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 Bluegrass State….Kentucky!
Anna Kaziska-Champion
(VC: Champion Gymnastics-Kentucky)
Lauren Bannister-Champion
London Yerasimides-Champion
(VC: Champion Gymnastics-Kentucky)
Elaina McGovern-Legacy
Alexa Berezowitz-Legacy
Look for these routines and many more this weekend at the Region 5 Championships in Indy!
Check out our “Ones to Watch” from Ohio and Indiana below.
Gym America Senior Cali Harden, is getting ready to compete in one of her last meets as a JO Club Gymnast. Cali, who has a mega vault, will continue her gymnastics journey after graduation with the 2017 MAC Champions Eastern Michigan University Gymnastics Team. Cali has a presence on the gym floor that is undeniable, she is positive, bubbly, always smiling, cheering and encouraging her teammates. She will certainly be missed not only at Gym America, but in Region 5 as well. So, let’s get to know Cali Harden a little bit better as she closes out her JO Career and look for her this weekend at the Region 5 Championships in Indy, especially on the vault.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I began my gymnastics career at about 6 years old. I was a very hyperactive child with little self control. My mom and dad talked one day and jokingly came to the conclusion that I needed to be involved in a very high energy sport, or they were going to put me on medication. Gymnastics became my medicine.
What is your favorite event? My favorite events are vault and floor. I love the power that comes along with these two events.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is getting to have a second family.
What college do you plan on attending? I will be continuing my gymnastics career at Eastern Michigan University .
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is our home meet, Wolverine Classic. We always end on floor so they whole gym is cheering and there is just so much energy.
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? I won floor at Easterns and 2nd AA in 2016. I also won level 10 vault this year.
Favorite skill to train and/or compete? My favorite skill to both train and compete would have to be my vault. I compete a hand front pike while training a hand front pike half.
Dream skill? My dream skill is a hand front pike half like Rachel Slocum’s.
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? My coach Claudia. She has done so much for not only me, but the sport. I know that I will walk out of this sport with 15 years of gymnastics, character, and strong mental toughness.
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still your very first leo? I do still have my very 1st leo. It was long mesh sleeved, black velvet, with sparkles going up and down the arms.
What is your favorite movie? Anything with Will Ferrell.
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? If I have too much energy that day I listen to Country, but if it’s an 8 am meet and I’m tired, I listen to Pop.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to teach Preschool or Kindergarten when I am older.
Where do you go to High School? Saline High School
What is your favorite color? My favorite color is pink.
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? I like to sing, hang out with friends and family, and help with Special Olympics.
Favorite Gymnastics Moment? Everyday is my favorite, I can’t get enough.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? Diving
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? St. Thomas
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? God because there is no one better!
Tell me something interesting aboutyourself… I have the ugliest toes in the world and everyone looks at them and thinks that they will help me stay on the beam but they definitely do not. I also laugh like Chanel West Coast.
Check out Cali’s Vault from the 2017 Wolverine Classic
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 Hoosier State…Indiana.
Jacey Vore-JPAC
Tori Ferguson-JPAC
Camryn Klein-DeVeau’s
Mia Lord-DeVeau’s
MaKenna Clarke-JPAC
Watch these these routines and many more this weekend at the 2017 Region 5 Championships at the Indianapolis Convention Center hosted by DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics .
There is never a dull moment at the Michigan Level 9/10 State Meet, each year I run around the venue capturing as much video and as many photos I can of the competition, from those crazy moments to those amazing moments I see and hear them all! So, each year I put together my “Top 10 Highlights” from the meet. From new skills to a 32 year dynasty, and watching the Nastia Cup Champion contribute to history, was an incredible sight to witness. Please enjoy my Top 10 Highlights from the Michigan State Meet.
10. Venue:Kellogg Arena-Branch Gymnastics never disappoints when it comes to hosting outstanding meets and this one was no exception. From the awards staging area, to the
coaches hospitality everything was incredible and Branch deserves so much appreciation for executing another flawless competition.
