Interview with University of Michigan Junior, Paige Zaziski
University of Michigan Junior and Region 5 Alum Paige Zaziski, sat down for an interview between the NCAA Regionals win and the NCAA Championships. Paige talks about the change in their team over last few weeks of the 2017 season and how the wins at Big Tens and Regionals has helped them going into NCAA’s. She talks about fitting into the team this year and how her fellow Region 5 teammates currently on the team helped make the transition easy. Paige talks about her 1 arm catch on bars at Big Tens, competing floor, tumbling like Kytra Hunter, and winning the all around at regionals and their way of down playing the pressure at competition. Michigan missed qualifying for NCAA’s last year by a small margin, Paige talks about the motivation for getting Michigan back to the NCAA Championships.
Video Clips courtesy of the University of Michigan Sports Info Department
Hunts Gymnastics Senior Mary Kate Bihary has just finished up her JO Club Gymnastics career this weekend at the 2017 Region 5 Championships. Mary Kate will move onto the next chapter of her gymnastics life in the fall when she attends Illinois State University as a member of the gymnastics team. Let’s get to know Mary Kate a little bit better as she says goodbye to Hunts Gymnastics Academy and Region 5 as she embarks on the next chapter.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? My parents put me into the sport because I was flipping around in the house. I was 3.
What is your favorite event? Bars.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? Being apart of a team and having a second family that you know will always be there for you.
What college do you plan on attending? I am attending Illinois State University
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is either Circle of Stars or Chicago Style.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment is qualifying to regionals at every state meet I have been at in levels 8,9 and 10.
Favorite skill to train and/or compete ?My favorite skill to train and compete is my blind jaeger bail on bars. (Video)
Dream skill? My dream skill is a double lay on floor.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I most admire my coach for her dedication to our team and the many life lessons she has fought me through the sport of gymnastics.
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still your very first leo? My all-time favorite Leo would have to be the blue and black team Leo I wore in eighth grade in level 8. Yes I still have my very first Leo.
What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie is the breakfast club.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? My go to playlist before a meet is normally rap or caked up songs.
What do you want to be when you grow up?An orthopedic surgeon.
Where do you go to High School? Regina High School
What is your favorite color? Light Blue (Tiffany blue).
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Hang out with my friends and family.
Favorite Gymnastics Moment? My favorite gymnastics moment is when I was in level 8 at regionals on vault and I had a blinding migraine, but still competed and ended up getting first on vault.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? I would probably try track or cross country.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? Italy
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would have lunch with my great grandmother because she passed away and I miss her very much.
Tell me something interesting about yourself…. Something interesting about myself is that I’ve donated a foot of hair two different times for cancer patients and will continue to do this each time my hair grows out long enough!
Check out Mary Kate on floor at the 2017 Region 5 Championships
Here are all 12 age groups that will represent Region 5 Dream Team at JO Nationals. Now it is time for the Dream Team to do it big at the 2017 JO Nationals which will be held right here in Region 5!
Junior A
Madelyn Bellmore, Twistars USA 37.625
Avery Grant, Bay Valley Academy 37.100
Katie Harper, Universal Gymnastics 36.975
Savannah Miller, Oakland 36.575
Alayna Karl, Legacy Elite 36.425
Sydney Jelen, Legacy Elite 36.225
Elizabeth Gantner, JPAC 36.15
*Presleigh Buck, Twistars USA 36.075 (1st Alt)
**Sarah Moraw, Champion USA 35.900 (2nd Alt)
Junior B
Ella Cesario, Legacy Elite 38.325
Grace King, AGA 37.700
Madison Snook, Legacy Elite 37.600
Madeline Crosse, Naperville 37.425
Erika Penamante, Legacy Elite 37.325
Nikki Beckwith, Buckeye 37.275
Skyla Schulte, Phenom 37.050
*Laura Soltis, Perfection 36.975 (1st Alt)
Junior C
Alyssa Al-Ashari, Twistars USA 38.525
Haley Tyson, Phenom 37.875
Hannah Nam, CGA 37.675
Cassandra Barbanente, Palmer’s Gym 37.650
Hannah Oliveros, I.G.I 37.350
Victoria Fergusion, JPAC 37.200
Riley Milbrant, Legacy Elite 37.100
*Avery Balser, Buckeye Gym 37.050 (1st Alt-Competing for Region 2 )
**Ashley Resch, GymNasti 36.975 (2nd Alt- Competing for Region 2)
Junior D
Delanie Harkness, Twistars USA 38.200
Gillian Rutz, Perfection 37.850
Gianna Gerdes, Gym X-treme 37.775
Dani Petrousek, GAR 37.725
Emma Pritchard, Gym X-treme 37.600
Alyssa Parlich, Aerial Gymnastics 37.100
Anna Grace McCullough, Branch 36.850
*DaShanti Young, CGA 36.750 (1st Alt)
**Olivia Rapp, Universal 36.725
Junior E
Andrea Li, Legacy Elite 38.925
Aria Brusch, CGA 38.625
Sierra Brooks, Aspire 38.200
JerQuavia Henderson, Gym Corners 37.950
Mickayla Stuckey, CGA 37.775
Lauren Bannister, Champion (KY) 37.300
Raina Malas, Buckeye 37.200
*Kaitlyn Ewald, Revolution 37.000 (1st Alt)
**Hallie Hornbacher, Bay Valley Academy 36.675 (2nd Alt)
Junior F
Gabryel Wilson, Olympia 38.675
Matilyn Waligora, Olympia 38.650
Isabel Redmond, Olympia 38.350
Chloe Bellmore, Twistars USA 38.250
Karlie Franz, Hunts 37.900
Brooklyn Sears, TOPS 37.700
Payton Murphy, Palmer’s 37.450
Helen Hu, IK Gymnastics 37.375 (1st Alt- Competing for Region 2)
Nyah Smith, Oakland 37.325 (Competing for Region 2)
*Olivia O’Donnell, IK 37.20 (Non competing alternate)
Leading up to this weekend’s Region 5 Championships, we are focusing on the up & coming gymnasts of Region 5 from each state. Region 5’s Twentyfive “Ones to Watch”, next up are our five from The Great Lakes State….Michigan!
Karlie Franz, Hunts Gymnastics
Mayleigh Vanderbeek, Champion USA
Avery Grant, Bay Valley Academy
Mckenna Linnen, Gym America
Anna Grace McCullough, Branch Gymnastics
Check out these routines and many more this weekend at the 2017 Region 5 Championships in Indianapolis.
Links to all “Ones to Watch” from all five states below
Good Luck to all our Region 5 Athletes this weekend at the Region 5 Championships.
Leading up to this weekend’s Region 5 Championships, we are focusing on the up & coming gymnasts of Region 5 from each state. Region 5’s Twentyfive “Ones to watch”, next up are our five from the home state of Lincoln….Illinois
Ella Cesario-Legacy Elite
Savannah Remus-Rising Stars
Aleah Leman-Energym
Caitlin Satler-UGA
(VC: Caitlin Satler Youtube Page)
JerQuavia Henderson-Gym Corners
(VC: JerQuavia Henderson Youtube Page)
Check out these routines and many more at the 2017 Region 5 Championships this weekend in Indianapolis.
Check out Ones to Watch for Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky below
Favorite skill to train and/or compete ?My favorite skill to train and compete is my blind jaeger bail on bars. (
