2025 HOPES Championships Recap (Live Blog)

By

Jason MacDonald

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July 18, 2025

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Final Results

Interviews: Claudia Lasek | Agnes Song

Competition Routine Gallery (videos from USA Gymnastics YouTube Channel)

Agnes Song from Legacy Elite broke the top 10 all around finishing 8th in the 13-14 age group with a 46.65. She makes it onto the podium for bars with her 11.15 for 3rd place which was her first event of the competition. She also took 4th on beam with her 11.95.

Agnes Song, Legacy Elite 3rd place bars- 2025 HOPES Championships

Claudia Lasak from Legacy Elite just missed out of the top eight finishing 9th on bars with a 11.15, pretty impressive considering she was a level 8 during the 2025 season. This was the biggest meet of her young career and she will be one to watch next season when we look to make up that Level 9 Dream Team for Eastern Championships in Savannah Georgia.

Check out a full competition breakdown including photos from the competition in our Live Blog recap below.

Welcome everyone to our HOPES Championships live blog.

Touch warm-ups for competition have begun. Our Legacy Elite Duo begins on bars.

Claudia Lasak will be 4th up in the first flight of rotation 1.

Claudia next up on bars- Level 8 competitor during the 2025 meet season now on the podium at HOPES Championships.

Nice Toe handstand clear hip Pac combo to open. Blind Front Giant 1/2 and Double fly big step.

score: 11.15

Interested in watching these HOPES Champs it’s over on Flip Now (Subscription needed) https://flipnow.usagym.org/products/2025-u-s-classic-hopes-championship

Touch Warm-ups for the second 1/2 of rotation 1 is underway. Agnes Song 2025 Level 10 national qualifier will be the last to compete on bars.

Legacy Elite fans are in full force here at NOW Arena taking up almost a whole side of the arena.

Agnes caught her jaeger with one hand in warm-ups but holds on IMPRESSIVE! Hope both hands get on in the competition.

Ok Agnes is now on the podium getting ready for her first routine of these championships. The COME ON AGNES from the crowd and cheers as her name is announced up next!

Nice blind piked Jaeger, Clear hip Stalder Pak combo, Blind 1/1 and double layout (slightly piked) dismount big hop forward but HIT!

11.15 for Agnes identical to Claudia to close out bars in rotation 1.

In rotation 2, Claudia will be 2nd up on beam in the first 1/2 and Agnes 2nd up in the second 1/2.

The squads are now rotating around the arena.

Just in case you are not aware of the HOPES competition, we have two age groups 11-12 and 13-14 which will each have their separate champions crowned. Claudia Lasak, Legacy Elite is in the 11-12 with Agnes Song, Legacy Elite in the 13-14 respectively.

Claudia getting ready with final words from coach Andi.

Nice split mount! Nice leap series but off on BHS layout. Solid standing back tuck and front aerial and a RO Full dismount with a solid landing. That will be a very nice Level 9 routine next session.

Kim working hard on the floor check these photos of Claudia from bars.

10.55 on beam for Claudia

Bell signaling the touch warm-up for the 2nd 1/2 of rotation 2.

Love seeing Shilese Jones out there coaching but can’t to see her back out competing.

WOW what a start to the second 1/2 of rotation 2…. Huge Yurchenko full from Cassandra Tan, BIG Jaeger from Alexis Reiner and an Ondi from Alden Dante.

Agnes is getting ready to mount the beam.

A bit slow on the wolf turn but made it, solid BHS layout and side aerial, good switch switch 1/2, cross split jump 1/2, nice double full dismount small hop! Very nice routine!

I think she has a Korbut in her routine as well but I missed it as a USA Gym Tech guy is fixing the live stream camera in front of me.

11.95 on beam

Over on bars an impressive 13.25 from Avery Haines (First State) very nice Stalder 1/2 endo 1/2 Stalder Maloney combo.

Combined results after 2 rotations https://www.meetscoresonline.com/R34758

Both Agnes (1st 1/2) and Claudia (2nd 1/2) will go last on floor in 3rd rotation.

