Hallie Horbacher, Bay Valley put on the GoPro this episode of GymnastEye. See what it’s like from Hallie perspective during her first half of her bar routine.
TOP 5 From Region 5 At US Classic
Region 5 had some solid standout performances at this past weekends US Classic. Here are the routines that all finished in the Top 5 on their respective event.
Click here for Region 5 2017 US Classic Coverage page
Shilese Jones, Buckeye 13.35 Floor (Junior Competition) (4th Place)
video:USA Gymnastics
Ellie Lazzari, GymNasti 14.45 Vault (Junior Competition) (5th Place)
video:USA Gymnastics
Gabby Perea, Legacy Elite 14.5 Bars (Junior Competition/Senior Session) (1st Place)
video:USA Gymnastics
Shania Adams, Buckeye 13.7 Beam (Senior Competition) (5th Place)
video: USA Gymnastics
Emily Gaskins, Cincinnati 13.5 Floor (Senior Competition) (3rd Place)
video:USA Gymnastics
21 Questions with Coaching Legend Mary Lee Tracy
In the sport of gymnastics Mary Lee Tracy has done it all! Mary Lee, who has been a mainstay on the Elite scene for over 2 decades, has coached TOPs athletes, JO National Champions, Elite National Champions, World Champions and Olympic Champions. However, her greatest joy in life is staying home with her grandbabies. In the sport of gymnastics Mary Lee is an absolute legend! For me she has been one of my greatest role models. As a kid I looked up to her athletes Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps, but as a coach I have always found Mary Lee to be a great mentor an inspiration, implementing many of her training technique
s into my own lesson plans. One of the most wonderful things about Mary Lee is her approachability and her willingness to help others. As a graduate student Mary Lee helped me with my thesis paper, immediately responding to my numerous emails and questions, she is very good about getting back to you when you send out an email, this is something that I admire about her. There are so many good things I can say about this wonderful human being, but I will let you get to know her a little better as she prepares her Elites for the next step in the Elite Season, the P&G Championships. CGA will have 2 athletes competing representing not only CGA, but Region 5 as well.
Where are you from? Where did you attend college? Cincinnati / University of Cincinnati
How and when did you first get involved in the sport of gymnastics? My first 
part time job in high school
Greatest achievement as coach? 96 Gold Medal Olympic Team
What made you want to become a gymnastics coach? How did you get started in coaching? I was a cheerleader who needed to tumble and that is when I started working at the gym I now own.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? 
Inspiring belief in athletes to reach beyond the possible. Helping prepare young women for life!
What was your favorite meet to coach at? Competing is not my favorite part of coaching but my favorite memories were at JO Nationals being a part of Region 5!
Most memorable gymnastics moments in coaching career? The 
96 Olympics with Amanda and Jaycie / American Cup with Jennie Thompson / Pan Am Games with Morgan White / Olympic Trials Amelia Hundley
Most embarrassing gymnastics coaching moment? My first Jo Nationals not knowing you needed 2 vaults (many 
years ago)
Funniest thing one of your gymnasts has said to you? I don’t know how to use a planner
Favorite Skill to teach? Root skills that lead to “The Big Skills”
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? As an athlete and now as 
a coach? Shannon Miller’s Work Ethic / Simone’s talent / The Strauss’ longevity
What is it like being part of Region 5? Proud to be a
part of a region that shares information, works together and aspires greatness and excellence!
What is the hardest part of being a coach? Injuries
What is the most rewarding part of coaching? When your athletes come back and 
coach for you or just visit! Also when former athletes start their own gyms!
What is your favorite Region 5 Gym Insider Feature? The coverage of the personal stories leading up to Nationals.
What do you like to do outside of gymnastics, when you get a day off or are not at the gym? Play with my daughter and grandbabies
What is your favorite place to travel? Staycations!!! Anguilla
What made you decide to open your own facility? An opportunity to take over a gym that was offered to me at 21 yrs old so I took it!
What is on your gymnastics bucket list? Retire with contentment before I am 80!
Favorite quote or words of wisdom: Work Pays Off / The mind is the strongest muscle in the body
Tell me something special or interesting about yourself………… I love training more than competing / I would rather stay home than travel
Making Moves Monday (July 31, 2017)
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.
Natalie Martin, Buckeye Gymnastics: Pike Jaeger
Amanda Gruber, Flying High: Full In
Kelsey Kollhoff, GymNation: Maloney Pac combo
Hannah Oliveros, IGI: 2 1/2 Punch Front
Hannah Scheible and Sage Kellerman, All American Flames: Full-In
Brookelyn Sears, TOPS: Double Back Dismount
2017 US Classic Region 5 Senior Recap
The senior session has concluded bringing a close to the 2017 US Classic. When all the chalk dust settled Region 5 had two in the top six of the all around. Cincinnati’s Emily Gaskins and Buckeye’s Shania Adams tied for 6th. Gaskins had a consistent day hitting all four events while Adams had a bit of a slip up on her bars dismount otherwise a solid day for both. Gabby Perea of Legacy Elite who competed in the senior session, won the junior uneven bar title. Leah Clapper had a rough go at it but will have the chance to redeem herself as all the seniors will be taking their talents to Anaheim for the 2017 P&G Championships three weeks from now.
Here are the top 6 AA finishers:
Full Results for Seniors: https://usagym.org/PDFs/Results/w_17classic_sr.pdf
Here is a full recap for all four rotations from our Region 5 seniors:
Leah Clapper of Gym America began her competition on balance beam and it was a shaky start with a fall on a straddle 1/2 and big wobble on switch 1/2 but pulled it together and finished with a good double pike (bit low on landing) for a 11.85. Shania Adams kicked off her competition on floor with a beautiful Memmel turn, and 2 1/2 front tuck but gave up some deductions with landings on her other tumbling passes for a 13.25. Cincinnati’s Emily Gaskins, who was last up on beam in rotation one, grabbed the crowd’s attention right from the start her back dive mount onto the beam. She was solid throughout the routine and finished with a stuck BHS combo to double back for a 13.3.
Clapper lead off rotation 2 on floor with a solid pike full in, a bit low on her double arabian stag jump but finished strong with 2 double backs for a 12.6. Adams hit her nice FTY for a 13.4. Gaskins like Adams opens floor routine with a beautiful Memmel turn before her powerful double layout. Her nice presentation and strong tumbling landed a score of 13.5 for the event.
Adams lead off rotation 3 on bars with beautiful connections including her Ricna Pac had both Stalder and Maloney 1/2’s but pulled in a bit on her dismount, seemed to get lost and opened out before finishing the last 1/2 and landed on her butt for 12.4. Gaskins hit a nice FTY on vault for a 13.5. Clapper also performed a FTY with close to a stuck landing for a 13.15.
Due to some magic luck of the draw, Shania was up first again in the 4th final rotation this time on the balance beam. She started her routine off with her double wolf turn a nice layout layout combo, a little wobbly on leap series, solid side somi and finished with 2 BHS to 2 1/2 that was slightly under twisted for a 13.7. Gaskins topped off her solid day with a well done bar hitting all her connections at the beginning of the set, right on with the 
Ricna, and finished off with a nearly stuck double layout for a 12.45. Gabby Perea, Legacy Elite, (junior competitor) finally got her chance to perform in front of her hometown crowd in the final rotation on her best event bars. She nailed her opening connections but broke the Ricna Pac salto connection and only finished with a layout flyaway to save the injured ankle scoring a 14.5. Clapper who is competing almost a completely new bar set this year missed her maloney 1/2 but finished strong with a full out small hop for a 11.45.
