Region.5 Championships kick off this week and each athlete has taken a different road to get to this point of the season. In this episode of Day in the Life, 2021 Level 10 National Qualifier, Retoshia Halsell from Champion Gymnastics in Kentucky takes through her bounce back from elbow surgery. Retoshia has dealt with a few injuries during the 2022 season and has struggled with keeping motivated which can be difficult through injury. We get a look at what she did to rehab her elbow, her future career in animal surgery and a fun look at her interactions with her teammates at Champion. Check out our Day in the lIfe with Toshia!
It is that time of year……REGION 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! As Regional weekend is fast approaching we will be showcasing our R5 “Ones to Watch” from each state up next is the home of the Buckeyes……OHIO!!!
Each athlete on the list is either a 1st year Level 10 or a Level 10 who has not made Nationals previously. These athletes however could make an impact on this years Region 5 Dream Team.
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Addison Sarisky (Olympic Dreams)
Addison displays beautiful classic form, she is a joy to watch on every event, but she truly shines on the uneven bars and balance beam. Look for her high flying transitions and full out dismount on bars. Addison will be a game changer in the Junior B age group this year and will definitely have people talking next weekend.
Zoie Pelfrey (CGA)
Zoie has been a favorite of mine for a few years now. I absolutely love watching her perform on floor with her great dance and expressive energy, she will certainly grab your attention. I am truly hoping this will be Zoie’s year to shine and make her first R5 Dream Team.
Lindsey Hartman (Queen City)
Lindsey is a 1st year level 10 who has made a huge impact this season tying for 2nd in the All-Around with a 38.275 at the Ohio State Championships. Lindsey excels all over the gym, but it’s her vault and floor that make her stand out.
Elle Johnson (CGA)
Elle Johnson is another consistent all around competitor, but specifically watch for her huge Ray to bail combo on uneven bars, and her beautiful clean balance beam set. Elle would be a great addition to the Senior B Dream Team. She is calm, cool and collected in competition, and could rise to the top spot without anyone realizing it.
Megan Brueck (Queen City)
Megan is a graduating senior who will be headed to Yale in the fall, but is looking to make her first R5 Dream Team next weekend. Megan is the 2022 OH State AA Champion going 38.075. Megan excels on the uneven bars, watch for her huge Ray and flawless bail handstand.
It is that time of year……REGION 5 CHAMPIONSHIPS!!! As Regional weekend is fast approaching we will be showcasing our R5 “Ones to Watch” from each state starting with my home state the Great Lakes State! MICHIGAN!!!
Each athlete on the list is either a 1st year Level 10 or a Level 10 who has not made Nationals previously. These athletes however could make an impact on this years Region 5 Dream Team.
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Catherine Guy (Capital City Flips)
2022 MI Beam Champion, 2022 Hopes Qualifier, 2021 Eastern National Floor Champion. Watch for Catherine to make a huge impact in the Junior A age group this year in the All Around. Cat, who finished 2nd in the All Around behind teammate Lili Cosman at the 2022 MI State Championships, is one of those “future of Region 5” athletes.
Ome Ellis (Michigan Elite)
Finishing 3rd in the All Around at the 2022 MI State Championships, Ome is peaking at the right time to make her 1st Region 5 Dream Team. Watch for her power, beautiful front aerial on beam and effortless swing on uneven bars.
Cady Duplissis (Champion USA)
2019 Level 9 Eastern National Qualifier, 2022 Vault State Champion
Cady, a 2nd year Level 10, finished 4th in the All-Around and took home the Vault title at the 2022 MI State Championships. Cady, has grown a bit in the last few years which is making her gymnastics even more lovely to watch, especially on the uneven bars where she performs a sky high full out dismount.
Amina Mackalo (Gym America)
2022 MI State Vault Champion
Amina, who we have not seen competing since prior to Covid, rounded out the top 5 in the Child Division at the 2022 MI State Championships. Amina brings exciting skills to the competition floor with her huge Hindorff on the uneven bars and cartwheel 1 1/2 beam dismount. Her floor routine is also full of big person and big potential, continue to watch for Amina for years to come.
Elle Beaufait (Olympia)
Elle, a senior committed to MSU, finished in the top 5 in the SRA division at the 2022 MI State Championships. Elle shows beautiful lines and extensions in all her routines, but it’s her floor and beam that are my favorite to watch. Look for Elle to perform beautiful triple series on the balance and gorgeous Yurchenko 1/1 on vault.
It’s ALUMonday… on Tuesday and we have the USAG National Championships edition. Region 5 was well represented in the championships including one alum fresh off her performance at the Seattle Regional last weekend. That alum was Anna Kaziska from SEMO who took home the USAG National Title on two events beam and floor.
The USAG Nationals are for NCAA programs who have 7 or less scholarships to give out in their programs. The winner of the 2022 National Team title was Texas Women’s University which features two of our alums Maddie Griffith and Kyla Podges.
Check out final results and these 8 routines from our alums that you might not have seen (if you don’t have USAG FlipNow) from this weekend USAG Nationals.
After a weekend of 4 square or 8 square or even 12 square, we have our 2022 NCAA qualifiers. It was a weekend of big performances, 10’s for what every Trinity touched, a very well known foot (thanks to twitter and ESPN screen shots- crazy exciting ending in Raleigh, Tale of two Bryants, Schulte soars in Seattle and lots of alum stand out moments.
