Dianne Durham talked to the Insider just after her HOF speech at the 2017 Region 5 Honors Banquet. Dianne paved the path for the future being the first African American gymnast to make the national team and become national champion. She talks about what her career and what sport has meant to her and how this is just icing on the cake.
Dianne’s Full HOF Speech (Click Here)
2017 All Star Team Member Sarah Hargrove of Cincinnati Gymnastics, has had a fantastic gymnastics career thus far with one more year left to go in Region 5. Sarah, who recently won her 2nd Yahtzee Award finished off a stellar 2017 season having qualified to another JO Nationals, earned All Star Team Honors and now will embark on a memorable Region 5 All Star Team Trip to Montreal Canada in October. Sarah is a fantastic talent and always a joy to watch on the gymnastics floor. One of my favorite aspects of Sarah’s gymnastics is her flexibility and
creativity, she has one of the most mind blowing beam mounts I have ever seen! Each time I saw it I just had to post it, there is just something about it that captivates you. No wonder she won the “Most Interesting Beam Mount”Yahtzee Award this year. Hargrove is definitely one who will be missed next fall when she joins the Nebraska CornHuskers Gymnastics Team, but until then we have one last season with this Region 5 standout. Let’s get to know this All Star Team Member a little better as she embarks on her 2nd All Star Team Trip and her final season with not only Region 5, but CGA as well.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I have two older brothers and I wanted a sport totally different from their sports. I was four years old when I started.
What is your favorite event? My favorite event is Beam
Favorite Skill to train/compete? My favorite skill to train or compete is my front aerial
Dream Skill? Double layout on floor
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is learning new skills
What college do you plan on attending? University of Nebraska
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is Nationals
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far is earning a full scholarship to Nebraska
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire Carly Patterson because ever since I was little I always looked up to her
What is your favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series? My favorite Region 5 Insider Feature or Series is the All Access workouts
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go-to playlist or song before meets is pump up music
If you were trapped on a deserted island what 3 things would you take and why? If I was trapped on a deserted island I would take, 1) Food so I wouldn’t be hungry 2) Blanket for something to sleep on or cover up with 3) Gum because I ALWAYS chew gum
If you could be any animal, what animal would you be and why? If I could be any animal I would be a tiger because they are strong and powerful
Who is your favorite superhero? Wonder Woman is my favorite superhero
Do you have any pre-meet rituals or superstitions? I Spray my leo 32 times with perfume and always use my lucky hairbands.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Outside of gymnastics I like to hang out with my friends
Most embarrassing meet moment or gymnastics moment? My most embarrassing moments was when I fell on my beam mount in level 9
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? If I wasn’t a gymnast I would try Volleyball
Which athletes (any sport) do you respect the most and why? I respect all athletes who train hard everyday and give full effort
What is the most valuable piece of advice or wisdom your coach has given you? One of the most valuable pieces of advice or wisdom my coach has given me is not to take corrections personally
Bonus Question: Tell me something interesting about yourself… I’m originally from North Carolina. Moved to Ohio to train at CGA.
Check out Sarah Hargrove through the years!
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Region 5 is Making their Move into 2018. 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 and tag us @region5gyminsider.
Legacy Gymnastics, KY: Upgrades from the Level 10’s
Avery Grant, Bay Valley: New Jaeger on Pit Bar
Pixie Brock, Buckeye Gymnastics: Double Layout on floor
Mallory Reyes , Buckeye: Layout Layout flight series
Kara Welsh, Aspire Gymnastics: Full in on floor
Nikki Beckwith, Buckeye: A bag full of upgrades since US Classic
This past weekend was the 2017 Region 5 Banquet, many great athletes and coaches from Region 5’s past and present were honored.
Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches and Hall of Fame Inductees. Great Job & a great big THANK YOU to all the hard working Region 5 Committee members, volunteers and everyone who helped make this weekend and night a success!
If you missed this wonderful event, please check out some photos below and check out all our social media sites for videos, coverage and to the hear the speeches from the Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
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2017 Hall of Fame Induction Speeches
JO Athletes of the Year:
Kai Rivers, Twistars; Makarri Doggette, Buckeye; Mati Waligora, Olympia; Nia Dennis, Legacy Elite (Video)
JO Club of the Year: Legacy Elite (Video)
Elite Athlete of the Year: Emily Gaskins, Cincinnati (Video)
Elite Coach of the Year: Mary Lee Tracy, Cincinnati (Video)
Elite Ambassador Team:
Emily Gaskins, Cincinnati; Lilly Lippeatt, Cincinnati; Shania Adams, Buckeye; Leah Clapper, Gym America
Contributor of the Year: Lori Koch, Olympia Region 5 Training Camp Chairman (Video)
Horizon Award: Gym Corner, IL (Video)
And the Winners are………
We have come to the end of our 2017 Yahtzee Awards Voting, we are proud to introduce the newest Yahtzee Award Winners!!
Most Unique Vault
Best Bar Combo
Huge Air
Most Interesting Beam Mount
Most Unique Beam Series
Best Music
Best Choreography
Most Entertaining
Best Performance
Best Form
Best Stick
Most Powerful
Best Pre-Routine Handshake
Team Spirit
DeVeau’s (IN)
Most Memorable Meet Moment
Paige Kovnesky-New Heights (OH) Leadership at JO Nationals
Coaching Moment
Congratulations to all our 2017 Yahtzee Award Winners! Awards will be mailed to your gyms this week! Take a picture with your Yahtzee trophy and post on social media with #yahtzeeawards2017 and tag @region5gyminsider.
