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2017 JO Nationals: Day 2 Recap

By
Kim Dowis
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0

Thats a wrap!

The 2017 Level 10 JO National Championships from Indianapolis Indiana is now over! Team Champions, All-Around Champions & Individual event Champions were crowned, Region 5 once again upheld its strong tradition of excellence among a very tough field of competitors.

The Junior D’s starting the morning off by adding to the super team total by finishing 3rd place as a team. Emma Pritchard lead the junior D’s in the All-Around tying for 6th place with a 37.9, while her club mate Gianna Gerdes finished in 10th (37.775). Delanie Harkness picked up 2 individual medals on the uneven bars (9.725) & the balance beam (9.45) placing 2nd & 5th respectively. Perfection’s Gillian Rutz finished 9th on vault with her 9.65.

For the Senior D’s Jenna Swartzentruber lead the team by finishing 8th in the All-Around (38.275) as well as picking up two individual medals on the vault 4th with 9.75 and 5th on uneven bars 9.6. Abigail Matthews in her final competition as a JO athletes tied Swartzentruber for 5th on the uneven bars  to close out her club career. Wesley Stevenson who scored over a 38 in the all around to finish 14th did break the top ten placing 10th on bars 9.525 and beam 9.45. Overall the Senior D’s had a great meet finishing in the top 3 on three of the four events and ended up 4th, just .075 away from third.

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Junior Es came away with 3 athletes in the top 10 for all around. Sierra Brooks lead the charge placing 3rd (38.375) followed by Aria Brusch in 5th (38.075) and JerQuavia Henderson “Q” in 7th (37.85) in her first level 10 nationals. Brooks also came away with two individual medals with a 2nd place finish on her Yurchenko 1 1/2 vault (9.775) , 2nd tie on beam 9.575 and 7th on bars 9.575. Aria Brusch finished 5th on the uneven bars 9.6 and tied for 5th  on the balance beam 9.5. “Q”  took the top spot on the vault 9.9 becoming the 2017 JO National Vault Champion her first time out. Andrea Li landed on the podium three times taking 3rd on the vault 9.725, 2nd on the balance beam 9.575 and 2nd on the floor exercise 9.725. Mickayla Stuckey danced her way to a 7th place finish on the floor 9.525 and the routine will be featured in an upcoming coaches wired.




The Senior E’s had a good showing today with  Anastasia Webb finishing 7th in the All-Around 38.25, 4th on the floor exercise 9.7 and tying for the 2017 JO National Vault Title with an incredible 9.90. Annie Maxim who finished just outside the top 10 in the AA, tied for 3rd place on the uneven bars 9.7 & 7th on the floor exercise 9.65. Future Mountaineer, MacKenna Linnen took 5th on the balance beam 9.5 with her unique range of skills. Samantha Gallet picked up an individual event medal as well with her 8th place 9.725 on the vault. Cincinnati’s Darby Nelson scored a 9.6 on bars good enough for 9th on the event. The Senior E’s finished 4th in the team competition but was the top team in the session on bars and 2nd on vault.

The Junior F’s certainly lived up to the hype that surrounded them leading up to this weekend. Matilyn Waligora took the top spot becoming the 2017 JO National AA Champion 38.575 as well the National Floor Champion 9.725. Waligora also tied for 2nd on the uneven bars 9.65, 5th on the balance beam 9.525 and 6th on the vault 9.675. Waligora’s clubmate Gabryel Wilson finished second to her teammate in the All-Around 38.5 as well in the floor exercise 9.7. Wilson also finished the weekend as the 2017 JO National Vault Champion with a 9.875 with her Yurchenko 1 1/2. Helen Hu, who competed with Region 2, became the 2017 National Beam Champion 9.6 for the 2nd year in a row. Hu also finished  4th in the floor 9.575 and 7th on bars 9.6 leaping her into 5th all around with her 38.175. Chloe Bellmore from Twistars finished in the top 10 with her 8th place 37.8 all around along with 8th on the vault 9.625. Isabel Redmond picked up two medals on the uneven bars 5th 9.625 & the balance beam 4th 9.55. Top’s Brooklyn Sears broke into the top 10 on bars with her 9th place 9.55. Karlie Franz of Hunts vaulted into the top 1o with her 8th place tying 9.625 score for her Yurchenko full.  The Junior F’s became the National Team champions and giving Region 5 its 2nd team title of the weekend beating the competition by almost a point and winning 3 out of the 4 events. This group will be featured in the upcoming Region 5 Uncovered. 

