6-10 list because I just really like the combination of colors and the pattern. I cannot honestly tell you why I like it, I just like it. It also looks very lovely on Emily & AG maybe because they are tall it really works well for them.
Michigan Academy (MI)
My favorite feature of the MAG leo is the key hole back! I absolutely love leos with the key hole backs, they remind me of the leos I had as a young gymnast. The mesh with the jewels makes this leo look very classy, with the jewels on the front not being over powering to take away from the elegance of the arms. This leo reminds me of a fancy dress with a small shoulder coverup.
Phenom (Ill)
Phenoms leo was definitely a favorite of my athletes, many of them put these leos on their top 10 list. The kids really loved the pink and the sparkles. Phenom is no stranger to our list making it a few years ago. What I like about this leo is how bold the pink is and that the white mesh arms are minimal, but are definitely a focal point of the leotard.
***Disclaimer…to be eligible for the Region 5 Insider Top 10 Favorite Leotard list, your Gym must have at least 1 athlete competing at the Region 5 Championships.***
1:26 – General Recap of Level 9/10 regional Championships
4:20 – JR ABreakdown –
Sydney Jelen – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Katie Harper – Universal Gymnasts Inc.
Kendall Abney – Twistars USA Inc.
Elizabeth Gantner – Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
Taylor DeVries – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Kaia Tanskanen – Michigan Elite Gymnastics Academy
Rhyley Pitts – World Class Gymnastics Center
5:56 – SR A Breakdown
Emma Pritchard – Gym X-Treme
Dani Petrousek – Gymnastic Academy of Rockford
Olivia Rapp – Universal Gymnasts Inc.
Kendall George – Buckeye Gymnastics
Brooke Conley – Gym Nasti
Delanie Harkness – Twistars USA Inc.
Anna Grace McCullough – Branch Gymnastics
7:36-7:48 – Deadspot (Opps sorry about that)
7:48 – JR B Breakdown
Alayna Karl – Naperville Gymnastics Club
Sarah Moraw – Champion Gymnastics USA
Sage Kellerman – All American Flames Gymnastix
Reese Samuelson – Gymnastic Academy of Rockford
Paige Thaxton – Michigan Academy of Gymnastics
Lily Clapper – Gym America
Mila Brusch – Cincinnati Gymnastics
10:50 – SR B
Andrea Li – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Sierra Brooks – Aspire Gymnastics Academy
JerQuavia Henderson – Gym Corner
Aria Brusch – Cincinnati Gymnastics
Hannah DeMers – Splitz Gymnastics
Kiara Gianfagna – Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
Suki Pfister – SET-10 Gymnastics
15:45 – JR C
Faith Torrez – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Gabriella Pierce – Naperville Gymnastics Club
Savannah Miller – Oakland Gymnastics Training Center
Madeline Kees – Energym Gymnastics
Olivia Bowsman – BIG Gymnastics Inc.
Emma Stoddard – Oakland Gymnastics Training Center
Avery Agema – Naperville Gymnastics Club
19:24 – SR C
Matilyn Waligora – Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Payton Murphy – Palmer’s Gymnastics Inc.
Gabryel Wilson – Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Olivia Amodei – Hunts Gymnastics Academy
Helen Hu – IK Gymnastics
Abigail Gaies – Michigan Academy of Gymnastics
Madeline Diab – Premier Gymnastics Academy
25:40 – JR D
Skyla Schulte – Phenom Gymnastics
Tory Vetter – Universal Gymnasts Inc.
Ella Cesario – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Jacey Vore – Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
Katya Sander – Perfection Gymnastics School
Elaina McGovern – Legacy Gymnastics
29:15– SR D
Leah Clapper – Gym America
Payton Richards – Aerial Gymnastics Club
Makarri Doggette – Buckeye Gymnastics
Rachel DeCavitch – Gymnastics World Inc.
Lauren Beckwith – Buckeye Gymnastics
Kai Rivers – Twistars USA Inc.