9. New Skills: Level 10s-There is nothing like showing up to state meet with new skills! I love seeing from year to year what athletes are changing things up and adding in new, hard and different skills. Mayleigh Vanderbeek, Champion USA (Video), competed a new vault for only the 2nd time a full twisting yurchenko. Delaney Harkness, Twistars USA, is also competing a new and very different vault and Matilyn Waligora, Olympia (Video), has added a tucked full-in as her opening pass to her floor routine.
8. 4 person team takes 4th place: Bay Valley Academy took 4th place this past weekend as a team. They had only 4 athletes competing, they beat out some impressive competition and a few larger teams to grab the last podium position in the team competition. This team may be small, but they are certainly mighty!
7. Unique Vaults: Vault has always been one of my favorite events, with everyone doing the same kind of vault these days, I find it very refreshing and fun to see athletes taking a chance and doing something out of the norm. Bria from Heartland, Cali from Gym America (Video), Dominique from Bay Valley (Video), Sage from All-American Flames, Rylie Johnstone from Midland (Video), Anne Maxim from Olympia (Video) and Delaney Harkness from Twistars USA (Video) all brought unique vaults to the table.
6. Last up takes top honor: Dominique Militello (Bay Valley Academy), was the last competitor of the Level 10 competition to compete on the balance beam, Dominique with a jammed pack beam routine nailed it when it counted to become the Senior B State Champion. (Video)
5. Unique Skills: Level 9-My favorite part of any meet is checking out the new and different skills and the level 9 session this year was full of them. Bria Morganroth of Heartland Gymnastics, had something unique on every event. From her back tuck bar dismount (Video) to her knee back handspring on floor (Video) and her arabian vault, she is certainly one to watch! I love innovation in routines.
4. 32 years undefeated-Twistars continues their Level 10 Domination by capturing their 32nd Michigan State Team Title. Twistars is certainly a force to be reckoned with at each level of compeition, but their 10s continue to dominate year after year.
3. Seniors: The Class of 2017- Each year I like to recognize the Senior Class, it takes a lot of handwork and determination to succeed in any sport, especially in Gymnastics. These young athletes, many of them continuing on with gymnastics post graduation, have dedicated countless hours to the sport they love. It is refreshing to see such a great group of athletes first something they started so many years ago!
2. Floor Choreography: In years past there have been only a handful of teams that have had amazing floor choreography. This year the list of teams with expressive dance, show stopping moves and entertaining music was limitless. This was not just in the level 10 session, teams displayed incredible choreography across the board, specifically Olympia, Bay Valley, Gym America and Oakland.
1. Historic Domination: 2017 Nastia Cup Champion Kai Rivers, Gedderts Twistars, swept her entire age division to win back to back All-Around Titles. The last athlete to swept an age division was Grace Williams, Gedderts Twistars, back in 2014 in the same venue. (Vault, Beam, Floor, Interview)
It is that time of year again, time to bring all of the best gymnasts in Region 5 together to see who will qualify to the Dream Team and have the honor of representing Region 5 at the JO National Championships (May 5-7). I absolutely love this time of year! Championship season is always the most exciting, full of energy, excitement, determination, a little bit of stress and lots of hard work paying off.
This week we are heading to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2017 Region 5 Championships which brings all 5 states together to compete for one goal…..to make the DREAM TEAM! Region 5 is one of the most highly competitive regions in the entire country, making the Dream Team for Region 5 is never an easy task. However now that USA Gymnastics has added 4 more age groups (changed in 2016) it does allow the opportunity for more athletes to fulfill the dream of qualifying to JO Nationals. Usually, it is pretty easy to tell who will make the Dream Team, but anything can happen at any time, nothing is guaranteed in the sport of gymnastics. So, prior to Regionals we are going to focus on the up & coming gymnasts of Region 5 from each state. Region 5’s Twentyfive “Ones to watch”, first up the gymnasts from Ohio.
Nicole Borkowski, New Heights
Nikki Beckwith, Buckeye
Rachel DeCavitch, Gym World
Colby Miller, Perfection
DeShanti Young, Cincinnati Gymnastics
Look for these routines this weekend at Region 5 Championships