Nia Dennis led the Senior Fs winning the 2017 National All-Around title 38.8 . Nia, who will head to UCLA in the fall, also finished 2nd on the balance beam 9.675, 4th on the floor 9.675, and 6th on the uneven bars 9.675. Senior F’s finished in 6th as a team but was 2nd best for the session on both bars and floor. For the Seniors (SR E, F and some SR D’s) this was the last time they will compete together as Region 5 teammates, many of these girls will be heading off to college in the fall and we wish them all good luck on the next chapter of their lives.

Region 5 finished the weekend in third place behind the National Champion trophy winners Region 1 and only one point behind second place Region 3. Congrats to all of our all around, event and team champions and medalists. We come together like no other region when it comes to nationals and it’s always a fun and rewarding experience and 2017 was no different.

Day 1 Recap click here

Quotes from Day 2:

Anastasia Webb speaking about the Corals…After vault “Can we get out of here yet???”

Nia Dennis after beam “Right! Solid Beam Girls Solid”

Mia Lord before beam to her teammates “hey can you guys cheer a lot!”

 

2017 JO Nationals Day 1 Recap

By
Kim Dowis
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1

Day 1 of the 2017 JO National Championships was a mixture of high and low moments. Here are some of the top highlights and moments from the meet yesterday!

Kai Rivers, SrA Twistars USA, wins her 2nd JO National title (38.525)  and picks up two individual event titles (Vault 9.875 & Bars 9.700) at the same time! Kai went big this year winning every major meet she entered.. Nastia Liukin Cup, Michigan State Meet, Regionals & JO Nationals. She did not miss a beat on her road to the Senior A All-Around Title.

Senior A Payton Richards of Aerial is the Carly Patterson of Region 5! The resemblance of these two athletes is uncanny. When I watch Payton perform I can definitely see Carly Patterson, they both have the same lightness about their gymnastics. Payton, like Carly, makes everything she does look effortless and beautiful. Payton tied for 2nd in the All-Around (38.425) she also took 1st place on the beam (9.525) and 2nd on the Vault (9.650).

For the Junior A’s this was their first time at the big show! These talented young athletes gained lots of experience and made lots of memories at their first JO National Championships. Regionmates Sydney Jelen & Elizabeth Gantner tied for 3rd place on the balance, while Avery Grant finished 8th on the floor exercise grabbing her first JO Nationals Medal.

In the Senior B session Makarri Doggette of Buckeye went big on the floor exercise in the last rotation hitting a huge 9.750 to take the National Floor title en route to the 2017 National AA Title ( 38.750), to add to her collection she also picked up a National Title on the Vault (9.850). Anyone who has watched Makarri compete knows that she always brings a great show, a great crowd and her famous pandas! Doggette (Buckeye), Rachel DeCavitch (Gym World) & Anna Kaziska (Champion-KY) sweep the top 3 spots on the floor podium scoring 9.75, 9.70 & 9.70 respectively. The Senior B’s took third in the team regional competition.

For the Junior B’s Ella Cesario, in her first JO Nationals finished 5th in the All-Around. Just out of the top 10 in the all around finishing 11th was Naperville’s Madeline Crosse with a respectable 37.625 however finished tied for 7th on bars with Nikki Beckwith from Buckeye with a 9.55. Skyla Schulte, 2016 Level 9 Eastern National all around champion finished in a tie for 3rd on bars while Legacy Elite’s Erika Penamante finished 6th in the balance beam.

Region 5 has a tradition of winning at least 1 age group every year since 1990, well the Junior C’s accomplished that task today by taking 1st place as a team! Junior C Alyssa Al-Ashari also took the top spot on the Uneven Bars with a huge 9.725. Haley Tyson scored a spot on the JO National team, by finishing 4th in the AA. Hannah Nam placed 3rd on Balance Beam and finished 9th AA. Avery Balser from Buckeye, competing for Region 2, finished 6th on the Uneven Bars.

