Flip “E” Tumbling Montage from our 2018 Region 5 Dream Team at 2018 JO Nationals
2018 Eastern National AA Champion Q&A: Ava Molina(CGA)
The 2017-2018 Meet Season has come to an end. In May, the east half of the country gathered together for the Level 9 Eastern National Championship. Region 5 Insider was unable to attend the Level 9 Easterns, but we definitely felt like we were there with the amount of pictures, posts and text messages we received from those who were there. A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all the Region 5 coaches, parents & athletes who helped of cover this competition from a far. This year Region 5 had 7 AA champions, 6 team champions and numerous individual champions. We would like to highlight the young athletes who were named 2018 Level 9 Eastern National Champions. Please check out our printed interviews & photos of the AA Champions, we will be posting each one throughout the week.
Our first Level 9 Eastern National All-Around Champion is Junior 5 Ava Molina of CGA in Ohio presented by A-1 Awards.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! How does it feel to be the 2018 National Jr 5 Bars, Beam, & All Around Champion?
It makes me feel super excited. Winning a gold medal at Nationals has been a goal of 
mine all season. Even though I knew I believed in myself and in my training, I still can’t believe it happened!
Tell us how your meet went today? Walk us through each moment of your day, warm ups, events etc….
I thought my meet went really well! During general warm-up and stretch I think our team got really pumped up and ready to go. We started on floor, flight A which is a strong event for me. Floor warm-ups went great and I was confident and ready to go for my floor routine! The routine itself was very good; my first pass (a double back) had great amplitude! It was so high I even stumbled back a li
ttle bit, but I recovered and had a great finish to my routine. Next, we went to vault. Vault went really well for me. The two vaults I competed were great! After that, we went to bars. Bar warm-up was a little hectic because we all had different coaches with different bar settings, which takes time to adjust in between each gymnast. This was different for me because when I compete with my team from CGA, we all have similar bar settings. However, after warm-ups, we calmed down and had a great bar rotation! The bar routine I competed was a very good routine for me. My last event was beam. Beam is a good event for me to end on because it also is one of my stronger events! During warm-up on beam I stayed very calm and just did my normal. For my competition routine on beam, I felt very confident. I told myself to just be normal and I was. I had a great routine and was so excited when I finished
What do you normally do between events to stay focused and ready for the next event?
To stay focused between events, I usually go through my mental choreography for the next event. This not only helps me to stay focused, but it also helps me to calm down and prepare myself for the next event.
Tell us about the atmosphere of the meet compared to regular season meets you have been too.
The atmosphere at Eastern’s was definitely different then regular season meets I have competed in. I think everyone in Region 5 came in with a goal to be the winning region.
Enjoy our content help us out 
What is it like being part of Region 5 at Eastern Nationals?
Being a part of Region 5 at Eastern Nationals is definitely very fun! I think Region 5 finds a way to make you focused during the meet while still being able to enjoy the experience. For example, before every event we picked a really funny cheer to say before we competed. Doing those cheers helped everyone to calm down and do their best and it also helped us to just laugh and have a good time!
How has your experience been here at Nationals? What have you been doing besides competing?
My experience at Eastern Nationals has been great because not only did I have a great meet, I ended up winning bars, beam, and all around. That made it a great experience because being able to win at least one gold medal at Eastern Nationals has been a goal of mine since the beginning of the competition season.
When the meet is over what is or what was the first thing you did to celebrate your win?
After Eastern Nationals, my family took advantage of being in that part of the country and went to Niagara Falls!
Other than becoming National Champion, what was one highlight of the meet for you today?
A highlight for me was being able to have a great last meet with my coach Whitney 
Snowden. She was my very first coach when I started gymnastics classes 7 years ago, so I’m going to miss her.
Anything crazy or funny happen during your meet today?
On my first bar warm up turn, the tensions weren’t tightened, so the bars were a lot more loose than normal. That warm up turn went fine, but it gave me a sense of urgency to make the rest of my warm ups count even more.
How does Region 5 compare to the other Regions out on the competition Floor? What sets Region 5 apart?
Region 5 looks great out on the competition floor. I think our team unity mindset really sets us apart from other regions.
Who inspired you the most today? What did they say to you? How did you get amped up and motivated today?
My family inspired me the most today. They told me to do my best before I walked onto the competition floor. To get amped up and motivated, I wrote down some of my goals in a journal right before the meet
Ava Molina was also part of the Junior 5 National Champion Team as well as picking up National Titles on the Bars and Balance Beam.
R5 Insider Podcast #2: Nationals Breakdown, History is Matched
Nationals Breakdown, History is Matched, New Skill in the Code
On this episode we breakdown the 2018 Level 9 Eastern and JO National Championships. How Region 5 did and some behind the scenes action that you might now have seen. There was a history matching performance of dominance at this years JO Nationals for one of our region 5 athletes and one athlete will have their name in the code of points. We talk about all that, the 2018 Region 5 All Star Team is announced and more.
