Region 5 Elites who chased Olympics Glory: Morgan White, CGA

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July 11, 2016

Our next Region 5 athlete who chased her dreams all the way to the Olympic Trials also hails from Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy in Fairfield, Ohio. Morgan White, who was born in West Bend Wisconsin, competed her entire gymnastics life under Mary Lee Tracy at CGA, Morgan had the opportunity to watch Amanda Borden and Jaycie Phelps train for the 1996 Olympics Games. Morgan [nicknamed “The Quiet Storm”], was a quite competitor, which allowed her gymnastics to speak for itself on the competition floor. Mary Lee used to call her “the Creeper” because according to Tim Daggitt “she doesn’t knock your socks off, she gets a little better day by day” (NBC Broadcast 1999 Nationals). Morgan White was an inspiration to me growing up, I used her 1999 Floor Exercise music as my first optional music in the fall of 1999, “My Drag” by Squirrel Nut Zipper.

Morgan White became an international elite in 1996, it wasn’t until 1998 that she began to find success at the elite level. In 1998 Morgan picked up a number of gold medals in National and International competitions, placing 1st on the Uneven Bars at the American Classic, 1st AA, 2nd on Uneven Bars, 1st on the Balance beam and 2nd on the Floor at the U.S. Classic meet. At the 1998 U.S Championships Morgan picked up 3 National Titles in the Junior Division (AA, Bars and Floor), she also placed 2nd on the Balance Beam. Also as a Junior Morgan racked up many international honors placing 2nd on bars and 2nd place team at the 1997 Pan American Championships, 1st on bars at the 1997 International Artistic Gym Challenge, 2nd place team and 2nd on bars at the 1998 International Team Championships and 1st place team, 1st place bars, 2nd place AA and 2nd place beam at the 1998 Jr. Pan American Championships.

Morgan became a Senior competitor in 1999, which would now allow her the opportunity to compete internationally at the World Championships and the Olympic Games. In 1999 Morgan has a breakout senior debut [internationally] placing 1st with the team at the China Dual meet, 1st AA and 3rd on bars at the 1999 Pan American Games. Morgan went onto to qualify to the 1999 World Championships Team where the USA placed 6th as a team. [Nationally] Morgan was successful as well placing 2nd on Floor at the American Classic, 7th AA, 3rd on bars and 6th on beam at the US Championships, which qualified her to the World Team Trials. In 1999 Morgan also competed at the American Cup.

Morgan entered 2000 feeling very confident she placed 2nd AA at the U.S Classic meet

and a few weeks later she competed at the U.S Championships placing 7th AA, 5th on Bars, 4th on Beam and 5th on Floor not to bad for a young gymnast battling the flu during the competition. Her 7th place AA finish qualified her onto the 2000 US Olympic Team Trials.

Morgan had a great showing at the 2000 US Olympic Trials, she finished 4th place in the AA behind two national champions and a 1996 Olympian. However, just because she finished in the top 6 did not guarantee her a spot on the Sydney Team. She like her teammate Alyssa Beckerman did all they could that day and they too waited in the back room on live tv for what seemed like an eternity to find out if her name would be one of the 6 names called as part of the 2000 US Olympic Team.

This is what Morgan has to say at the conclusion of the Trials:

“I did above and beyond what I thought I was going to do. Today everything was just clicking, everything felt so good for me…it was fun and it is a great feeling. There are so many great athletes out there and I’m not the top gymnast in the U.S…I’m still peaking.”—Morgan White 2000 Olympic Team Trials.

Once the selection committee was done deliberating, it was announced that Morgan White from CGA in Ohio would be part of the 2000 US Olympic Team to compete in Sydney. However, bad luck struck Morgan after arriving in Sydney, she sustained a broken ankle during training and was forced to withdraw from the team. Morgan and her coach Mary Lee Tracy, who had been named one of the Olympic Team coaches left Sydney for Ohio. Morgans Olympic Dream ended before the games even started, however according to USA Gymnastics Morgan is still considered an Olympian even though she was unable to compete.

After the Olympics Morgan tried to continue gymnastics into 2001 with hopes of making the 2001 World Championship Team, however she had some struggles at the 2001 Nationals and did not make the team, Morgan suffered a shoulder injury in 2001 and ultimately made the decision in 2002 to retire from Gymnastics.

