Region 5 sends 13 to TOPs A Camp

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December 9, 2016

This week the TOPs A camp took place at the Ranch in Texas and once again our region is well represented. Region 5 qualified 13 out of the 54 athletes that made the 2016 TOPs A National Team representing 7 different clubs. Congrats to Buckeye Gymnastics, Cincinnati Gymnastics, GymNasti, Gymnastics Academy of Rockford, Legacy Elite Gymnastics, Michigan Elite and Premier West. Thank you to our coaches for sending us pictures from camp and congrats to the following athletes:

Mallory Reyes (Buckeye Gymnastics)
Carly Weinberg (Buckeye Gymnastics)
Haley Mendoza (Cincinnati Gymnastics)
Olivia Jackson (Cincinnati Gymnastics)
Clancy Conley (GymNasti)
Avery Schlichting (GAR)
Mattie Whalen (GAR)
Ainsley Johnson (GAR)
Emma Becker (Legacy Elite)
Mattilyn Kitzmiller (Legacy Elite)
Aubree Guinee (Legacy Elite)
Aubrey Patterson (Michigan Elite)
Julia Raczyk (Premier West)

Coaches Quotes about the experience at TOPs camp

Kim Tanskanen from MEGA said “This was Aubrey’s 2nd camp, and it was great to see her improvement from last year. It is an amazing opportunity to work with and learn from the National Staff. They always provide great insight.”

Anna Li from Legacy Elite ” It’s always a privilege for coaches and young athletes to be able to train at the national training center and have the opportunity to be coached by Valeri, the National Staff. It’s also fun to collaborate with other coaches to push their talents to the net level in a very prestigious environment. The pictures and club banners hanging around the training center always a reminder to the gymnasts that this is their legacy to continue.”

Amanda Zanoni from Gymnasti ” TOPs camp is a great experience for both athlete and coache. It’s amazing to see how much the girls improve in just 4 days with the guidance of the National Staff. I also love being able to take that knowledge back home to our gym. This was Clancy’s second camp and we hope to be back again next year!”

Ashley Priess from Cincinnati ” TOPs A camp was a tremendous opportunity for our girls to mature, learn from the very best staff, and be in a facility that produces excellence generation after generation.

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20 Questions with New Heights Senior Paige Kovnesky

By

Kim Dowis

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December 6, 2016

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Our next Region 5 Athlete is New Heights Senior Paige Kovnesky. I first noticed this athlete a few years ago at the Luau in Leo’s Meet, hosted by New Heights, I saw her swing bars with such grace and ease I knew she was something special! Now she is a senior and getting ready to head to Mizzou in the fall, Paige and her high flying bars will certainly be missed from Region 5! Let’s get to know Paige a little better and find out what she wants to be when she grows up.

How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? My parents were tired of me climbing on the furniture and they wanted something to help get rid of all my extra energy so they put me into classes at New Heights when I was 3.

What is your favorite event? Bars

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? The life lessons that I learn for both life and sports, I love that feeling on being prepared for a meet and going out and hitting all my routines!

If not already committed to college, what college do you want to attend? Already committed to the University of Missouri

What is your favorite meet to compete at? Luau in Leo’s

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? Signing my NLI

Favorite skill to train and/or compete? Tkatchev

Dream Skill? Onodi on beam

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? Simone Biles

What is your all time favorite leotard? My University of Missouri Leo

Do you still have your very first leo? No

What were the first Olympic Games you remember watching? 2004 olympics

What do you want to be when you grow up? A surgeon

Where do you go to High School? Archbold High School

What is your favorite color? Blue

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? Read and hang out with family

If you weren’t a gymnast what sport do you think you would try? Volleyball

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? Greece

If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? Mark Twain because I loved his books and I would want to know more about his childhood and where he got his inspiration for all the books!

