Home Blog Page 213

20 Questions with Twistars Senior Brooke Hylek

By
Kim Dowis
-
0

Our next 20 Questions athlete is Twistars Senior Brooke Hylek. Brooke, who will be joining the Eastern Michigan University Gymnastics Team in the fall, is a beautiful athlete to watch on the competition floor especially on the Uneven Bars. In the gym and on the competition floor Brooke is a leader and strong support system for her teammates, whether she is competing alongside her level 10 team or holding bar mats. Brooke will definitely be missed next year all around the gym. However, she is not going to far, we will see her competing in the green & white for a former Twistars standout, Kate (Teft) Minasola, on the Eagles Gymnastics Team. Let’s get to know this amazing athlete and teammate a little better before she says goodbye to Twistars USA & Region 5 to embark on the next chapter of her life.


How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you?  I was 2 when my mom put me in gymnastics and we did a Mommy and Me class and then just stuck with it ever since.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is the Bars

Favorite Skill to train/compete? Double Front Dismount on Bars

Dream Skill? My dream skill is a Double Front Dismount or Shaposh on Bars

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of Gymnastics is getting to travel and meet new people.

What college do you plan on attending? I plan on attending Eastern Michigan University

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? I would say an meet we travel to because it is different and is always fun.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Getting a Full Ride Scholarship to Eastern Michigan University.

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics?  How amazing it is and everything you learn from it.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? Eye on 5

Enjoy our content help us out  

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? Pretty much anything to pump me up

3 Things you could not live without? My phone, My Mom and Lotion

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? A dog because after seeing the movie “A Dog’s Purpose” I think it would be so cool to experience that.

5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? Lotion, A Headband, Chapstick, Ibuprofen and an Extra Snack

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I have no pre-meet rituals.

What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I like to hang with my friends and family and just enjoy their company.

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Everyday when I ask Kathryn my random “question of the day”..those always end up being pretty embarrassing.

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would try either dance or softball because gymnastics is kind of like dance and I have been told I look like a dancer and Softball because my family is a very baseball oriented family.

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? Shawn Johnson because she is such an amazing role model and knows/knew how to handle herself very well in and out of gymnastics.

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? “I can see that you come into practice and want to get better and after a turn I can see the focus in your eyes. Never let anyone take that away from you. You are going to do great with Katie Teft.”

Bonus Question:   Tell me something interesting about yourself….
I have traveled out of the country for a competition.

Best of… Highlights from the 2018 Illinois Level 10 Championships

By
Jason MacDonald
-
0

 

Here is the Best Of Highlights from the 2018 Illinois Level 10 State Championships. This years state meet featured lots of big skills and combos making the upcoming Region 5 Championships a must watch.

2018 Michigan State Championships Coverage

By
Kim Dowis
-
0

Thank you to our official meet sponsor and the official state meet sponsor of Michigan Midwest Gym Supply

Championship Season has started! The Road to Nationals starts now…….

This weekend State Meets are taking place all over Region 5, Individual and Team State Champions are being crowned. The Level 7 & 8 athletes are trying to secure spots on their respective state teams for Region 5 Championships. Level 9 & 10 athletes are trying to get one step closer to their respective National Championships and graduating seniors are representing their home clubs one last time before entering the next chapter.

This year the Michigan Level 10 competition was split into 2 sessions (JrA/SrA & JrB/SrB), the amount of talent spread across these two sessions was incredible. In the individual competition there was certainly a fight for top honors, Michigan boasts numerous JO National All-Around Champions, JO National Team Champions, JO National Team Members, Individual Event National Champions, Region 5 All Star Team Members, Former Elites and the 2017 Nastia Liukin Cup Champion.


In the Team Competition, there was a changing of the guard,  Twistars USA has won the last 32 Michigan State Team Titles however today Olympia Gymnastics took top honors edging out their good friends by a little less than 1 point. The competition between all the teams was incredible today, but so was the sportsmanship and camaraderie, these athletes truly are friends and at the end of the day care so much about each other.

The next stop on the road to the 2018 JO National Championships is the Region 5 Championships, which will be held right here at Kellogg Arena in the Cereal Capital of the World. Athletes who obtained the 34.00 qualifying score at the state meet will move onto this regional competition, from there the top 7 in each age group (Jr/Sr A-F), from the 5 states that make up Region 5, will qualify onto the JO National Championships being held in Cincinnati, Ohio May 10th-13th. This is the premier event for every Level 10 athlete, it is truly an honor to represent Region 5 on the biggest Junior Olympic stage.

