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The build up for the 2023 competition is underway in Region 5. As our gymnasts set and work towards their goals for 2023, we will be featuring many of the new skills and combos. Every Monday all summer long and into the fall ((through Level 10 High Tech Camp) we will have our Making Move Mondays. These post showcasing the upgraded skills that our gymnasts post on their Instagram channels.
If you want your upgraded skills to be included in future making moves posts, upload your video to your gymnastics Instagram page or your clubs page (must be public) and tag us @region5gyminsider and #R5MakingMovesMonday. Let’s show all the hard work and great gymnastics Region 5 is doing in the off season.
The US Classic was the last opportunity to qualify to the upcoming USA Championships, but for many its an opportunity to try out those upgraded routines. The 2022 US Classic Junior competition was broken up into two different sessions with final results combined between both sessions.
The first session took place on Friday night while the second session took place Saturday afternoon. Region 5 had three gymnasts from two clubs competing at Classics with one club in each session.
Izzy Stassi, Gym Xtreme- On floor during Friday nights US Classic Junior Session 1
On Friday, Izzy Stassi from Gym Xtreme, competing solo at classic (teammate Gabby Van Frayen recovering from injury) showcased her new aerial layout flight series on beam not to mention upgraded routines on every event in her second session as an elite. Izzy had a fall in last pass of floor but still finished tied for 5th all around (combined results) with 50.4. Her upgraded and exciting opening combo on bars (video from training on IG) helped her grab 6th with a 12.55, though she did not connect the Ray to Pac in the competition which she will be looking to do at Championships. A new Yurchenko 1 1/2 and a 13.55, was good enough to vault into the top 8 as well.
Kelise Woolford, Buckeye- on beam during the junior session 2 at US Classic
The duo from Buckeye Gymnastics competed on Saturday afternoon in a Frosted Fancy Floral leo (Kim’s description). Kelise Woolford, already qualified to championships, took the opportunity to add a new Jaeger into her bar routine. The height and rotation on the skill contributes to a huge swing coming out which caused problems on her cast pirouette giant out but was able to stay on and finish the routine. Her solid landings on her tumbling, very nice 2 1/2 last pass, lead to a 12.65 and a top 5 finish. She finished 11th in the all around with a 49.6.
Carly Weinburg, Buckeye Gymnastics- on floor during the junior session 2
Two time Hopes Championships competitor Carly Weinburg was no stranger to the podium having competed on them the last two years. Carly had a rough American Classic a few weeks ago, but rebounded well her hitting all four events including an impressive beam routine (Onodi and back handspring layout layout series) with good execution and solid landings for a 12.65 and 7th place on the podium. Her all around of 48.05 fell short of the 49.5 score for Championships but now has that elite competition experience and with a few upgrades in the works sets her up well for a push to USA Championships in 2023.
The Maverick Center, home of the Pac-12 Gymnastics Championships, played host to the 2022 US Classic and Hopes Championships. This is the first major USA Gymnastics competition held in the state of Utah since American Classic was contested at the Huntsman Center in 2019.
The first competition session of the weekend was the Hopes Championships which serves as the national championships for the Hopes athletes. Region 5 had five athletes in the championships field.
Quinn Harris from Cincinnati, in her 2nd consecutive Hopes Championships, had the highest all around finish along with the top all around score of the five from Region 5 with a 47.2 to finish 8th in the 11-12 age group. Quinn struggled a bit on her Weiler to Maloney combination on bars but hit a solid beam routine that featured a layout layout for a 5th place 12.25. She also landed herself in the top 6 on floor. She has increased her difficulty in her routines for this season.
” I definitely have way more skills this time ”
-Quinn Harris during Championships interview
Quinn Harris, Cincinnati during her beam routine at the 2022 Hopes Championships- West Valley City, Utah
Quinn will receive funding to help support her training as well as continue attending the developmental training camps while prepping for the 2023 Level 10 and Hopes seasons.
In the 13-14 age group, two from Region 5 finished in the top 8 to receive funding for the next year. Catherine Guy from Gym Xtreme finished 6th in the all around with a 46.95. After solid landings on all her beam skills for a 4th place 12.25 she “ROCKED” a 2 1/2 last pass on floor to flip into the top 3 on the event. Cat said in her interview, “This meet really helped my confidence going into Junior Elite next year”. She hopes to join her Gym Xtreme teammates Gabby and Izzy in the elite ranks.
