Katie Teft Minasola reflects on how gymnastics has impacted her life and shaped her into the women she is today. She talks about looking up to fellow Region 5 elites Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps during her career and how cool it was to compete along side them. Region 5 has been a big part of her life and it is where she gained the foundations that help her to be the best coach she can be in the college ranks.
meet video clips provided by USA Gymnastics
KickStart is a broad based, innovative strength, flexibility & fundamental skills program developed for athletes in Michigan designed to help “kick start” the development in young athletes. It is a great program to improve physical abilities for JO athletes of all ages and abilities. The age requirements are 6 years old to 13 years old and the overall cost for membership, testing, meets and training camp is much less than the renowned National TOPS Program. The top 10 gymnasts in each age group qualify to the Kick Start Training Camp at Gym America Gymnastics in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Check out our Kickstart photo gallery (photos provided by Michelle Kocian)
Anna Li reflects on her career and how much of an impact Region 5 has had on her journey through the sport. She talks about how this region pushes you to be better and continues to push her even as a coach.
Click here for John Geddert’s introduction of Anna Li from the 2016 Region 5 Awards Banquet
Click here for Anna Li’s full Hall of Fame acceptance speech
The region comes together every year for our regional congress and banquet. This year we gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the beautiful Amway Hotel to honor our regions best athletes, coaches, contributors and Hall of Fame Inductees. Here are the Region 5 award winners for 2016. Congrats to all the award winners.
Regional Service Award: Shannon Hunt, Hunts Gymnastics for all her efforts as our nationals hotel coordinator and new regional apparel coordinator.
Horizon Award: Whitney Snowden, Cincinnati Gymnastics. This award is presented to an up and coming coach who has made an impact on the region and Whitney continues to do an awesome job at the Head Optional Coach at Cincinnati.
JO Club of the Year went to Aerial Gymnastics in Downers Grove, IL and Michigan Academy of Gymnastics from Westland Michigan.
Elite Club of the Year went to Buckeye Gymnastics. Congrats to Kittia Carpenter and her staff on a very successful 2016 elite session.
Elite Ambassador Team: These are the top AA finishes for Region 5 at the P&G Championships. The team includes Shania Adams (Buckeye), Aria Brusch (Cincinnati), Shilese Jones (Buckeye), and Gabby Perea (Legacy Elite). They will be going to the Bahamas on an exchange trip along with be awards presenters at the Atlantis Gymnastics meet hosted by Branch Gymnastics.
videos provided by USA Gymnastics
JO Athletes of the Year: Payton Richards (Aerial Gymnastics) and Gabryel Wilson (Michigan Academy). Both of these young ladies won the AA at the 2016 JO National Championships.
Elite Athlete of the Year: Amelia Hundley, Cincinnati Gymnastics. Amelia is well deserved of this award as she has weathered her long elite career with determination and desire. She finished it out by going 16 for 16 through the Olympic qualification process of P&G Championships and the Olympic Trials. Amelia is now a freshman at Florida.
videos provided by USA Gymnastics
The 2016 Region 5 All Star Team was introduced for the 1st time at the banquet and here again are the gymnasts that comprise that team. (Video cannot be shown as it includes non-copyrighted music). We will be bringing you complete coverage of this group as we tag along and get the inside scoop on Costa Rica.
Payton Richards, Aerial Gymnastics
Andrea Li, Legacy Elite Gymnastics
Anastasia Webb, IGI
Matilyn Waligora, Olympia
Kai Rivers, Twistars
Sierra Brooks, Aspire
Emma Pritchard, Gym Xtreme
Bridget Killian, Legacy Elite
Leah Clapper, Gym America
Anne Maxim, Olympia
Mickayla Stuckey, Cincinnati
Delanie Harkness, Twistars
Here is a replay of our live stream of this year’s 2016 Hall of Fame Inductions at the regional awards banquet sponsored by Tumbl Trak. 2016 inductees include Anna Li, Katie Teft Minasola and Kathy Kelly.