Enjoy our content help us out
Thank you to all our current Patreon contributors for your continued support
Thank you to our sponsors
Episode #2 Show Notes:
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter
2:06 – Recap 2018 Level 9 Eastern Championships
3:06 – Claudia from GymAmerica provides media from Easterns!
3:30 – Amount of Region V All-Around Champions spread out from different gyms. Some favorite and some breakouts. 7 Region V All Around Champions
4:01 – Ava Molina – CGA – JR 5 All-Around Champion
4:20 – Laci Keck – Gymnastics Unlimited – JR 6 All Around Champion
5:07 – Maleah Crowley – Legacy Elite – J7 All Around Champion
5:27 – Jenna Olshefski – UGI – JR4 All Around Champion
5:50 -Lane Rodocker – Stars & Stripes – SR 3 All Around Champion
6:11 – Legacy Elite SR 5 All Around Champion
6:26 – MAG – SR 7 All Around Champion
7:10 – Rachel Rybacki – Olympia Bars & Beam Champion
7:45 – Level 9 Easterns New Code Skill
Briar Burden – Waters Edge – New Dismount video
10:50 – Infinity Gymnastics closes between Regionals and Easterns but Maddie Rydel still trained and competed thanks to her amazing coaches and parents!
15:02 – 2018 JO National Championships Recap – Exciting, Emotionally and physically draining
15:22 – Coaching a Senior at JO’s – Anna Kaziska – SR E
Wrong Music, 1st up on Floor at Nationals and Floor
17:30 – Region V Success – winning 5 age groups. 4 National All-Around Champions. Region V places 3rd?
18:10 – JR A Recap – Taylor’s Toughness – Broken Nose
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
23:08 SR A Recap
Brooke Conley – Gym Nasti hurts ankle in training and warm-ups up floor and pulls out right before march out Alyssa Parlich alternate gets put in last minute!
Emma Pritchard – Gym X-Treme
Dani Petrousek – Gymnastic Academy of Rockford
Olivia Rapp – Universal Gymnasts Inc.
Kendall George – Buckeye Gymnastics
Delanie Harkness – Twistars USA Inc.
Anna Grace McCullough – Branch Gymnastics
25:07 – Haylee Bryant Vault- video
26:00 – Carly Bowman Bars- video
27:20 – Quotes from SR A!
28:20 JR B Recap – Alayna Karl pulls out Nicki Smith Oakland steps up!
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
29:14 – Reese Samuelson – Nails bar routine – Coaches Wired – Melinda – All American Flames
30:15 SR B Recap – Andi Li – Flashbacks on Bars – First Team Win of weekend
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
33:15 – Hannah DeMers – Last event on Bars
35:00 – JR C Recap
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
35:37 – Faith Torrez All Around Champion
37:42 – Faith Torrez Vault Discussion – Scoring
39:50 – SR C Recap – Gabby Wilson – All Around Champion
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
40:20 – Helen Hu – Best Bar routine of weekend – Post Routine
42:05 – Gabby Wilson Feedback from Beam – Smile when nervous!
45:10 – Helen Hu unveils new vault
48:47 – JR D Recap – Lots of Energy and lead off on a 7 for 7 hit on beam. Won Team Title
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
52:30 – Elaine McGovern rocks her first JO Nationals
53:30 – SR D Recap – SEC Age group! Team Champions!
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.
56:00 – Top 3 Finishers for Region V – Payton Richards, Kai Rivers & Makarri Doggette
57:20 – Makarri Doggette – Sweeps everything for 2nd time at JO Nationals (2009 was the first)
59:30 – Natalie Hamp Twistars – Alternate Shout Out – Helped out Region V Insider
1:00:20 – JR E Recap – Stacked Team – Team Champions!
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.
1:04:25 – Coaches wired with Kat!
1:05:17 – SR E Recap –
Anna Haggis injured on warm-up and Azaria Bradley from Gymnasti steps in
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.
1:08:00 – Training Day Setback for Anna Kaziska
1:11:25 – JR F Recap – Gianna pulls out due to foot issue.
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
1:16:00 – SR F Recap
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
1:23:20 – Judging Observations
Judging Panel Line Up
Scoring difference between Flight A and Flight B and Gym A & Gym B
Rewarding difficulty
1:29:40 – Final Standouts
2018 Region 5 JO National Event Champions
Region 5 grabbed 5 age group national titles, 4 all around championships and 14 individual event titles. Eight different Region 5 athletes won titles with bars and beam being our most dominate event in terms of titles with 8 of the 14 coming on these two events. Here is a look at all 14 national champion routines by age group.
Junior A-
Sydney Jelen of Legacy Elite nailed a 9.6 in the first rotation of the junior a session for the national bar title.
Junior C-
Faith Torrez of Legacy Elite stole the show in this age group by grabbing the all around win. However she was the best of the group on bars (9.6) and an awesome beam set (9.725)
Junior E-
Erika Penamante of Legacy Elite makes her balance beam routine look effortless and claimed the national title with a 9.625.
