This workout was filmed back in June as they started their preparation for the 2024 competition season. Queen City has a good mix of experienced level 10’s as well as the talented level 9’s who are looking to move up. This workout includes some tumbling and beam drills plus skill work on floor, beam and bars. Queen City’s coaches Stacy and Zach are two of our top coaches in our region and they have a structure to their workouts to maximize time to get a lot done at each practice.
SAP Center- Standing on top of the podium, in her sparkling blue and white leo as the national vault champion, Izzy Stassi from Buckeye claimed medals on all four events landing her in 3rd place in the all around and a place on her second consecutive USA Junior National Team.
Izzy Stassi, Buckeye named to the 2023 USA Junior National Team after Day 2 of the Xfinity Championships
Izzy started day 2 right off with a bang as she performed the best layout beam mount she has done all week. She was a bit short of rotation on her flight series but pulled up to have a good landing and closed with a strong double full.
She took command of the floor bringing out the dramatic in her routine and nicely executing her four tumbling passes including her full twisting double back opening pass. Vault is one of Izzy’s best events and that was no different at these championships as she took the Junior National Vault title with a combined 27.3 over both days. Looking forward to next year with her vaults, as she has some upgrades in the works to be competitive at the senior level.
Strong finish to Izzy’s competition on bars leading off with a beautiful jaeger, moving through all her bar to bar combos including her Bhardwaj and Maloney 1/2 all performed well and closing with a solid double layout and 13.05 for 5th place on the event.
“I was really proud of myself because in my first two championships I fell the first day but Going 8 for 8 this year was Awesome”
– Izzy Stassi, Buckeye Gymnastics
Ella Kate Parker from Cincinnati, sporting a red and black Leo for day 2, had a much better go at it than on day one. She began on bars with a 1.1 improvement from Friday’s score as she executed her Ricna (Stalder Tkatchev) to Pak salto combo with ease and solid on her double layout dismount for a 12.1.
Leading off in rotation 2, Ella Kate had a nice aerial two layout flight series which she omitted in day one. She was shaky as she moved through the routine, unfortunately falling on her switch half which her foot appeared to have landed on the side of the beam on her switch leap prior to it.
Ella Kate got her block angle right today on her 2 1/2 front pike 3rd pass which she had been struggling with and finished the routine strong which was a nice comeback from the fall on beam. She finished up her competition on vault with a more explosive vault then the one on Friday but took a large hop back. Ella Kate improved her all around score by .35 on day two.
The crowd grew and the cheers got louder for the senior session which of course happens when Simone Biles is in the house. The energy was felt throughout the arena as the awwww’s echoed loud when athletes had a fall and roared when dismounts were rocking.
Region 5’s only senior Kelise Woolford from Buckeye began on floor and did her double back first pass while roars were blistering in the arena for Jade Carey’s bar dismount. I think the crowd gave Kelise a bit extra energy as she had a big bounce back. However she did perform another awesome Memmel turn and scored the same 12.15 as she did on Friday …… CONSISTENT!
Kelise’s Yurchenko 1/1 lacked a little rotation and took a big step forward. I think she saved a bit too much of her energy for her Jaeger on bars blasting it into the ceiling as usually but having way to much coming out and had to stop on her kip. She finished up with a nice Stalder to half in half out.
Kelise has struggled a bit on beam this week and despite the fall on her side somi in day two, her routine was much better. She lead off with great triple wolf turn and was super solid on the back handspring layout flight series. She stuck to the consistent double full dismount landing solid to finish up her work here at the Xfinity Championships.
Time to upgrade and get ready for the 2024…. Olympic Year season!
Our Ohio Trio Kelise, Izzy and Ella Kate answered some not gymnastics questions after podium training to learn a little more about what they are like off the competition floor and outside of the gym.
Competition in the 2023 Xfinity Championships flipped into action this afternoon at the SAP Center with Day 1 of junior competition. Region 5 had two athletes take the floor for the last meet of their season. The arena was rocking in anticipation of some outstanding gymnastics and the crowd was not to be disappointed.
Izzy Stassi of Buckeye Gymnastics, sporting a bright mint green leo, rocked two 13 plus scores in the first two events and is currently in 4th all around with a 51.9. As Izzy has mentioned in several of her interviews she is dealing with a back issue that has hindered her training time and then hit her big toe on the low bar in training her in San Jose. Her performance was highlighted by a beautiful Yurchenko 1 1/2 in the first rotation for a 13.7 that sits in 2nd place.
She went last on beam with the eyes all on her but that had no effect on her beautiful layout step out mount on beam. Music in the arena during her routine was “Wild One” and I would say that fits her mount like a glove. On floor she almost stuck her full twisting double back opening pass. She had some radar for the landings today including getting her feet under her on the 1 1/2 front full third pass. Loved how she looked right at the judges with a dead stare after her 3rd pass. In the video below you will notice Izzy saluted the announcer and the crowd before the judges ….. Priorities!!!!!
video from USA Gymnastics
Ella Kate Parker from Cincinnati Gymnastics had was up and down but fought through to the end finishing strong on beam. She missed the timing of her connection on the two and half front pike and had to tuck it down and sat down this after doing a beautiful triple full. She kicked off her bar routine in strong fashion with her Ricna (Stalder Tkatchev) immediate Pak with ease but hand some trouble with grip on the pirouette and had to stop and recast before her dismount.
Balance beam is the place Ella Kate shines and she wrapped day one with a 12.65 which sits her in 6th place. She must have felt a bit off on her series as she omitted the 2nd layout in her series but hit a solid aerial layout step out and closed out the routine with a very nice back handspring combo to double full.
Ella Kate Parker, Cincinnati Gymnastics during beam on day one of the 2023 Xfinity US Champonships photo credit: Lloyd Smith, Inside Gymnastics
The senior session began with an all lights show during the national anthem as the SAP Center has installed lights on all of the seats around arena and the were flashing red white and blue. Region 5’s only senior Kelise Woolford from Buckeye Gymnastics turned 16 today so…. Happy Birthday Kelise. She came into this championships nursing an ankle injury which has prevented her from putting in some of the upgrades that she was hoping to like her back handspring full series on beam.
Kelise started the night off a bit tight on bars and had to cover a missed pirouette and a bit of a slipped hand on a pirouette but sent her Jaeger into the Jumbotron as usual and finished with a strong full out for a 12.35. In podium training, beam was a bit off for her but the routine today was very solid starting off with an awesome triple wolf turn and continued through to her solid side somi before sitting down the 2 1/2.
Kelise Woolford, Buckeye Gymnastics flying high on her jaeger during night one of the 2023 Xfinity Championships .
Chellsie Memmel move on over, Kelise Woolford is in town and she has a gorgeous Memmel turn to start her routine. She had solid landings on her first two tumbling passes and adjusted to an awkward landing on her 2 1/2 last pass. It was a nice artistic performance for Kelise. She finished off with a solid Yurchenko full to close competition on night one.
Competition for all three ladies with continue on Sunday for Day 2 of the 2023 Xfinity US Championships.