Tell me something interesting about yourself…..I love to read and my family is everything to me!:)

Here is Paige competing her favorite event at her favorite meet the 2016 Luau in Leo’s, hosted by New Heights in Ohio.

Coaches Wired: Claudia Kretschmer, Gym America

By

Jason MacDonald

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December 1, 2016

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Claudia Kretschmer owner of Gym America in Michigan was mic’d up during the 2016 JO Nationals JRD session coaching Leah Clapper (Level 10/Elite). Claudia creates a calm positive feel during competition warm-ups on beam and Leah responded getting more confident each turn. Leah was last up for the JRD’s on beam and Claudia went through every movement with her.

20 Questions with Splitz Senior Sophie Bochenek

By

Kim Dowis

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November 29, 2016

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Our next athlete up in our 20 Questions feature is Splitz Senior Sophie Bockenek. Sophie has been a strong competitor for Region 5 for quite a few years now, she has battled through injuries and gym changes to get where she is today. Sophie will be off to college in the fall and will certainly be missed from Region 5.

Get to know Sophie a little better and look for her on the competition floor this year in her Senior year!

How did you get into Gymnastics? How old were you? I got into gymnastics when I was 5 years old after going on a field trip to a gym.

What is your favorite event? My favorite event is vault because it’s the one event that doesn’t make me nervous.

What is your favorite part of gymnastics? My favorite part of gymnastics is being able to meet people who will become lifelong friends. The bonds that i’ve made with my teammates, coaches, and friends from region 5 are so special to me.

If not already committed to college, what college do you want to attend? I am committed to the University of Pittsburgh.

What is your favorite meet to compete at? My favorite meet to compete at is definitely JO nationals, but my favorite invitational to compete at would have to be the Chicago style meet.

Biggest accomplishment in gymnastics so far? My biggest accomplishment was winning the all around at Eastern’s in 2013, although overcoming my adversities such as injuries and scholarships feels most rewarding to me.

Favorite skill to train and/or compete? My favorite skill to train and compete is my series on beam, a back handspring back layout stepout.

Dream Skill? I have always dreamed of learning a shaposh, even though bars isn’t my strong suit.

Who do you most admire in the sport of gymnastics? I most admire Aly Raisman. Aly is a prime example of how hard work pays off and I have always looked up to her and admired her work ethic.

What is your all time favorite leotard? My all time favorite leo is actually my competition leo from this past season. I love the color and the way the rhinestones are arranged.

Do you still have your very first leo? I do still own my very first leo. It was a GK leo that was all silver with a red and white ribbon-like design on it.

What were the first Olympic Games you remember watching? The first Olympic Games I remember watching were the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to become a NICU physician when I am older.

Where do you go to High School? I attend Gabriel Richard Catholic High School.

What is your favorite color? My favorite color is yellow.

What do you like to do outside of gymnastics? I love spending time with my two dogs. Whether I’m sleeping with them, playing, or taking them on a walk,

If you weren’t a gymnast what sport do you think you would try? If I weren’t a gymnast I would run track or play hockey since I used to play back in my younger days.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? If I could live anywhere in the world I would probably still live in the United States, but I would move up East. I’ve always found an interest in the east coast.

If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive who would it be and why? If I could have lunch with anyone dead or alive I would chose my grandpa. My grandpa passed away when I was very young and I would love to have the chance to talk to him about how far I’ve come in gymnastics.

Tell me something interesting about yourself….. Something interesting about myself is that I’m also part of the varsity band at my school. I play the flute and have found a great liking towards it. Playing an instrument is a hobby that I love and hope to keep up throughout my entire life.

2nd Place Beam Routine from 2016 Michigan State Meet

Gymnast Eye : Yurch Full On Tuck Full Off | Ciara Ryan, HUGS

By

Jason MacDonald

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November 28, 2016

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Experience a Yurchenko Full on Pike off and Full off vault from the perspective of HUG’s level 10 Ciara Ryan. This vault will have you spinning in circles.