Region 5 has 10 outstanding gymnasts represented at the 2017 Nastia Liukin Cup. This is a record for our region and shows the growth and strength of our region. We have four returnees and six experiencing the cup for the first time. Meet our 2017 Nastia Gymnastics Cup Qualifiers.
JPAC Midwest Showdown featured some of our region’s best teams in the invitationals inaugural year. The competition had 3 level 10 sessions which was highlighted by a six man team challenge final session. Natalie Kemp of Twistars topped the AA (37.525) over the first two sessions and swung her way to the highest individual score with her 9.725 bars. The scores quickly escalated and the competition became intense with a close battle for the showdown team challenge champions banner.
It took over a 38.00 to finish in the top three for all four age groups in the final session. Andrea Li (Legacy Elite) scored her second 39+ score in as many meets to claim the top spot among all age groups. Li also put up the highest bars score with a 9.85 (check out livestream at 30:38) which features a blind immediate endo to jaeger. Topping the vaulting competition was Kai Rivers of Twistars with her double twisting yurchenko and a 9.9. Legacy Elites Ella Cesario was well balanced on beam with the top score of a 9.8.
On the floor, the top score of 9.8 (livestream at 1:12:09) was achieved by Mickayla Stuckey of Cincinnati. The top three teams were separated by .35 with Legacy Elite taking top honors with a 116.15
Live Stream
Meet Videos
Photo Gallery
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Meet Results
Group A
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Team Challenge Results
Click here for full results
Legacy Elite Senior Rachel Borden has some of the most unique skills I have seen, especially her beam mount, she was the inaugural winner of the 2016 Region 5 
Yahtzee Award for the “Most Interesting Beam Mount” and it certainly is an interesting one. Not only is Rachel extremely talent in the gym, but outside the gym as well, she would like to pursue a career in Chemical Engineering! Rachel is nearing the end of her senior year and getting ready to close out her time as not only a Legacy Elite Gymnast, but a Region 5 Gymnast as well. Lets get to know Rachel a little bit better as she heads for graduation and the road to JO Nationals.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you? I was 4 years old when I stated. My mom decided to put me into gymnastics after I climbed onto the dining room table and swung from the chandelier. She had enough of my endless energy and put me in a sport where I would get worn down and sleep when I was home.
What is your favorite event? Bars
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? I love the rush of adrenalin that comes with learning a new skill and sticking a routine at a meet.
What college do you plan on attending? The University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
What is your favorite meet to compete at? State Meet
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment in gymnastics was learning my beam mount.
Favorite skill to train and/or compete. My favorite skill to train is my front aerial front handspring. My favorite skill to compete is my beam mount. (See Video of Rachel’s Unique Beam Routine Below)
Dream skill? Double Arabian
Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I admire the people gymnastics creates. It brings out the best in gymnasts and teaches us lessons that we will have for the rest of our lives.
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still have your very first leo? My favorite leo is a 
green leo with a lot of different patterns all over it. It’s my favorite because it’s so comfy. I don’t have my first leo anymore, I gave it to my cousin who wants to be a gymnast someday.
What is your favorite movie? Captain America: Civil War
What is your go to playlist or song before meets? “How Far We’ve Come” by Matchbox Twenty
What do you want to be when you grow up? A Chemical Engineer
Where do you go to High School? Neuqua Valley High School
What is your favorite color? Green
What do you like to do outside of Gymnastics? Reading and Writing
Favorite Gymnastics Moment? Sticking my first vault in a level 10 meet.
If you weren’t a gymnast, what sport would you do or try? Soccer
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?Rome
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would have lunch with Jennifer Lawrence because she is my favorite actress and seems like such a fun person.
Tell me something interesting about yourself… I love to write. I have written short stories and am currently working on my first book. I hope to eventually get something published.
Rachel’s Beam Routine from the 2017 JPAC Midwest Showdown
This past weekend Region 5 Insider headed to the 22nd annual Cereal City Classic hosted by Branch Gymnastics in Battle Creek Michigan. As a kid this used to be one of my favorite meets to compete at because I loved Kelloggs! I even used to try and still the large Fruit Loops box that was on display each year (secretly I still try). This year the Level 9/10 session was small, but mighty. The small meets are great to film because it gives others a chance to get recognized. At the Cereal City Classic, GTC brought a full Level 10 team, with big skills and powerful floor routines, Midland Gymnastics Level 10 Rylie Johnstone brought a rarely seen Yurchenko Tuck 1 1/2 vault that should not be missed and Branch’s Level 10s dazzled as usual with stunning floor and beam, it is always a joy to watch them compete.
Meet Results
Cereal City Classic-Level 10
14-17 yrs old
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AGA Senior Kelsye Kurtiak has had much success in her gymnastics career, winning Level 9 Eastern Nationals at only 12 years old, then continuing onto qualify for 3 JO 
Nationals at Level 10. Kelsye has seen ups & downs in the sport of Gymnastics, but always seems to have a smile on her face. Kelsye is on her way to finishing up her Senior year as an AGA & Region 5 gymnast, undecided on her college plans as of right now, but she wants to embark on a collegiate gymnastics career post 
graduation. I want to wish Kelsye all the best of luck as she closes out this season and decides where to take her gymnastics talents in the fall. Lets get to know AGA Senior Kelsye Kurtiak a little better as she tumbles towards Championship Season.
How did you get into gymnastics? How old were you My parents put me in a class when I was 2 years old, I’ve been doing it ever since.
What is your favorite event? Floor. I love being able to show off my routine.
What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics would probably be meeting all the new people that I do when we travel, and going all the places we do!
What college do you plan on attending? I haven’t chosen a school yet.
What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is probably J.O. Nationals, because everyone comes together for region 5 and the energy level is so high!!
Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far?
I think my biggest accomplishment would be placing 5th on floor at J.O. Nationals in 2013!
Favorite skill to train and/or compete? My favorite skill to train is a full in on floor.
Dream skill? Front 2&1/2 twist
Who do you admire most in the sport of gymnastics? Laurie Hernandez
What is your all-time favorite leotard? Do you still have your very first leo?
My all-time favorite leo is probably our current competition ones, I just love the blue and the lace! I don’t have the very first practice leo I had anymore but I do have my very first competition leo.
What is your favorite movie? Pitch Perfect
What is your go to playlist or song before a meet? I don’t really have a specific playlist I listen too, but normally it’s a mix of pop, country, and rap.
What do you wanna be when you grow up? I either want to be a nurse or a psychologist.
Where do you go to high school? I go to Swartz Creek High School in Swartz Creek, MI.
What is your favorite color? My favorite color is purple.
What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? I like to hang out with my friends, and go to hockey games.
Favorite gymnastics moment? My favorite gymnastics moment was in 6th grade when I won level 9 Easterns. I had no idea what any
of my scores were or how I’d placed, so when they called my name for first all around I had no idea it was coming!! The feeling I had that day was so cool.
If you weren’t a gymnast what sport would you try? If I hadn’t become I gymnast I probably would have ended up playing hockey.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? I would want to live in Florida by the beach.
If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? I would eat lunch with my great grandma who passed away in 2009, just so I could see her and talk to her again.
Tell me something interesting about yourself……Something interesting about me is that my parents actually had my cats pick my name before I was born. They put their choices on paper and wadded it up in to a ball and the cats picked Kelsye three times in a row!
Kelsye Vault 2016 JO Nationals vault
