Championships 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 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 5 ones to watch from Michigan:
Amina Mackalo (Gym America) JrA
Amina is no stranger to our “Ones to watch” list, bursting onto the scene last year virtually coming out of no where with incredible tumbling & a Hindorff that would even make Dominique Dawas take notice. Falling just short of making her first Dream Team in 2022 Amina is heading into the 2023 R5 Championships at the top Junior A again this year a few inches taller and looking incredibly confident and ready to lead a talented group of Junior A athletes to Oklahoma City. Make sure not to miss this 2023 State Champion’s high flying bars, powerful vault and fun filled floor!
Anelise Johnson (Capital City Flips) JrC
Anelise, a the 2023 Level 10 Balance Beam State Champion & 2022 L9 Eastern National Qualifier is looking confident and ready to make a run at her first Level 10 Dream Team. Anelise, a first year Level 10, has a great presence on the competition floor especially on the floor exercise and the Balance Beam. Expect to see beautiful extension and sharp movements.
Ashlyn Doyle (Champion USA) JrE
Ashlyn, who finished 3rd in the All Around at the 2023 MI State Championships, is a steady consistent competitior who has showed great improvement over the last few years. Look for a beautiful straddle Jaeger & nice Yurchenko Full from Ashlyn this weekend as she tries to make her first Region 5 Dream Team.
Anika Most (Capital City Flips) SrA
Anika Most is an athlete of beauty & grace with exquisitely long lines, exceptional extension and toe point you simply cannot take your eyes off her once she starts her performance. Anika, who is no stranger to Region 5 success, earning the 2022 L9 Eastern National UB Title along with the 2022 R5 Regional Balance Beam Title and the 2022 L9 State Vault & Uneven Bars Title. Anika, is also a fan favorite on the Yahtzee Award front taking home the award for Most interesting Beam Mount in 2022, so be sure to not miss out on her gorgeous Beam Routine that is literally poetry in motion from mount to dismount. This is Anika’s first year of Level 10 and she is in a great position to make her first Region 5 Dream Team.
Annabelle Schneider (All American Flames) SrC
Annabelle Schneider gets my vote for most improved and teammate of the year in 2023. Annabelle, who placed 2nd in the AA, put it all together this year finishing behind Flames teammate Hannah Scheible. Annbelle has showed great improvement all around the gym, and has been working incredibly hard perfecting her Ray on the Uneven Bars. Annabelle is also the “Teammate to everyone” giving high fives and pep talks to all the athletes in her rotation regardless of what team they are from, I absolutely love this about her! I hope to see this athlete make her first Region 5 Dream Team in 2023 because she is the true embodiment of what it means to be part of Region 5.
Lindsay Girard (Hunts) SrF
Lindsay Girard quietly blew me away this season, I knew from last year she has an incredible vault, but wow does she has some an entire arsenal of skills across 3 events. Lindsay, who is a senior, is the 2023 Vault & Floor State Champion. Lindsay actually is a 3 time MI State Floor Champion toping the podium in 2021, 2022 & this year in 2023 as well as the 2022 Regional Champion AND 2022 L9 Eastern National FX Champion so needless to saw Lindsay CAN definitely do Floor! Her Balance Beam is another event that is simply incredible as well mounting with a front tuck and dismounting with a double full that is high enough to be a double back! Lindsay will without a doubt be a force to be reckoned with at the R5 Championships and if all goes well hopefully her first National Championships as well! Lindsay is an athlete who could fill a Dream Team spot or a Wild Card Spot on Multiple Events, she is also a College coaches dream and is uncommitted! So, College coaches this is your chance to snag a 2023 standout!
