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.
Time for the Gymnastics Professionals to gather together at the Region 5 Congress. The 2016 Region 5 Congress is being held at the DeVos Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The weekend will be full of great presenters, informative presentations, lots of vendors and of course the Region 5 Banquet!
I will be blogging and videoing everyday, to give those in Region 5 a small sneak peak of the educational opportunities and experiences the Region 5 Coaches and Judges receive at the Region 5 Congress to make Region 5 the best Region in the entire country!
Some of the amazing presenters today (Friday) are Kittia Carpenter, Annie Heffernon, Connie Maloney, Tom Knoll, Todd Gardiner, Tammy Biggs, Michelle Kocan, Patti Kimora, Beth Gardner, David Tilley, Kim Riley, Kathie Klages, Eddie O’Connor, Andy Gillham, Linda Thornberg, Loree Galimore, James Parent, Jennifer O’Hara and Judy Dobransky.
Presentions will be made in Recreational Gymnastics, Business, Sports Science, Coaching and Techincal (Judging).
Lots of great updates on the JO Program! These updates can be found on the USA Gymnastics Website under Women’s JO Program.
Optional Floor/Beam Composition & Compulsory Beam
Tom Knoll “Mr. Gymnastics” gave a very interesting and informative presentation on Beam & Floor compositions to minimize deductions. “Level of Difficulty in the Routine…should be based on the ability of the gymnast” Each gymnast should be treated as a different person, not every gymnast HAS to do the same skills and have the same routine compositions. The decision of the composition of the routines should also be based on your philosophy or training plan. However, try not to have gymnasts perform skills or series that give them self doubt. He really stressed artistry, creativity an originality in routines. Tom also did Level 3-5 Balance Beam and introduced the concept of the 4 Ps (Push, Pinch, Pull, Press). “Straight is Great” was a major them in his beam session.
The Future of Level 7 Vault
The future of Level 7 vault was discussed by Tom Knoll & Annie Heffernon, this was a very informative session. Details and more information on the Future of Level 7 Vault will be available after the May 2017 meeting, with changed being implemented August 1st 2018. Look for those updates to be out on the USA Gymnastics Website in the summer of 2017.
Beam Series with Tammy Biggs
The Legendary Tammy Biggs stressed basics and starting every beam workout with a complex that stresses the basics. Tammy talked about the importance of body positions in all series skills and that she starts with Dismounts when working and moving onto series work. Tammy emphasized the leg and toe push off the beam in all her drills on the beam and off the beam, showing some great drills to achieve maximum execution. I thought Tammy’s complexes were very informative and look forward to implementing many of her ideas into my own workouts.
Stylization vs Text
Tom Knoll, the creator of the USA Gymnastics Compulsory Routines, broke down the routine from each compulsory level (3-5), he spoke about the parts that you can stylize vs the parts that MUST follow the text. It was so educational, that he went through each and every moment and told us exactly where each arm, toe and head focus was suppose to be. When learning and teaching these routines, we all read the text and think that we are doing it correctly, that is until the creator tells you that it is wrong. It was surely humbling to be corrected by the originator, I took a plethora of notes during this session.
Well that is all I have for Friday’s Congress Session recap. I was only able to attend so many sessions, and found all that I did attend very beneficial.
Stay tuned for pictures, updates, videos and of course the live stream of the Region 5 Banquet on Saturday!
