Gabby Wilson talked to the Insider after her competition at the 2018 JPAC Midwest Showdown. Gabby talks about competing her double twisting Yurchenko again (took it out in 2017), the life changes she made in 2017, and Nastia Cup goals.
20 Questions with Twistars Delanie Harkness
Our next 20 questions athlete is Twistars Level 10 Delanie Harkness. Delanie, so far, has had an incredible club career having competed at the Elite level qualifying to the P&G Championships, becoming a JO National All-Around Champion as well as qualifying to numerous JO National Championships, and has represented Region 5 on the Region All-Star Team. On the competition floor Delanie is a huge presence with her infectious smile and high flying gymnastics. When Delanie hits bars its like watching poetry in motion. Delanie, who is a junior in high school, has a few more years left with us here in Region 5. Let’s get to know Delanie a little bit better as she makes her way towards postseason and the road to JO Nationals.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was 3 years old when I first started gymnastics. My preschool was connected to a gymnastics facility and my parents wanted me to give it a try.
What is your favorite event? My favorite even is bars
Favorite skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is a shaposh half, but my favorite skill to compete is a full out on bars.
Dream Skill? My dream skill is a full on full off on vault.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is the relationships i’ve built with my teammates.
What college do you plan on attending? I will be attending Michigan State University. Go Green!
What is your favorite met to compete at? I love to compete at JO nationals.
What is your biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is winning nationals in 2014 and earning a D1 scholarship.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Maggie Nichols the most.
What is your favorite Region 5 Feature or Series? I like watching the All-Star videos
Enjoy our content help us out 
What is your go to playlist or song before a meet? Before meets I always listen to “Fly” by Niki Minaj or “Bird set free” by Sia
If you were trapped on a deserted island what 3 things would you bring? I would bring my phone, water, and a comfy blanket
If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? I would be a sea turtle, because they get to swim in the ocean and lay on the beach!
Who is your favorite superhero? My favorite superhero would have to be Thor
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I usually just have to listen to music
What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? I like to hang out and go do things with my friends and family!
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing gymnastics moment would be anytime that I spazz doing a skill
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would like to try volleyball!
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I give wrestling a lot of respect because I feel like gymnastics and wrestling are kind of similar. For both sports you have to have so much dedication and lots of physical and mental strength.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach have given you? My coach Brett gave me this saying that I’ve always kept in mind. “good, better, best never let it rest make your good better and your better best.
20 Questions with JO National Qualifier Megan Teter (Gym World)
Our next 20 Questions athlete is Megan Teter of Gym World. Megan caught my eye last season with her high flying bars, entertaining beam and exceptional floor! Megan, who has competed at the JO Nationals has plans for college gymnastics on the future and more trips to the National Championships. Let’s get to know Megan a bit better as she makes her way towards post season and a run at qualifying to another National championships.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old 
were you? I first got into gymnastics when I was about 3 years old. My sister was receiving treatment for Perthes Disease (hip condition) and my mom would drag me to all of her appointments. There was a small gymnastics place across the street from the hospital, so my mom took me to the gym to keep me busy during my sisters visits. I ended up loving gymnastics and continued the sport from that point on.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is bars
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to do is a tkatchev on bars
Dream Skill? My dream skill would be to do a double layout on floor.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? The best part about gymnastics is all the things it teaches you. In gymnastics you learn goal setting, discipline, time management, how to be a team player/leader, and how to overcome fears. All of these lessons can be applied to real life
What college do you plan on attending? Ball State University
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? The Circle of Stars meet because I love going to Indianapolis
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? The biggest accomplishment for me is receiving a full athletic scholarship to Ball State
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire the amount of hard work and dedication that gymnasts put into this sport. It takes a lot of determination and perseverance in order to compete in high level gymnastics.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? I love watching the Region 5 bloopers at the end of each season
Enjoy our content help us out
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I always listen to rap or fast paced songs before meets to help pump me up.
3 Things you could not live without? Three things I couldn’t live without: 1.Family and friends 2. My cat 3. Peanut butter
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I was an animal, I would be a cat so that I could have more time to sleep, since that’s all cats do.
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? Things I carry in my gym bag at all times are: Ibuprofen, icy-hot, chap stick, grips, and a snack
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Yes! I always have to wear the same socks to every meet. Also I can never use the same hair ties/ bobby pins for my hair from a previous meet they have to be new.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? When I am not at the gym, I like to spend time with friends or watching Netflix. In the summer I enjoy going to pool and being outdoors after practice.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? Something embarrassing that I’ve done at a meet is when I was in level 4 I forgot the beam routine. My coaches tried to help me remember by doing the possess on the sidelines
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would like to try track or soccer. Also I would like to learn how to play a musical instrument like the piano
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I have a ton of respect for ice skaters. Like gymnastics their sport requires power and grace. Also they need an immense amount of strength and cardio to perform their routines with last several minutes.
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? One of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten from a coach would be: You can’t control how certain things happen, but you can control one thing, your attitude and how you react to a situation.
Tell me something interesting about yourself…. Something interesting about myself is that my favorite subject in school is science. I love biology, chemistry, and astronomy.
Breaking Down the Level 10 Balance Beam Routine with Sierra Brooks
2017 JO National Level 10 National Team Member Sierra Brooks of Aspire Gymnastics breaks down her beam routine and takes us through her skills and what she thinks about and does during each part of her routine. We also get a gymnast eye view of her 3 major skills in the routine.
Senior Saturday: Carina Tolan, UGA | Life Changing Experience
In this Senior Saturday we meet UGA Level 10 and 2017 JO National Qualifier Carina Tolan. Carina talks about her family at UGA and what her teammates and coaches have meant to her. She reflects on her experience representing Region 5 at the JO Nationals and what impact that experience had on her and her gymnastics. This sport has truely shaped Carina into the person she is today.