Morgan attended Miami University in Ohio where she studied special education, she lives in Fairfield Ohio and is an intervention specialist at Winton Woods Elementary School. Morgan is still involved with Gymnastics working with the USA Gymnastics Grassroots program and she attends and coaches at summer camps like Woodward.

Thank You to Morgan White for being such and inspiration to future generations of Region 5 Elite and Region 5 Olympic Hopefuls. Continue to succeed and inspire in everything you do in life.

Here are Morgans Olympic Trials routines:

Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise

***Imagines from Google Search, Bio provided by USA Gymnastics, Wiki and NBC Broadcast, Videos from Youtube account Gymnfanus19972000***

Region 5 Elites who chased Olympic Glory: Alyssa Beckerman, CGA

By

Kim Dowis

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July 9, 2016

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Our next Region 5 gymnast who has helped pave the way for the next generation to the Olympic Trials was not originally from Region 5, but she did compete all of her elite career in Region 5 at Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy in Ohio.

Alyssa Beckerman, originally from New Jersey, trained under Mary Lee Tracy at CGA in Fairfield, Ohio. Alyssa was a strong competitor with beautiful lines. I really enjoyed watching her on Beam and Floor.

Alyssa became an international elite in 1996, but it wasn’t until 1998 that she really hit her stride and started to find success on the national level. At the 1998 U.S Championships Alyssa placed 2nd on bars and 8th AA. Alyssa had a stellar year in 1999, she was 3rd AA at the American Classic/Pan Am Trials, she also added a 2nd place AA and picked up two national titles on Beam and Vault to her resume at the 1999 John Hancock U.S Championships. Alyssa also placed 3rd at the 1999 World Championship Trials, however Alyssa was unable to compete at the Worlds due to a wrist injury. She would get another shot to prove her readiness to the Olympic Selection Committee, mainly Bela Karolyi who was the National Team Coordinator, that she would be an asset to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Team.

At the 2000 John Hancock U.S Championships, this was Alyssa’s time to shine, she was coming off a great showing at the U.S Classic meet placing 3rd in the AA a few weeks before. At the Championships Alyssa placed 5th in the AA, 2nd on the uneven bars and 1st on the balance beam. Beckerman also secured herself a spot at the 2000 U.S Olympic Team Trials.

At the 2000 U.S Olympic Team Trials Alyssa had a pretty good meet, she struggled a bit on bars in day 1 and stepping out on floor on day 2, but she ended up finishing 8th in the All-Around. I remember watching these trials and thinking that she was going to make the team, especially because others had either made mistakes or sustained injuries. However, Alyssa along with all the other competitors sat in a room in the back of the arena while the selection committee deliberated for 30mins on live tv before coming out and announcing the girls who made the team, those who were selected as alternates and those whose olympic dreams would be put on hold for another 4 years.

Alyssa’s name was not called as a member of the Olympic Team, however she was named the 1st alternate to the team, which meant she would travel to Sydney and be one standby just in case she was needed. A few days into the Games, Alyssa’s club mate Morgan White broke her ankle and would not be able to compete, so she headed home. Alyssa thought this would be her time, that she would get called up to the team. This was not the case, Bela had called up the 2nd alternate who was not even in Sydney at the time to compete on the team. Alyssa had to sit in the stands and cheer for the USA Team as they competed in the team finals without her.

After earning the Alternate spot on the Olympic Team Alyssa had this to say:

“At this point I’m thankful for what I’ve got. I’ve been working my butt off for so long now. I’ve been to every training camp working hard. I’m honored Bela really believes in me.”—Alyssa Beckerman 2000 Olympic Trials

Even though Alyssa’s Olympic Journey did not go as planned or as those Region 5 and CGA athletes before her, she was still part of the Olympic Team and the Olympic Games in 2000. After the Games ended Alyssa went
on to receive a full ride scholarship to UCLA, along with 2 of her Olympic Teammates, she competed for UCLA from 2001-2003. Alyssa earned a degree in Sociology from UCLA.

On June 22, 2014 Alyssa married Matt King in a ceremony in Westboro, NJ. They now reside in Middletown, NJ.

Thank You Alyssa Beckerman for being such a strong willed competitor and for continuing to strive towards your dreams. You have been an inspiration for the next generation of Region 5 Elites and Region 5 Olympic Hopefuls. I hope you continue to succeed and inspire in your life.