 

[wonderplugin_carousel id=”57″]

 

For full meet results Click Here

Level 10

[one-half-first]

Junior A

Vault

  1. Sidney Washington, Gym America 9.800 Video
  2. Nikki Smith, Oakland Gymnastics 9.650
  3. Sarah Moraw, Champion USA 9.600 Video

Bars

  1. Presleigh Buck, Twistars USA 9.525 (T) Video
  2. Savannah Miller, Oakland Gymnastics 9.525 (T) Video
  3. Kalyn Myers, Phoenix Gym 9.500

Beam

  1. Nikki Smith, Oakland Gymnastics 9.575 Video
  2. Kendall Abney, Twistars USA 9.550 (T) Video
  3. Kaia Tanskanen, MEGA 9.550 (T)

Floor

  1. Nikki Smith, Oakland Gymnastics 9.575 (T)  Video
  2. Sarah Moraw, Champion USA 9.575 (T) Video
  3. Alexia Xiromeritis, Twistars USA 9.525

All-Around

  1. Nikki Smith, Oakland Gymnastics 37.950
  2. Kendall Abney, Twistars USA 37.550
  3. Presleigh Buck, Twistars USA 37.200

.[/one-half-first]
[one-half]

Junior B

Vault

  1. Grace King, Olympia 9.725 Video
  2. Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars USA 9.600 Video
  3. Ella Chemotti, Euro Stars 9.500 Video

Bars

  1. Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars USA 9.675 Video
  2. Delanie Harkness, Twistars USA 9.625 Video
  3. Ella Chemotti, Euro Stars 9.600 Video

Beam

  1. Ella Chemotti, Euro Stars 9.575 Video
  2. Delanie Harkness, Twistars USA 9.550 Video
  3. Amelia Knotts, GTC-MI 9.525 Video

Floor

  1. Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars USA 9.650 Video
  2. Delanie Harkness, Twistars USA 9.500 Video
  3. Ella Chemotti, Euro Stars 9.475 Video

All-Around

  1. Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars USA 38.375
  2. Ella Chemotti, Euro Stars 38.150
  3. Delanie Harkness, Twistars USA 38.125

.[/one-half]

[one-half-first]

Senior A

Vault

  1. Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 9.850 Video
  2. Kai Rivers, Twistars USA 9.800 Video
  3. Hannah DeMers, Splitz 9.775

Bars

  1. Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 9.800
  2. Kai Rivers, Twistars USA 9.650 Video
  3. Matilyn Waligora, Olympia 9.575 Video

Beam

  1. Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 9.650 Video
  2. Matilyn Waligora, Olympia 9.625
  3. Hannah DeMers, Splitz 9.575 Video

Floor

  1. Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 9.875 Video
  2. Matilyn Waligora, Olympia 9.675 (T) Video
  3. Kai Rivers, Twistars USA 9.675 (T) Video

All-Around

  1. Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 39.175 Interview
  2. Matilyn Waligora, Olympia 38.600
  3. Olivia Amodei, Hunts 37.975

[/one-half-first]
[one-half]

Senior B

Vault

  1. Leah Clapper, Gym America 9.775 Video
  2. Mallory Mizuki, Olympia 9.650 Video
  3. Ashley Hofelich, Oakland 9.600 Video

Bars

  1. Natalie Hamp, Twistars USA 9.700
  2. Leah Clapper, Gym America 9.650 (T)
  3. Jori Jackard, Twistars USA 9.650 (T) Video

Beam

  1. Mallory Mizuki, Olympia 9.700
  2. Leah Clapper, Gym America 9.575 Video
  3. Sydney Jennings, Olympia 9.525 Video

Floor

  1. Mallory Mizuki, Olympia 9.675 Video
  2. Jori Jackard, Twistars USA 9.650 Video
  3. Ashley Hofelich, Oakland 9.550 Video

All-Around

  1. Mallory Mizuki, Olympia 38.625
  2. Leah Clapper, Gym America 37.900 (T)
  3. Ashley Hofelich, Oakland 37.900 (T)

[/one-half]

Team

  1. Olympia Gymnastics 116.425
  2. Twistars USA 115.525
  3. Oakland Gymnastics 114.00

Graduating Seniors


Alyssa Keller (All American Flames), Brianna Sting (Bay Valley Academy), Emily Carless (Branch), Livia Walberer (Champion USA), Sydney Schocker (Extreme), Asia Rose DuVernay (Twistars USA), Brooke Hylek (Twistars USA), Leah Clapper (Gym America), Alaina Kosto (Hunt’s), Sammy Gouge (Midland), Rylie Johnstone (Midland), Ashley Hofelich (Oakland), Monica Iyer (Oakland), Sydney Jennings (Olympia), Mallory Mizuki (Olympia), Abigail Walsh (Olympia), Anna Crysler (Radiant Sportz), Jenna Nuler (Splitz), Karalyn Roberts (Splitz), Carissa Ludwig (Stars & Stripes), Holly Basile (GTC).