2025 US Classic Junior Podium Training Highlights

By

Jason MacDonald

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July 18, 2025

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Highlights from our Region 5 junior athletes during the 2025 US Classic Junior women’s podium training. NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates Illinois is playing host to this years US Classic and Region 5 has five juniors competing in the competition with two already stamping their ticket to the US Championships in New Orleans held in August. Here are some behind the scenes moments and gymnastics highlights from podium training

2025 Region 5 Top 10 Favorite Leotards (6-10)

By

Kim Dowis

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July 15, 2025

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It’s that time of year again! Time for my Region 5 Top 10 Favorite Leotards, which really should be Top 25 since I can never decide, of 2025. Each year it gets harder and harder to compile a list of only 10 leotards without having a ton of extras! However, if you have followed along with the Region 5 Insider you should be well aware by now I cannot make a list to save my life. This year, as usual, was an exceptionally difficult as there were so many great leotards out on the competition floor. So there might be a few more honorable mentions that usual, but that is okay because its my list!

So sit back, relax and enjoy part one of our top 10 (or more) favorite Region 5 Leotards of 2025.

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10. PGC (Illinois 1st year) Moreau 10. CITY Club (Illinois 1st year) GK

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In the number 10 spot is PGC & CITY Club, respectfully, it is the first year on the list for both these gyms. I had a hard time deciding between these two beautiful sublimated leotards by Moreau Sports & & GK Elite. I have always LOVED how CITY Club used the Chicago Flag in their leotards. Last year they had a similar one with red, but there is just someone iconic and eye catching with the mixture of the light & navy blue really allowing the red stars to pop! The same cam be said about PGC’s leo, it has a very European look too it, which I absolutely LOVE, I have always wanted to try this company! Growing up this was the company that most of my favorite European Teams used and I was always jealous! PGC’s European inspired leotard has an elegance to it that makes you take notice not just of the beautiful leo, but the gymnastics as well.

9. Five Star (Ohio 3rd year) Ozone

In the number 9 spot is Five Star! I first saw this leo at the Lady Luck Meet in Las Vegas and instantly loved it. I am not one who usually loves navy blue (13 years of private school will do that to you), but there was just something beautifully classy about this leo that drew me in. The white belt is well placed making it look great on everyone and it has a key hole back, which as someone who did gym in the 90s give me a key hole back any day!

8. Legacy Elite (Illinois 5th year) Ozone

Legacy Elite is no stranger to this list having appeared 4 times previously. What I always love the most about a Legacy Elite leo is the branding! You know immediately what team this leo belongs to with their signature colors and dragon! The dragon on the leos is always my favorite part. There truly has not been a Legacy Elite Leo that I have not loved.

7. Naperville (Illinois 4th year) Sylvia P

Naperville! This SP leo is so different with its beautiful design and color, but it really is the details of the back and the chest that do it for me along with the subtle jeweling throughout. I love how this leo stands out on the competition floor

6. Vernon Hills (Illinois 1st year) Sylvia P

VERNON HILLS, from the first moment I saw this leotard on one of their younger athletes, I prayed I would see it again at level 9/10 Regionals because it HAD to make this list! Both a favorite of Jason and mine. Vernon Hills came to play in the beautifully elegant black and white bejeweled number! The high neck and key hole back are what dreams are made of and VH certainly hit it out of the park with this one! It also looks sensational on all athletes from 8-18 this one is a classic!

Honorable Mention #1

FLYTZ-SP (Ohio), UGA-Ozone (Illinois), GTC-IN-Ozone (Indiana)

Honorable Mentions are so difficult because there truly were some amazing leotards out on the competition floor, but I am really working on keeping it to 3 per post. I also really value the input from others to help me decide especially when it comes to the honorable mention list.

1. Flytz (Ohio)-Flytz never disappoints with their leotards and this one is no exception. There were a few great all black leotards in Region 5 this year, but this one really stands out with the beautiful jewels! It reminds me of an elegant ballgown and it looks great on everyone!

2. UGA (Illinois)-UGA was actually one of the inspirations for this list way back in 2014 when at Regionals I got this bright idea to compile my favorite leotards list. I can still remember that leo to this day it was sensational and really stood out, just like this beautiful blue Ozone leo. Now I know others have similar patterns to this one, but its the high neck & keyhole back for me.

3. GTC-IN (Indiana)– GTC has gone back to their signature blue & white, which I love! It always reminds me of Greece! Last year they went a different direction with light blue and black, which I loved, but this one really pops especially with the awesome criss-cross open back.

Stay Tuned for Part 2…..

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Disclaimer: To be eligible for the Region 5 Top 10 Favorite Leo list at least one athlete must compete at least one event at the Level 9/10 Region 5 Championships. Reminder: The Region 5 leotard list is opinion based, 100 non-affiliated individuals are also polled to help in the selection process.

