presented by: A1 Awards

Championship time is here in Region 5. Region 5 Championships will take place in Fort Wayne Indiana at the Turnstone Center (Plassman Athletic Center) beginning Thursday April 13th.

Each year we highlight 5 (sometimes 7) Level 10 athletes from each of our 5 states. You might not know these names, but we think you should watch out for for these athletes as they compete for a spot on their first 2023 Region 5 Dream Team for Level 10.

Here are 7 ones to watch from Ohio:

Avery Moll (Buckeye) Junior C

Avery Moll has been an athlete to watch for years having great success as a level 9 toping the podium two years in a row in the All-Around & Vault at the L9 Eastern Championships along with adding the Bars title in 2022. Avery, who has recently dipped her toes into the elite world, is one of the might highly anticipated 1st year level 10s for me with upgraded routines on Almost every event, powerful tumbling, exception presentation & extension this athlete is the total package and I cannot wait to see what the 2023 Region 5 Championships holds for this Ohio State Champion. Watch Avery in the Junior C age group where she is sure to be not only a leader for the R5 Dream Team, but a leader on the National Stage as well.

Jazlene Pickens (Buckeye) Junior C

Due to injury Jazlene missed out on making the 2022 Dev Nationals, but went on to qualifier Hopes later that year. Jaz, the 2023 OH State BB & 2022 FX Champion, is heading into the weekend looking stronger than ever ready to make a run at her first level 10 R5 Dream Team. Jazlene, like Avery, will be one to watch in the Junior C age group and it should be exciting to watch these two exceptional but different styled athletes compete to see who comes out on top for that grouping, both are coming into the meet with the same AA score. Watch for Jazlene’s power, personalty and precision to shine on vault, beam and floor this weekend.

Karleigh Reutzel (Universal) Junior F

Karleigh is in her 3rd year of level 10. She excels on floor posting huge scores all season including this 9.6 routine at state. However, our attention is always drawn to gymnasts who do something just a bit different and Karleigh is that athlete. Her 1 arm bhs layout series is an eye catcher for sure. She also has a very nice handspring tuck front vault that won her the state title on her way to the Ohio State AA title for her age group.

Rani Nigam (Queen City) Junior B

Rani is in her first year of level 10. She first caught my eye on beam last year as Level 9 at regionals in which she won the event and qualified to the 2022 Eastern Championships. She throws the book on beam. However, I feel her best event when she lets it swing is bars, which features a very nice Ray and the typical Queen City bar lines that we have come to admire.

Autumn Rardin (Gym Xtreme) Junior F

Autumn hails from the same gym as Riley Carmen, who is a also on our list, as well a numerous other great R5 athletes. Autumn is the 2023 Ohio State Vault & Bars Champion, with a beautiful Handspring Front Pike it is surely a vault that you do not want to miss! I love watching Autumn perform on the floor, her routine is full of sass and expression, coming from Gym X-Treme you can always count on an exceptional choreographed Floor performance from these athletes.

Payton McClain (Perfection) Junior B

Payton is a 1st year level 10 looking to make her mark, no stranger to national competition, Payton is a 3x TOPs qualifier as well as a 2021 L9 Eastern Qualifier. Hailing for Perfection Gymnastics in Cincinnati you can be sure she will come with a bar set sure to impress with long lines and effortless swing. Like many Region 5 Payton’s before her get ready for many years of this young talented athlete, she has something special that we could be seeing a lot more of this Junior B Level 10 from Ohio.

Riley Carmen (Gym Xtreme) Junior F

Riley has been on my “ones to watch” list for years! I always feel as this athlete is older than she really is because she has been a level 10 for so long. Riley shows beautiful presentation all over the gym, she has a 2022 R5 Yahtzee award to prove it. Riley catches your eye with her expression, confidence and personality on the Floor Exercise and Balance Beam along with her effortless swing and release combo on the Uneven Bars, which she also has a 2021 Best Bar Combo Yahtzee Award for too. In the past Riley has just missed making the R5 Dream Team, but I feel like this year could be her year! So, do not miss this athlete in the Junior F age group because when she hits it will be incredible and I will be the first one jumping up and down for her!