JPAC All Access (June 5, 2018)
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20 Questions with JO National Qualifier Sage Kellerman (All American Flames)
Our next 20 Questions Feature Athlete is 1st Time JO National Qualifier Sage Kellerman of All American Flames in Port Huron, Michigan. Sage is a 2nd year level 10 who has made huge improvements all over the gym in the last year. What I like most about this athlete is her tenacity, 
determination, work ethic and her ability to have fun! On the competition floor you can usually catch Sage with a smile on her face, she is a great teammate and support system for those around her. It is always a joy to watch this athlete especially on vault and floor where she really excels. Sage is young, so she had many more years with us here in Region 5 and many a few more opportunities to qualify again to the JO National Championships. Lets get to know Sage a little better as she heads into the summer training season and prepares for another run at the Region 5 JO National Dream Team.
How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? I took my very first gymnastics class before I was 2 years old, but I only did a couple sessions. Then I took a 
break and when I was in preschool, I asked my parents if I could sign up for classes again. I was 4 at the time.
What is your favorite events? I honestly do not have a FAVORITE at this time. Each event is fun for me in a different way.
Favorite skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train/compete is my Jaeger.
Dream Skill? My dream skills is a Deltchev
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of the gymnastics is the team aspect, which is really important to me. I love the way we bond, challenge and encourage each other. The coaches, too, they keep things interesting as they help us become better people…not just gymnasts.
What college do you plan on attending? There are many colleges that I am interested in at this time. I think it would be fun to go to Oklahoma, LSU or Florida.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? I like Gymnastics on the Grand. It is the first meet of the season and it is where I get my bearings for the season ahead. I also love the event finals.
Biggest accomplishment in Gymnastics so far? Aside from qualifying for JO 
Nationals, one of my biggest accomplishments is having and “E” skill on Bars.
Who do you most admire in the sport of Gymnastics? I admire my coaches because they teach me everything.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I like the Live Stream so that we can watch our friends when we cannot be at their meets.
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What is your go to playlist or song before meets? An assortment of Christian Rap
3 Things you could not live without? 3 things I could not live without would be my family, sports and food.
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I was an animal I would be a Siberian Husky because they are fast, strong, loyal and have the best personalities.
5 Most important or must have items in your gym bag? The 5 most important or must have items in my gym bag would be 1. Hair Ties 2. Leotard 3. Deodorant 4. Snacks 5. Water
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? On the way to every meet, I stop at Starbucks for the “Pink Drink” and arrive at the meet early.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of Gymnastics I like to run 
track, play games with my family, play with my dogs and hang out with friends.
Most embarrassing meet moment or Gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing gymnastics moment happened when I was in first grade. I got out of the car at gymnastics practice, my mom warned me that it was slippery, but I thought it would be fun to dance on the ice to show her I wouldn’t fall and I ended up with a broken thumb from wiping out. I learned a lesson about disobedience.
If you weren’t a Gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would play volleyball and dedicate more time to track.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect any athlete tha
t stands up for what is right and works to impact the world in a positive way. I admire the way they inspire other athletes.
Most memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals moment? My most memorable gymnastics moment to date is making Level 10 JO Nationals for the first time.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given 
you? The most valuable advice my coaches have given me is to Never Give Up!
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself…….I am well know for asking “what’s for dinner?” Honey Walnut Shrimp from Panda Express sounds GREAT!
Photo Gallery: 2018 Region 5 Hi-Tech Coaches Seminar
Region 5 hosted its first Hi-Tech Coaches Seminar at Branch Gymnastics in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This event drew Level 8-10 coaches from throughout Region 5 to learn from some of the top coaches in the country. All clinicians, who are USA Gymnastics National Staff, have coached Elite Level Athletes. The clinicians brought some great education, drills and skill work to us here in Region 5. Hopefully, next year more coaches will be able to attend this educational opportunity.
Steve Hafeman (Twin City Twisters)-Vault
Vladimir Smirnov (Shooting Stars of Hickory)-Bars
Luminita Garcy (National Staff)-Beam
Bob Peterson (Desert Lights)-Tumbling
Joy Omenhofer (USA Trampoline National Staff)-Trampoline
Mary Lee Tracy (Cincinnati Gymnastics)-Organization & Planning Team Practice
Dr. Allison Arnold-Sports Psychology
Kim Sisto-Sports Medicine
Video highlights from the summit coming soon!
Check out our photo gallery below from the weekend
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Making Moves Monday (June 4, 2018)
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.