The Senior Cs who got off to a rough start on their first two events found redemption on  bars &  beam with everyone hitting their routines. Colby Miller (Perfection) rocked the house on bars with  a massive 9.80 en route to the National Bar Title, she certainly erased the memory of vault & floor with that routine. Sarah Hargrove finished 3rd AA, 3rd on Beam and 3rd on floor with a pair of 9.60s.




One of my favorite parts about the meet today was the “Cheer Sticks” that Brett Wargo (Twistars) came up with for the girls. The “Cheer Sticks” were popsicle sticks with different event cheers on them that the girls would pick out of a cup, the cheer that was chosen was the one they did as a team before each event. Doing it this way made it super fun not only for the girls, but for everyone around us. Brett made some of these corky cheers up at Region 5 Championships and carried them over to Nationals. Cheers like “Swing like a pendulum on a grandfather clock”, “Stick like you forgot to grease the cookie tray”, “Rock Solid” and my personal favorite “Swing like a Capuchin Monkey”. Many coaches from other Regions commented on these cheers, they were kind of confused by them, but thought they were pretty sweet. After we started cheering, more of the other Regions started coming up with different phrases and cheers to say.

Go big and make it count! Alyssa Keller (All-American Flames) only competed the first two events today finally making a full floor routine in competition. Keller moved over to the vault and started out with her usual Tuck Tsuk 1/1, which she nailed, Keller then decided to take a risk and go for a brand new vault that she has never before competed! What a better place to through a new vault than JO Nationals. Keller sprinted down the run way hit the table & BAM full twisting layout Tsuk landing a bit off to the side, but on her feet. Unfortunately, doing the big skills for the first time comes with risk & Alyssa ended up injuring her ankle and had to scratch the rest of the competition, however she hit the two events she did compete and went out doing an incredible new vault for the first time successfully. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery! I cannot wait to see that vault more regularly next season from Alyssa.Flashing Glasses! Region 5 certainly stood out today with our hot pink flashing glasses! It was super cool to see the girls enter the floor with the glasses flashing, making them stand apart from the rest of the Regions on the floor.

One of the best parts of the entire competition was Tom Knoll! Tom is literally “the voice” of gymnastics! He is such a fun meet announcer, he clearly makes every moment a laugh and a good time! It was kind of fun to hear him picking on Region 5 Alum Amanda Borden about getting kicked off the floor by him one year because she lost her credential. The jokes he made about that moment were hysterical! He is so animated, he made each coaches meeting and each session very fun.

I also want to give huge props to the athletes of Region 5 & the gymnasts of DeVeau’s all who came out to watch the meet today! The atmosphere and the cheering section on the Senior side for insane! Team Unity, Team Spirit & Team Cheering certainly is a priority for Region 5! Towards the end of the Senior C age group it was like a football game inside the convention center!

After Day 1 Super Team Results:

Region 1-42
Region 3-34
Region 5-33

Quotes from the competition:

Kai Rivers on staying in bounds today “Usually I can see the line in my double layout, but today I closed my eyes”

Claire Gagliardi cheering for her teammate Anne Kaziska “Lets go Anna! Right on the Money”

Jake from Gym Academy of Rockford “Region 5 is like a shark coming out of the water to destroy you”

Follow us on social media for coverage of the 2017 JO Nationals & stay tuned for more from the Indiana Convention Center tomorrow as Junior/Senior D-F take the floor!

 

Region 5 JO Nationals Training | 2017 JO Nationals

By
Jason MacDonald
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0

Here is a quick highlight of our training session yesterday at the 2017 JO National Championships in Indianapolis.




2017 JO Nationals Preview- Region 5 Seniors

By
Kim Dowis
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0

HERE COME THE SENIORS!!!!