 

 

 

20 Questions with Palmer’s Cassandra Barbanente

By
Kim Dowis
-
0

Our next 20 Questions athlete is Palmers Gymnastics Level 10 Cassandra Barbanente. Cassi, who is a sophomore in high school, is a beautifully powerful gymnast who exudes strong long, sharp lines in her gymnastics. I truly first noticed this athlete at the 2017 Region 5 Championships, it was her powerful vault that caught my eye, I knew this young lady was something special and that we would see her at the JO Nationals. Well, I was correct, Cassi qualified, along with her teammate, to her first JO National Championships. Not only did she qualify, but she contributed in a big way with hit routines, helping her Junior C finish atop the podium as National Team Champions (as did her teammate). Cassi, is a talented young athlete with a few more years ahead of her and a few more years to represent Region 5. Let’s get to know Cassi a little better as she heads into Championship season with Region 5 Championships in just over two weeks. Good Luck to Cassi as she tries to make her 2nd JO National Championships.


How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I started when I was three at the local park district because my mom wanted me to release some energy!

What is your Favorite Event? My favorite event varies a lot but usually, I would say vault is my favorite.

Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to compete is my double layout on bars. I also enjoy training my double lay full outs.

Dream Skill? My dream skill is a yurchenko double full.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is learning a new skill and finally getting it for the first time.

 

What college do you plan on attending? I would like to attend a Division 1 collegewith solid academics and great school spirit. I don’t know exactly where yet but will hopefully figure that out in the near future.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? My favorite meet to compete at is Circle of Stars because the competition is always very good and I enjoy being in Indianapolis.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment is being able to compete as a level 10 and especially being able to compete at JO Nationals last season. It was an amazing experience!

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I most admire my coaches (and all coaches) who show complete dedication and come to the gym everyday to help me see the gymnast I can become and not just the gymnast I am today.

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series?  I enjoy all of the region 5 videos but my favorites lately have been the videos from the Gymnasts View.

Enjoy our content help us out  

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? go with whatever I’m feeling that day. Usually an upbeat spotify playlist is exactly what I need.

3 Things you could not live without? I couldn’t live without my family, myheadphones, and my Joshua Tree for my hands.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? I would love to be a bird because I could see the world from above.

5 Most important or must have items in your gym bag? I need my Gatorade chews, my grip bag, my headphones, water, and tape.

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I never like to look into my grip bag before a meet. I never have and I probably never will.

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? I like to ski, I like to play sports and spend time with my family and friends.

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? When I was a level 4 and had to run to the bathroom in the middle of bars. I was screaming in the bathroom because I thought I saw a spider. I got a lot of embarrassing attention!

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would probably do softball or skiing because I have tried both and enjoy them very much.

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I have a lot respect for Chicago Cub, Anthony Rizzo. He spent many years struggling with his sport and his health. He had Hodgkins Lymphoma early in his career and did not let it get in the way of his baseball dreams and he helped lead the Cubs to a World Series title. His story and the foundation he built is an inspiration and the way he gives back to children battling cancer is nothing short of amazing.

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? You need to make sacrifices to succeed.

 

Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself……….I adore white sand beaches including playing countless hours of beach volleyball with friends. I also love Italian cooking because both of my grandmas are born in Italy and love to feed their grandkids!

Senior Saturday: Lauren Volpe, Libertyville | Self Motivated, Helpful and Happy

By
Jason MacDonald
-
0

This Senior Saturday features Libertyville (LGA) Level 10 Lauren Volpe. Lauren talks about how LGA has been a positive influence in her life and has help to develop into the person she is today. Her senior year has been one of her best and is looking to finish her JO career with a strong championship season. Lauren prides herself on being a helpful and happy person in all aspects of her life.

1...212213214...300Page 213 of 300
The Region 5 Gym Insider is a media platform designed specifically for the USA Gymnastics Region 5 Gymnastics Community. The R5 Gym Insider is a media outlet created to showcase and promote our current Region 5 athletes (Elite and JO) as well as former athletes competing in college.
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
© 2021 Region 5 Gym Insider