Jori Jackard – Twistars USA Inc.
37:20 – JR E
Erika Penamante – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
Makenzie Sedlacek – IGI Gymnastics
Haley Tyson – Phenom Gymnastics
Amelia Knotts – Gymnastic Training Center Rochester
Ella Chemotti – Euro Stars Gymnastics
Hannah Oliveros – IGI Gymnastics
Kaitlyn Grimes – BIG Gymnastics Inc.
43:48 – JR F
Gillian Rutz – Perfection Gymnastics School
Hannah Nam – Cincinnati Gymnastics
Tara Walsh – Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Cassidy O’Neill – Cincinnati Gymnastics
Cassandra Barbanente – Palmer’s Gymnastics Inc.
Gianna Gerdes – Gym X-Treme
Avery Balser – Buckeye Gymnastics
48:30 – SR E
Sarah Hargrove – Cincinnati Gymnastics
Anna Kaziska – Champion Gymnastics/All About Kids Sports Center
Sydney Jennings – Olympia Gymnastics Academy
Camryn Klein – DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics
Anna Haigis – Queen City Gymnastics/Kids First
Madison Ianuzzo – Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center
Taylor Newland – Universal Gymnasts Inc.
51:25 -SR F
Kaitlyn Higgins – Gymnastic Academy of Rockford
Ashley Hofelich – Oakland Gymnastics Training Center
Karalyn Roberts – Splitz Gymnastics
Nicole Borkowski – New Heights Gymnastics
Nicole Baars – Crystal Lake Gymnastics
Alyssa Wiedeman – Perfection Gymnastics School
Bridget Killian – Legacy Elite Gymnastics LLC
2018 Meet the Dream Team Videos, Top 10 Leo’s (1-5) Region 5 Championships Coverage page, Sights and Sounds of Level 9 Regionals, L9 Eastern Recaps, and Coverage from JO Nationals are all still to come
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Continuing with our coverage of the upcoming JO Nationals in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our next JO National Qualifier is a 1st time qualifier, from Euro Stars Gymnastics in Plymouth Michigan, Ella Chemotti. Ella is a very talented 2nd year Level 10 who excels all over the gym, but especially on the balance beam. Ella has won numerous titles on the balance beam including the 2017 & 2018 Michigan State Balance Beam Title. Ella, who caught my eye last year has really upped her game for this season and has improved and upgraded all over the gym. I knew that this year was going to be her year, and that she would definitely being earning her spot on the 2018 Region 5 Dream Team. Ella is a very young athlete who is already doing tremendous things, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her, she is definitely going to be one of the top athletes to keep an eye on in Region 5 for the next few years. As Ella and her coaches prepare for the JO Nationals in two weeks, lets get to know Ella a little better as she embarks on her 1st JO National Championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I started gymnastics when I was 3 years old. My sister was in gymnastics and I would try to do everything she was doing so my mom put me in it too.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is beam.
Favorite skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is my double layout off bars and my favorite skill to compete is my back handspring layout on beam.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a double lay full out off bars.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is the feeling I get after I have a great meet and meeting other gymnasts.
What college do you plan on attending? I am undecided on which college I am attending.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meets are fly meets because I like to travel.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishments in gymnastics so far has been winning level 9 regionals and qualifying to level 10 JO Nationals.
Who do you admire the most in he sport of gymnastics? The person I most admire in the sport of gymnastics is my coach, Anna Genrich.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite region 5 insider series is the OMG moments.
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What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go to song is “lose yourself”, by Eminem.
3 things you could not live without? The three things I could not live without are my baby blanket, my family and my phone.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? The animal I would choose to be is a dog because they get tons of love and attention and pretty much sleep all day.
5 Most Important or Must have items in your gym bag? My 5 most important items in my gym bag are my chapstick, my lucky elephant, my grips, my baby blanket and my lucky socks.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Some pre-meet rituals I have is that I eat spaghetti the night before every meet and I pick out what my coach is going to wear.