Senior A

The senior A’s have some incredible leaders at the forefront of their team, Kai Rivers (Twistars) is the reigning 2017 Nastia Liukin Cup Champion as well as a 2016 JO National Champion Payton Richards (Aerial).  Two outstanding  JPAC athletes Danielle Nosek & MaKenna Clarke, a Region 5 “One to Watch” for Indiana, are looking forward to competing in front of a hometown crowd which will make it even more exciting and loud in the arena.  The team features two talented new
comers Samantha Sworst (GTC), who is a 2016 Level 9 Eastern National Champion and Megan Teter (Gym World) who competes with a lot of energy and personality! The tough part about sports are the injuries that can occur. Mayleigh Vanderbeek from Champion had one at the wrong time and Lauren Moses from Perfect Balance is ready to fill the void. Amanda Jackson of IGI will now move up into Lauren’s position and compete for Region 2.  This age group will certainly shine and bring down the house this weekend! Look for their personalities to shine especially in their high energy floor routines!
Meet the Senior A’s click here

[one-half-first]Kai Rivers-Twistars USA
Payton Richards-Aerial
Lauren Moses-Perfect Balance
Danielle Nosek-JPAC
[/one-half-first]

[one-half]MaKenna Clarke-JPAC
Samantha Sworst-GTC
Megan Teter-Gym World
Amanda Jackson, IGI
[/one-half]

Senior B

Anna Kaziska (Champion-KY), Claire Gagliardi (Olympic Dreams) and Makarri Doggette (Buckeye) are the veterans leading a strong Senior B group. Anna a 3-time JO National Qualifier is the 2017 Region 5 Champion. Claire, who was a former Hopes athlete, has made numerous JO appearances and always has the most entertaining & different floor choreography. Makarri Doggette, who has scored a perfect 10 on vault is a 3 time Nastia Liukin Cup Qualifier, 4 time JO National Qualifier and a former Hopes athlete will bring huge power, leadership and score potential to this team. Madison Griffith (Naperville) looks to build off her experience in 2016 being called in to  replace an injured athlete at JO’s a year ago, and Kayla Perez (Legacy Elite) who is a solid all around gymnast will get to compete for Region 5 this go around, competing for Region 2 in 2015.  In their first JO Nationals. Rachel DeCavitch (Gym World), who has some unique gymnastics (including her beam mount) and Corina Tolan (United) both look ready to make an impact for Region 5.  and Corina Tolan (United) round out this talented group. Watch for the group of ladies to hit it big this weekend and add to the super team total.
Meet the Senior B’s click here

[one-half-first]Anna Kaziska-Champion (KY)
Madeline Griffith-Naperville
Rachel DeCavitch-Gym World
Claire Gagliardi-Olympia Dreams
[/one-half-first]

[one-half]Kayal Perez-Legacy Elite
Makkarri Doggette-Buckeye
Carina Tolan-United
[/one-half]

Senior C

The Senior C’s are a mixture of power and grace. Colby Miller (Perfection), who swept the medals (tied for first on beam) at the 2017 Region 5 Championships is heading into her first JO Nationals as the leader of a strong Senior C Team, along with JO National veterans Sarah Hargrove (CGA) & Katilyn Higgins (GAR). Alyssa Keller (All-American Flames), who is new on the scene is definitely one to watch with her Full Twisting Tuck Tsuk Vault & her stylish floor routine, which certainly has podium potential. Camryn Klien (DeVeau’s), Marissa Holmes (Southern Ill) look for her nice Yurchenko Layout half  & Alyssa Weideman (Perfection) are also new to JO Nationals, but certainly bring maturity and wonderful lines to their routines. The Senior C’s will not disappoint out on the competition floor this weekend.
Meet the Senior C’s click here

[one-half-first]Colby Miller-Perfection
Sarah Hargrove-CGA
Katilyn Higgins-GAR
Camryn Klein-DeVeau’s
[/one-half-first]

[one-half]Alyssa Keller-All American Flames
Holmes-Southern Illinois
Alyssa Wiedeman-Perfection
[/one-half]