Meredith Donovan (GTC Indiana) New Double Back on Floor
Delaney Cienkus (Premier West) Whip 2 1/2 on floor
Gabi Stephen (Midwest Elite) Playing around with a Yurchenko Double Full
Cate Sandvik (IGI) New Shousanova , full twisting Tkatchev, on bars
Giada Taranto (Premier West) Double Back Dismount off Beam
Sage Kellerman (All American Flames) making a vault switch from handspring front to Yurchenko Full
American Flames Gymnastix are surely Making Moves into 2019. Check out this montage of upgrades.
2018 Level 9 Eastern Champion Q&A: Jenna Olshefski
Our next Level 9 Eastern National All-Around Champion is Junior 4 Champion Jenna Olshefski of Universal Gymnasts in Ohio presented by A-1 Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!How does it feel to be the 2018 National All Around and beam JR 4Champion?
Being all around and beam JR 4 champion is such a big accomplishment for me and feels amazing. This was always my goal and I achieved it which makes me feel good.
Tell us how your meet went today? Walk us through each moment of your day, warm ups, events etc….
Todays meet went really well for me. When I got to the arena I was nervous, but I knew I had already felt the equipment at practice the other day and could be confident in my gymnastics. When warm ups began I started to get so pumped looking around me and knowing that I had made it this far and seeing how organized and good Region 5 looks. The Jr 4 Dream Team came in knowing what they were doing which made me so excited because I knew I was going to have so much fun and do it for the team.
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What do you normally do between events to stay focused and ready for the next event?
In between events I try to stay focused by just putting previous events behind me. In this particular meet, I started on vault which is not my strong event. I just kept telling myself that I can have fun with these next events, the best is yet to come.
Tell us about the atmosphere of the meet compared to regular season meets you have been too.
Being my first year of level 9, the surroundings at Nationals is just amazing. It’s really neat seeing all the other regions working as a team to pull a win and hearing the names announced on floor was really cool too. This meet brought together the best of the best and it was time to shine.
What is it like being part of Region 5 at Eastern Nationals? (be descriptive)
Being a part of Region 5 at Nationals is such an amazing thing. Anyone in Region 5 and all the other regions know Region 5 has something special. Region 5 pumps us up so much and gets us ready to do amazing anywhere we go. Being a part of this team was so much fun. The cheers that coaches made up for us and dedication that was put towards our group is unbelievable. Being on the Region 5 team at Nationals is a lot of fun and lot less nerves.
How has your experience been here at Nationals? What have you been doing besides competing?
The whole experience of coming up with my teammate, practicing and going to the welcome party together was just so amazing. The experience at the meet, and leading up to it is something I will never forget. Focusing more on the meet, competition was a blast cheering for others and getting to know people throughout our region. It was fun getting to know my teammates that I will be seeing in the future and creating friendships. The day after competition my family and I went to Niagara Falls. When we got back home, I got my nails done because I can’t have them done during season and I am enjoying a few days off!
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When the meet is over what is or what was the first thing you did to celebrate your win?
The first thing I did to celebrate my win was go out to eat with my teammate, Caitlyn, who would be competing the next day. I got her amped up and ready for her big day!
Other than becoming National Champion, what was one highlight of the meet
for you today?
A highlight of my Nationals was honestly just taking in the whole experience and knowing I made it here, I wanted to do my absolute best and lay everything out there. No regrets!
Anything crazy or funny happen during your meet today?
This sounds pretty funny but I’m all about superstition so, the pins used on my number were my friend and teammates’ Tory Vetters’ from her Nastia cup win! That was pretty funny and made my confidence kick in more.
How does Region 5 compare to the other Regions out on the competition Floor? What sets Region 5 apart?
From the same warm up, to the same outfits, the tattoo, blinking glasses, team concept and good gymnastics, Region 5 is the place to be. Region 5 is set apart from the others because of how organized we are. During warm up, we were all in sync, doing the same warm up as a team and other regions didn’t have all the same warm up and extra accessories that makes Region 5 who we are.
Who inspired you the most today? What did they say to you? How did you get amped up and motivated today?
My coaches , Dave and Natalia amped me up the most because they told me how far I have come and that I can’t qualify to anything else after this meet so to look around and see my surroundings and mostly to enjoy this privilege of competing at Nationals with Region 5.
Jenna was also part of the National Champion Junior 4 Team as well as placing 1st on the Balance Beam.