Podcast: Alumni Conversation- Helen HU, Cinderella Season Tattooed For Life

By

Jason MacDonald

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July 2, 2025

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Follow our Podcast Feed Click Here. Download podcast here Podcast Youtube

Video of Podcast

We are back with our Alumni Conversations and we are starting off with a bang. Want to know WHO well the Beam QUEEN of 2025 herself Helen HU! She returned to the NCAA after a year off and was perfect literally as well as collect some much deserved hardware and really it was about time HU DAT was all THAT in the eyes of the judges. We are going to have a FULL OUT breakdown of this last cinderella year and get her impressions from the 10.0’s to the championships to the Tatooe! We cover it all.

Stassi and Sliney Nola Bound, Legacy Elite DUO to Hopes Champs- 2025 American Classic Recap

By

Jason MacDonald

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June 29, 2025

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cover photo courtesy of USA Gymnastics

Westerville, Ohio

Results: Junior | Senior | HOPES 11-12 | HOPES 13-14

Buckeye Gymnastics played host to the 2025 American Classic, a qualifying competition for the upcoming HOPES Championships in Hoffman Estates, IL and the Xfinity US Championships in New Orleans. Region 5 had 9 athletes compete across the four sessions.

Qualifying scores and procedures for the Xfinity US Championships and HOPES Championships (click to drop down)

HOPES Championships– Top 18 All Around with minimum score 11-12 year olds- 43.5, 13-14 year olds- 45.00

US Championships– Juniors 49.00 Seniors 52.00 (or 3 event 39.6 and 2 event 26.9)

Izzy Stassi from Gym Xtreme finished 2nd in the senior all around with a 52.3, winning floor 13.1 and qualifying to the Xfinity Championships. Izzy’s double double tuck opening pass and new whip double back last pass were stunning. In the junior competition, Elaina Sliney from Cincinnati punched her ticket to Championships, tying for 3rd all around with a 50.45 as well as 3rd place tie on Floor with a 12.45 opening her routine with an impressive front layout front double full front tuck.

Legacy Elite Gymnastics had the only two region 5 athletes competing in the HOPES Classic with the goal of qualifying to the HOPES Championships held in conjunction with the upcoming US Classic. Both athletes finished in the top twelve and achieved the qualifying score to advance to the HOPES Championships

Claudia Lasak, a level 8 competitor during the 2025 season, scored a 45.6 and qualified to the biggest gymnastics competition of her young career. Just off her 14th place performance in her first Level 10 nationals, Agnes Song, finished 5th with a 47.05 and won beam 12.25 and will take her talents to the podium at next months HOPES Championships right in her backyard.

The stands at NOW Arena will be packed with Legacy Elite Fans cheering on their HOPES Duo.

photo courtesy of Legacy Elite- HOPES Championships qualifiers Claudia Lasak and Agnes Song

Notable Performances:

Kylie Smith from Cincinnati, already qualified to Championships in the junior division based on her international results during the season, competed 3 events including a 2nd place finish on bars 13.05. Kylie’s Jaeger release was very well performed, solid routine throughout ending with a nice layout full out.
Isla Lazzari from City Club competing in her first Classic competition finished 2nd on floor with a new upgraded front full step out through to a double back and nailed her final double pike to close out on a 12.55.

Other Highlights:

Carla Fronc from Palmers Gymnastics, 2025 Level 10 National Team Member, also competing her first classic competition upgraded her first tumbling pass on floor to a 2 1/2 front layout and debuted a new floor routine for the elite season. She also added a new combo to bars with her inbar 1/2 to endo 1/2 immediate Pak Salto.
Ansley Stevens from Cincinnati competed in her first classic competition after two seasons as a level 10 qualifying to nationals both years. Ansley’s beam in one of her best events nailing her BHS layout layout series which she fell on at Level 10 Nationals. This solid routine scored a 12.55 and finished 6th.
Kelise Woolford was the only athlete from the host club Buckeye to compete. She finished her competition on a high with a 7th place 12.05 on floor. Kelise’s strength on floor are her turns which give her a lot of her bonus including a Memmel turn.
Two Beam Skills– Isla Lazzari’s new double back dismount (double full during the level 10 season), and Izzy Stassi’s aerial layout layout series.

The American Classic kicked off the summer elite season and set the stage for more exciting gymnastics to come. Next stop Hoffman Estates, Illinois and the 2025 US Classic and HOPES Championships.