What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like to hang out with friends and organize.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing gymnastics meet moment is level 9 Nationals when I missed my springboard mount to the high bar.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a gymnast I’d like to try diving but I’d have to plug my nose when I hit the water.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? The athlete I respect the most is Maggie Nichols because she is an amazing gymnast and role model and always looks like she is having fun.
Most memorable gymnastics or JO Nationals moment? My most memorable gymnastics moment is winning vault, beam and All-around at level 9 Regionals.
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 “keep that fire!” No matter the good, bad, or amazing days to keep my spark of motivation, believe in myself and to do gymnastics for me.
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…….. I am terrified of needles and stink bugs.
One of my favorite aspects of the Region 5 Championships is checking out all of the new and old leotards from the competing teams. Each year I run around like a chicken with my head cut off getting pictures of all the fun, unique, stylish and fantastic leotards to put together the Annual Top 10 Favorite Region 5 Leotard List! This will be the 5th year for the list and I have to say to all the coaches out there in Region 5, GREAT JOB! you are making this decision INCREDIBLY hard year after year! I absolutely LOVE IT!
So, the moment everyone has been waiting for………..Drum Roll Please!….Here is my Top 10 Favorite Region 5 Leotard List numbers 10-6!
10. Splitz (MI 2nd Yr)
What I love about Splitz Leotard is that is it simple and elegant. I love the black body with the pop of color on the white and red ombre arms. This leo is certain an eye catcher when these athletes walk onto the competition floor, the best part is that they look great on everyone on the team.
9. Euro Stars (MI 1st Yr)
As soon as I saw the Euro Stars Leotard this year I was instantly in love. Last year they had an all blue leo, but I love how they added the pop of white on the top. This leo to me is so different that it stands out and makes you take notice. Euro Stars only has 1 level 10, but you can definite spot her on the competition floor. Not only is her gymnastics absolutely exquisite, but her leo certainly sets her apart form the other athletes on the floor. Another touch I like is the left shoulder and how they are paying tribute to late Peter G, whom passed a way tragically a few years ago.
8. Revolution (IN 1st Yr)
Revolution caught my eye not just because their leos are bright, flashy and definitely stand out but because they have two different leotards. Each gymnast choose which leotard she was going to wear for the competition and because they competed in two different sessions they each decided to wear a different one, I am sure glad they did too! Both leos absolutely stand out. I love the intricate designs and color patterns. There was not another leo like these two on the competition floor. It was hard to decide which one I actually liked better because they were evenly beautiful.
7. BIG (Ill 1st Yr)
BIG always has very interesting and different leotards. This one is so different from the stand out leo that they and last year. I love how they always add they name onto the piece in a unique way. From the front this leo is very elegant and looks like a fancy dress. The ombre blue is so pretty and simple, the jewels on the chest and the sweetheart neck really allow this leotard to stand out on the competition floor.
6. Aerial (IL 1st Yr)
Aerial has always had simple, but beautiful leos and this one is no exception. There is a classic simple elegance to this one. I love the royal blue color with just the right amount of jewels on the body that it is not overpowering and the gym name on the arms gives it a little something extra. Every athlete I saw from Aerial looked fantastic in this royal blue ombre number.Stay tuned for number 1-5 coming up next!
***Disclaimer…to be eligible for the Region 5 Insider Top 10 Favorite Leotard list, your Gym must have at least 1 athlete competing at the Region 5 Championships.***
Region 5 is always one of the strongest regions in USAG Gymnastics and 2018 will not be any different. This group of talented level 10’s are amongst the best our nation has to offer in terms of power, strength, grace and grit. Check the best of highlights from the 2018 Region Championships for level 10.
When it came to putting together the honorable mentions list, I asked some of my colleagues and my own athletes for their input on what leos they liked that didn’t happen to make the 1-10 list. Many of the honorable mentions are leotards that friends, colleagues and my athletes put on their own lists. The Honorable Mentions are in no particular, but I will be giving descriptions for each leo.
