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

July 15, 2025

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

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

Jason MacDonald

July 2, 2025

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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

Jason MacDonald

June 29, 2025

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.