Catherine Guy, Gym Xtreme on floor during the 2022 Hopes Championships- West Valley City, Utah
Buckeye’s Jazlene Pickens earned one of those funded spots by finishing 7th in the all around for 13-14 year olds with a 46.1. Jazlene began the meet on vault and performed the 3rd best vault with her nice 12.9 Yurchenko Full. She closed out the competition powering her way to the top floor score of 12.45 opening and closing with double backs. Jazlene was unable to finish out the championship section of the Level 10 season due to injury, but made up for it at these championships.
” I get to have fun and let Loose”
-Jazlene on her floor routine during her post meet interview
Jazlene Pickens, Buckeye Gymnastics during her floor routine at the 2022 Hopes Championships- West Valley City, Utah.
Region 5 had two more athletes in the 11-12 year old age group make their first appearance at the Hopes Championships. Legacy Elite’s Ellie Mayer was the very first competitor of the competition on balance beam and didn’t let that bother her attacking all her landings including her very nice double full dismount.
Naperville’s Gabby Ursu had a few struggles on bars and floor but pushed through despite being sick to hit a nice beam routine improving on her American Classic beam score by three tenths for a 11.9.
Here is a look at highlights from podium training for our 3 juniors (Izzy Stassi, Kelsie Woolford, and Carly Weinberg) competing in this weekends US Classic in Salt Lake City, Utah presented by
Well it has been a long wait, but the wait is finally over! This year was especially hard choosing my Top 10 favorite leos, so like many others years I asked for help narrowing my list. I even went as far as to go out of Region employing the help of some in Region 8 & a few non gymnastics people as well to help narrow this list of beautiful leos down to 10, which for anyone who listens to any of the R5 College Salute Podcasts you know narrowing lists is extremely hard for me, but I did it!
So without further a due here are my Top 5 Favorite 2022 Region 5 Leos!!
Drumroll please…………………………………………
5. Agility (Kentucky 1st year)
This is Agility’s first year on the list! Earlier this year, in anticipation for my gyms new team leo, I had GK mock this same leo up for me with gold instead of red. So, there was no doubt that when I saw Agility at Regionals in this leo that it would be on the list and here it is in the top 5!
4. BIG (Illinois 2nd year)
BIG is no stranger to fun, unique and classic leotards. This gym is definitely known for having the most interesting, unique and standout backs to their leos. This one has to be my most favorite of all the backs that BIG has had, even with the mesh backing it looks so good! Sometimes the mesh can take away from the intricate design of the leo, but this one is perfect tying the entire leo together. The athletes from BIG definitely turned heads on the competition floor this season in the classic, elegant leotard like movie stars heading the the MET Gala!
3. Gym America (Michigan 3rd year)
I absolutely loved Gym Americas 2019 red, white & blue leos that I was really looking forward to seeing what they would come up with for this year and they did not disappoint. This leo is beautiful & classic, reminding me of an elegant firework. I love the tiny star details that are incorporated throughout the bursts on the front and the arms. Such an elegant way to do America’s colors/theme on a leo without being over powering.
2. Mid Michigan (Michigan 2nd year)
I have always said “Give me velvet, a high neck & a key hole back any day” well MMG has 2 of the 3 (velvet missing) making their new leo stunning. I also love the details in the jewels with some of them being a lighter blue color mixed in with the clear crystals. This leo has made this list in the past with Aspire, which shows how this leo style is truly classic, elegant and timeless.
Champion (Kentucky 1st year) & Flytz USA (Ohio 1st year)
The number 1 spot this year was easy & hard all at the same time, thus ending with 2 teams sharing the honor, not bad for their first times on the list. I have LOVED Champion’s leo since the first moment I saw it before the season even started. I just knew that it would end up taking the top spot this year, even with other teams having the same style there was just something special about this leo which made it stand out from the others. Flytz, however was a different story, literally breaking all my rules! I have never been fond of white leos or leos with white on the bottom, probably a bit scared from a leo I had in 1997, but there was just something about Flytz leo that I could not take my eyes off of it. Every time I saw it I liked it more and more despite the white on the bottom, unlike other white leos or light colored leos I have seen this leo really did flatter every body type I saw it on. I did see this leo in a different color with a darker bottom and it definitely did not draw the eye like the Flytz leo did. Initially I was not going to put this leo on the actual list, but then so many people who I polled to help make the list loved this leo. I was going to make it an athletes choice leo, but after a few days of sitting with the decision and going over the list there was no way I could not put this leo on the list and no way I could not put it in the top spot. If a leo pulls me in and makes me think this much about it then the number 1 spot is well deserved and I am sure Champion will not mind sharing the honor with this beautiful leo.