Senior D

The Senior D’s are a team of 5 wise veterans and 2 first year JO National competitors. This team will have no problems getting into the swing of JOs and getting things going on the competition floor. Ashley Hofelich (Oakland) has always been on my radar, she has a fun floor set and a maturity about her and her gymnastics that is unparalleled, I can not wait to see what the 2017 JO National Championships holds for this athlete. The same can be said about Nicole Borkowski (New Heights), in the last year, Nikki has made huge upgrades all over the gym, she is one of those silent competitors that flies under the radar. Nikki is another athlete making her debut this weekend, look out for this hard working young lady to hit when it counts. The rest of the Senior Ds have been here before and have had great success. Jenna Swartzentruber (Buckeye) is a 3-time Nastia Liukin Cup Qualifier and the 2017 JO National Bars champion, so she is no stranger to the big stage. Bridget Killian (Legacy Elite) has consistency in her back pocket with one of the best triple fulls in the business. Her teammate Wesley Stephenson, who is returning after injury is ready to shine once again. Wesley the 2014 JO National Beam champion is ready to put on a show here in Indy. Aleah Leman (Energym) is ready for her second JO Nationals looking calm and confident and ready to attack. She is one to watch on floor using great front and back tumbling combinations including a huge whip double back. And finally the beauty that is Abigail Matthews (CGA) this young lady has the most exquisite lines I have seen, she is always a joy to watch on the floor and balance beam. She has a lightness about her movements, she extends each and every move all the way through her toes and fingers. She will certainly draw the attention of everyone this weekend as she takes the floor.
Meet the Senior D’s click here

[one-half-first]Jenna Swartzentruber-Buckeye
Bridget Killian-Legacy Elite
Wesley Stephanson-Legacy Elite
Abigail Matthews-CGA
[/one-half-first]

[one-half]Ashley Hofelich-Oakland
Aleah Leman-Energym
Nicole Borkowoski-New Heights
[/one-half]

 

The last two age groups are literally the “old ladies” of the meet! The Senior E & Senior F athletes are embarking on their last moments in JO Gymnastics before heading off to their respective colleges in the fall. For some of these young ladies it is a culmination of a triumphant gymnastics career ending in their final trip to JO Nationals and for a few others this is their first year at JO Nationals, but their last go around representing Region 5.

For Tristan Brown (Sr E-Twistars USA), MacKenna Linnen (Senior E-Gym America) and Allison Synder (Senior F-Perfection) this will be their first and last time at JO Nationals. For them this weekend is bitter sweet because they finally made it to the big show, but will be saying goodbye to Region 5 after this competition. Tristan Brown, a 2016 Eastern National Champion, is small but powerful, she has a lightness about her while she is competing. MacKenna Linnen is one of the most beautiful athletes I have ever seen, she swings bars like no one’s business with an unique blind full to double lay combination that cannot be missed. However, it is her beam and floor that she is known for with a combination of unique skills, flowing choreography and huge tumbling Macka will be a crowd favorite for sure. Allison Snyder delivers on every event, but it is her vault that makes her stand out, her hand front is one of those different vaults that we will see this weekend. These athletes will look to their team of veterans to lead the way this weekend. Nia Dennis (SrF) for Legacy Elite, a former elite, and Anastasia Webb (SrE) from IGI, 2016 JO National runner-up and National floor champion are ready to battle for the  
Super Team Trophy for the last time before they head off to college and a new life chapter. Anne Maxim (Olympia) 2016 JO National Bars champion, Darby Nelson (CGA), Rachel Borden (Legacy Elite) and Samantha Gallet (BIG) will round out the talented Senior E Age Group, with Anna Warhol (Youngstown), Kaci Martir (CGA), Brooke Chesney (CGA), Mia Lord (DeVeau’s) & Courtney Bezold (Gym-Nation) for the Senior F Age Group. These two groups of talented young athletes have endured years of training, traveling and competing for this moment. Lets send this group of Seniors off in style with the 2017 JO Nationals Super Team Title.

 

[one-half-first]Senior E
Anastasia Webb-I.G.I
Anne Maxim-Olympia
MacKenna Linnen-Gym America
Darby Nelson-CGA
Tristan Brown-Twistars USA
Rachel Borden-Legacy Elite
Samantha Gallet-BIG
[/one-half-first]

[one-half]Senior F
Nia Dennis-Legacy Elite
Anna Warhol-Youngstown
Kaci Martir-CGA
Allison Snyder-Perfection
Brooke Chesney-CGA
Mia Lord-DeVeau’s
Courtney Bezold-Gym-Nation[/one-half]

 

For Full Coverage of the 2017 JO National Championships from Indianapolis, Indiana follow us on social media!

Region 5 Find Your Greatness, 2017 Region 5 Hype

By
Jason MacDonald
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0

JO Nationals is here and Region 5 is ready! Here is our Hype up video from our annual all team meeting at JO’s.




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