Here are Alyssa’s routines from the 2000 Olympic Trials

Vault, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise

***Images from Google Search, Facebook. Bio Provided by Wiki and USA Gymnastics, Videos from Youtube account Gymnfanus19972000***

Favorite Five w/ Amelia Hundley

By

Jason MacDonald

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July 8, 2016

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Amelia sat down with the Insider in St. Louis to talk about her elite career. She took some time to answer some favorite five questions including the gymnast that has most inspired her during her career. Amelia competes in day 1 of Olympic Trials tonight in San Jose.

Region 5 Elites who chased Olympic Glory: Katie Teft, Twistars USA

By

Kim Dowis

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July 7, 2016

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Our next Region 5 Athlete who chased her Olympic Dream all the way to the Olympic Trials, but just missed making the 1996 Olympic Team, is Katie Teft from Gedderts Twistars USA in Michigan.

Katie, who is from Grand Rapids Michigan had a pretty successful elite career prior to the 1996 Olympics Trials. Katie who competed under John & Kathryn Geddert at Great Lakes Gymnastics Club found much success between 1993 & 1996, placing top 10 in the AA in almost every meet she competed. I briefly spoke to John Geddert about Katie and here is what he had to say about his first Olympic Hopeful…..

“Katie was easily one of the most talented and gifted athletes ever to come out of Region 5. She had a unique ability to combine grace and power with a fearless attack during competitions. She had remarkable swing on bars (9.9 at one classic in 1996 and I believe only Dominique Dawes outscored her on optional bars at the 96 Olympic Trials. She was fearless on beam… RO layout mount to immediate flic lay series, RO flic double tuck dismount, She was also a great tumbler (whip whip to full in, triple full, front double twist and her trademark double illusion turn (havent seen one since)”

John also, spoke about some of Katie’s accomplishments before and after the Olympic Games….

“She won JOs in 1993…. in Maryland…. and went directly into the elite program where she won the American and US classic in 1994 before severe severs took a little pep out of her step. She still managed to make the Jr Elite National Team. Her debut at the senior level was at the trial for Senior Pan American games. She stunned plenty by making that team that was loaded with experience and talent (Shannon Miller, Amanda Borden, Amy Chow, Kristy Powell, Mary Beth Arnold, USA won gold and Katie qualified to beam finals…. missing AA finals by .025″

In 1995 Teft was also part of the Gold Medal Winning Pan Am Games Team, she was also on the winning team at the 1995 Visa Challenge. After a successful year Katie was well on her way to being in the mix for the 1996 Olympic Team. However, 1996 would prove to be a rough year for Katie dealing with injuries, gym turmoil and eventually a gym change. Before the 1996 National Championships Katie’s long time coaches, John & Kathryn Geddert decided to leave Great Lakes Gymnastics and Katie decided to go along too. There was a period of time that Katie and the Gedderts found themselves without a training facility. So, they had to find a place for Katie to train until Gedderts Twistars USA was officially opened in July 1996 right between US Nationals and the Olympic Trials.

John spoke about this period in Katie’s training……

“She endured a gym break up in the midst of her bid for the 96 team. We had to train on the road as we were not allowed to training at MSU (our interim home until we opened Twistars) due to a NCAA rule (she lived more than 50 miles from MSU and therefore it was considered a recruiting violation. With the help of the national office she managed to train well and ended up 8th AA (5th highest optional AA). This was the last year of the compulsories and they counted 60% of your score. She had a rare fall on compulsory bars which virtually killed any small chance of making the actual 96 team (in the days of politics that team was pretty much decided prior to the event itself which Moceanu and Miller making the team without competing at trials). As it turned out the USA won Olympic gold for the first time so the team was definitely the right one…”

At the 1996 Olympic Trials, Katie at 14 years old was one of the youngest competitors out on the floor, she made the age cut for the Games by only 3 months! Katie had a terrific meet! She had some of the most entraining and different routines in the entire competition, it was always fun to watch Katie perform especially on Bars, then her memorable beam mount (which the Layout Stepout is now being performed by Alyssa Al-Ashari who also hails from Twistars USA). Katie went onto finish 8th AA at the 1996 Olympic Trials, just missing a spot on the team. However, Katie was named 3rd alternate to the team.