Haley Tyson of Phenom was solid on all her tumbling passes and stole the show on floor with a 9.6.
Senior B-
Andrea Li claimed her first JO National all around title while scooping up two individual titles as well. Her bar routine was not just the best for the senior b’s but for all bar routines at nationals with this 9.8 routine.
Her floor is always beautiful to watch and secure on her landing positions in her tumbling passes. Here score of 9.725 ranked as one of the top floor routines at JO nationals as well.
Senior C-
Gabby Wilson was solid on all four events to walk away with her 2nd JO National all around title. She watered back (if you can call it that) her double layout to a full twisting double back and tumbled to the national floor title with this 9.725.
Helen Hu from IK had an awesome all around competition finishing 2nd to Gabby and claimed two national titles in the process. She is know for her unique routine construction and these two routines are no exception. She won bars with a 9.75 and beam with 9.775
Senior D-
Makarri Doggette made history by being only the second gymnast ever to win all four events and the all around at JO Nationals. She was just on fire at nationals this year and scored the highest all around score of the meet with a 38.9. Here are all four of her championship routines. Vault 9.85 | Bars 9.75 | Beam 9.625 | Floor 9.7
Congrats to all these amazing champions. It’s a huge achievement to win a title at JO Nationals let alone be some of the best performance of the entire championships. These 14 routines truly were very impressive and exciting to watch.
20 Questions with JO National Qualifier Hannah Oliveros (IGI)
Our next athlete is 2x JO National Qualifier Hannah Oliveros of IGI. Hannah, who competed in the Junior E age group, was part of the 2018 National Champion Team. As an individual Hannah finished 5th in the All-Around as well as 3rd on the Bars and 2nd on the Balance Beam. Hannah, and her teammate Makenzie will were both part of the Championships Team, will be featured in our JO Nationals Coaches Wired coming up here soon with their IGI Coach Kat. Hannah, who will be heading to The Ohio State when she graduated High School (2024), is a beautiful athlete to watch, who has high difficulty all over the gym as well as fantastic lines and a huge personality! Hannah was all smiles at the JO Nationals Championships and it was extremely fun to be part of the Region 5 Junior E Age Group on the floor. Certainly a talented group of young ladies, who will be the ones to watch for years to come. Lets get to know Hannah a bit better as she heads into the summer training season and prepares for another year of Level 10 Gymnastics and the road to another National Championship.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? When I was 5, a coach saw me do a pull over at an open gym and asked if I was on team. When I said no, she suggested I try it out 🙂
What is your favorite event? It’s a tie between floor and beam.
Favorite Skill to train/compete?I like to train front aerials connected to different jumps on beam, and my favorite skill to compete is a yurchenko full.
Dream Skill?Ithink it’d be really cool to have a double lay on floor.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? Cheering really loudly across the gym for my teammates is my favorite!
What college do you plan on attending? The Ohio State University
What is your favorite meet to compete at? Why? I LOVE competing at Chicago Style – it’s our home meet, it’s at the Pier, and it’s super fun to help out too.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Winning vault, beam, and all-around at this year’s state was really big for me – especially vault. I remember at level 4 state, the gymnast before me got a 10.0 on vault… my coach told me to do the same thing… I got an 8.4. Let’s just say vault has never really been my strongest event.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? Can I pick two people? They are both my teammates: Torie Stotz and Makie Sedlacek.
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series?The year’s “Best of…” series
Enjoy our content help us out
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I listen to anything upbeat.
Family, friends, and food (especially ice cream)!
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why?I would totally be a giant panda because they eat for up to 14 hours a day & when they’re not eating, they’re napping! Isn’t that great?! I wish I was a giant panda.
5 Most Important or Must have Items in your gym bag? Mygrips, tiger paws, tape, pre wrap, and tigger keychain that my friend gave me.
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Makie and I watch a movie and then listen to the Greatest Showman while we get ready.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I like going to the beach, visiting my family in Canada, painting, and hanging out with my friends & family.
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? At Nationals last year, I forgot my floor routine after my first pass (good thing it wasn’t too noticeable though).
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I’ve always wanted to do volleyball.
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? Paralympic athletes – it is so inspiring to watch these athletes because they don’t let obstacles get in the way of what they love to do.
Most Memorable Gymnastics or JO Nationals Moment? Most memorable JO Nationals moment was hearing my region 5 teammates cheering for me at the top of their lungs before my last pass on floor – it was so much fun!
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? “You have fought for this moment every day; you have fought to be here and you deserve to be here. Fight for what you want! God called us to be strong and courageous. Don’t give up, don’t give in. Let’s go to war.”
Bonus Questi
on: Tell me something interesting about yourself….
My right eyelashes are longer than my left… this was the bonus side effect of one of the eye drops that I needed after a football hit me straight in the eye, which put me in the ER and on bed rest for a week until the blood in my eye was reabsorbed. Fun stuff.
