Our next All Star Team Member is JerQuavia “Q” Henderson of Gym Corner Gymnastics in Illinois. Q, as she is known around her gym and to her friends, has made a huge impact on Region 5 gymnastics in her JO National debut! JerQuavia  brought a lot of recognition to her gym this season being their 1st JO National Champion earning the 2017 Vault Title. Q also has earned Gym Corners their first spot on the Region 5 All Star Team as well as helped lead her coaches to the Region 5 Horizon Award, for all their handwork and successes in 2017. JerQuavia has a few more years left with us here in Region 5 to continue to make an impact on not only her Gym Corners program, but Region 5 Gymnastics as well. Lets get to JerQuavia Henderson a little bit better as she gets ready for her 1st All Star Team Trip and the upcoming 2017-2018 Competition season. JerQuavia, is a huge talent and we here at Region 5 Insider cannot wait to see what Q’s last two years of JO gymnastics hold.

How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? My dad and I took a family friend to practice and after watching the girls, I knew I wanted to be a gymnast. I was 5 years old

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is vault

Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train is my roundoff double full dismount for beam

Dream Skill?  My dream skill is the Yurchenko 2 1/2 (Amanar)

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite parti f gymnastics is the adrenaline rush you get when you salute the judges or when your floor music starts

What college do you plan on attending? I plan on attending the University of Iowa

What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is Chicago Style

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment so far in gymnastics is committing to a college for gymnastics

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Kerri Strug

What is your favorite Region 5 Insider feature or series? I like to watch the Eye on 5 videos

What is your go to playlist or song before meets? I listen to the song “Remember the name” by Fort Minor

If you were trapped on a deserted island what 3 things would you bring with you and why? I would bring one other person to keep me company, a blanket for the cold nights and a genie in a bottle so I can make three more wishes

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be an Ostrich, because everyone is afraid to mess with them. They are unpredictable, can run fast and are beautiful

Who is your favorite superhero? My favorite superhero is Superman

Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? Before each event I separate myself form the crowd and stand on one foot with my eyes closed. I use it as self reassurance that I am in complete control over my body

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like to learn different languages and listen to music

Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing meet moment is that all through level 4 I forgot my beam routine

If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I weren’t a gymnast, I would try Soccer

Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect Cristiano Ronaldo because even though he is a good player, he humbles himself after he makes a goal. He is also a great leader

What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom you coach has given you? The most valuable piece of wisdom my coach has given me was “Mind over Matter”

Bonus Questions: Tell me something interesting about yourself…… Something interesting about me is that no one else in the world has the name JerQuavia! I am one of a kind!

Check out JerQuavia’s  National Championship Winning Vault from the 2017 JO Nationals held in Indianapolis, Indiana