Katie did find success following the Olympics she was assigned to the Pac Rim Championships in Malaysia where she helped the USA team win gold and received some individual placements as well. Throughout Katie’s career she had the opportunity to travel to many meets international and represent the USA these meets include: the Catania Cup in 1993 (Sicily), An assignment to Spain where she was 3rd AA in a stiff field of competition, The Olympic Test event in 96, The Hilton Challenge and Visa Challenge where she helped USA win gold against Belarus, China, Ukraine and other countries.

After the Olympics, Katie took some time off due to injuries, she competed in High School Gymnastics and Level 10, she did not return to the Elite Level. In 2000 Katie did attend the University of Massachusetts on a Gymnastics Scholarship, Katie competed of UMass for 3 years before they lost their women’s program. Katie competed her senior year at Central Michigan University, which she posted numerous perfect 10s, broke the schools Uneven Bars record and qualified to the NCAA Championships as an individual.

After graduation Katie was an assistant coach at the Michigan State University, in East Lansing Michigan for 7 seasons. Katie is now married to Mike Minasola and living in Iowa where is has been an Assistant Coach for the Iowa State Women’s Gymnastics team since July 2011.

Katie has been an outstanding athlete, coach and mentor for young gymnasts all over not only Region 5, but the entire country. I remember watching Katie compete as a young gymnast. In 1996 I went to a meet hosted by Great Lakes Gymnastics and I remember receiving a score booklet as a gift and inside it had pictures and fact about Katie and I remember thinking it was so cool that this Olympic Hopeful was from this gym and I was at the meet hosted by her club! I remember watching her in the Olympic Trials in 1996 and feeling a connection because we were both from Michigan. It was a very cool experience as a young 10 year old gymnast.

John and Kathryn also continue to speak highly of Katie….

“Above all of her outstanding gymnastics accomplishments what stands out most about Katie Teft is her integrity, character and appreciation for those who contributed to her success. It has been over 20 years and she is still like a daughter to Kathryn and I. She is a remarkable young lady and a role model for the sport of gymnastics.”

Thank you Katie Teft, for chasing your Olympic Dream and paving the way to the Olympic Trials and the Olympic Games, not only for young gymnasts in Michigan but all of Region 5!

Katie’s 1996 Olympic Trials Routines:

Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise

***Photos provided by Google Search and Facebook, Video provided by and Information Provided by John Geddert***

Region 5 Elites who chased Olympic Glory: Jaycie Phelps, CGA

By

Kim Dowis

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July 2, 2016

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Our next Region 5 Elite who chased Olympic Glory is Jaycie Phelps. Jaycie was born and raised in Greenfield, Indiana outside of Indianapolis.

Jaycie took a different road to the Olympic podium than Amanda Borden. In 1993 after finishing 24th as a junior at the National Championships, Jaycie was ready to throw in the towel and quit the sport of gymnastics. However, her parents urged her to give another coach a try and she agreed. She moved to Cincinnati, Ohio with her mom to begin training with Mary Lee Tracy. This move proved to be an extremely beneficial one for Jaycie. In 1994, Jaycie finished 6th as a senior at the 1994 National Championships cementing her spot on the US National Team. Jaycie would go on to compete in the 1994, 1995 & 1996 World Championships before qualifying to the 1996 Olympic Team. Like her teammate, Jaycie would also find her name in the FIG Code of Points with the “Phelps” (video from USAGym) on Vault.

Jaycie, who really started gaining momentum after arriving at CGA, enter into the Olympic Games with extreme confidence. Jaycie found herself being the leadoff athlete on two events (Vault & Bars). Between Jaycie and her CGA teammate Amanda Borden, CGA lead off every event at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Jaycie competed on all four events in the team competition. Even though she did not qualify to an event finals or walk away from the games with an individual medal, Jaycie did come away with an Olympic Gold Medal.

In 1999 Jaycie did make a comeback in hopes of trying to make the 2000 Olympic Team. Jaycie qualified to the 2000 National Championships, but only competed on one event day 1 due to a knee injury, she petitioned to the Olympic Trials but her petition was denied. Jaycie decided to officially retire from the sport of gymnastics.

In 2010, Jaycie Phelps and Dave Marus opened Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center (JPAC) in her hometown of Greenfield, Indiana. Jaycie has become an extremely successful coach having qualified many of her athletes to the JO National Championships and have many gymnasts receive college scholarships to top universities in the country.