Region 5 Gymnastics Insider Podcast

Lots of sticks, Huge Smiles, Salutes and we even had a Balance Bar???? It was week 4 of NCAA action with a rather full list of NINE NINE's from our Alums. We were hoping to see more gymnastics from the BTN+ but grips, salutes and knee back handsprings stole the show. There was some competitive action in the MAC with two duos for you this week. It's for the BIG Salute for Week 4! 

In this week's episode we welcome back the MAC conference to gymnastics action in the NCAA. As the commentator said at Ball State we were waiting for the starter pistol to go off in the MAC! We had the first viral floor routine of the year… Region 5 Alum! The Mac Conference has more Region 5 Alums than any other conference in the country. Check out all the MACation from week 3.

The Big Ten kicked off the 2021 NCAA season with some crazy shin vaults, bars redos and 10's or was it? We got to see successful debuts from many of our freshman alums not to mention awesome performances from the vets. Though the  gymnastics was fun exciting and fun to watch as usual it  may have been overshadowed by the post routine where's my mask!!!!! Listen in for our recap of all from our Region 5 Alums in Week 2.

 NCAA season that wasn't then is! On this episode we recap opening weekend in the SEC with new faces making an impact, Waligora returns to competition, and the great Anastasia Webb. We discuss the new score changes and some of the differences we are going to see this season. Some new combinations (at least in college) were performed this week and of course we talk about them. The face mask bling, the air fives and tunnels, cardboard people, Hailey Bryant.... we have it all this week!

We sat down with Alabama Senior Shea Mahoney for our Alumni Conversation. Shea talks about what it's like competing in the SEC and the SEC Championships, her style change on floor, where does her energy come from, story about balance beam, her achilles injury and how that affected her at the start of her Bama career, senior night, favorites and more! 

In this podcast we introduce you to our first ever Region 5 All Decade Team. Region 5 is a very talented region with lots of accomplished gymnasts. The list of accomplishments includes many regional, national and even Nastia Cup titles. These athletes on our All Decade Team list are the best of the best over the last 10 years. Find out who made this list! 

R5 Alumni Conversation with Florida Senior Amelia Hundley. We talk floor routines, smiling full turns, the HUNDLEY SHUFFLE, her Gator Chomps, memorable and embarrassing moments, favorite skills and more from this future college coach.  Check out her College Salute 5 Most Important Questions on our Youtube Channel. 

This Senior Alumni Conversation episode is with Georgia senior Rachel Dickson. Rachel talks about her achilles injury suffered 2 days before the season began, how college has impacted her in and out of the gym, her plans for 2021, favorite moments, embarrassing moments and she joins us in our virtual NCAA Championships Final 8 picks. Check out her College Salute Most Important 5 questions on our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClR_iVdDL4Qk4t_0M23vJWg

The 2020 season was cut short with seniors career coming to end with the the closure they may have wanted. We at the Region 5 Insider are hoping to provide some closure with our Alumni Conversation. Our first senior conversation is with Michigan Senior Lexi Funk. We look back on her JO and College career and she talks about her thoughts on the end of her career at Michigan. There are a lot of great stories mixed in so enjoy!       

On this episode we mix it up with our normal alum college salute but also recap how our JO/Elite athletes did at Nastia Cup and Gymnix. Some great senior meets in week 10 not knowing that it would be the last meets of the 2020 season. Shea Mahoney simply shined in her final performance while Bre Showers got a surprise she will never forget. That and we break down Kent State vs Western Michigan and Michigan vs OU. We are not done with the college salute for this season just yet, more on that in the podcast. 

Another 9.9 fest, DeMers is back, Dennis goes viral onto GMA, and the first Region 5 Insider Classic was chair dropping. Though we didn't cover any full meets we highlight many of the outstanding routines from our Alums in week 9. 

In this episode of the College Salute we break down the action from our Region 5 Alums at the Big 5 Meet as part of Elevate the Stage. There was a historic perfect 10 given out this week, not to a Region 5 Alum but we discuss and the front runner for BIG 10 Freshman of the Year Sierra Brooks from Michigan joins us for our Alumni Conversation. 

Close Close Close battles in the Mac Conference in week 7. We break down the Ball State vs Eastern Michigan and Kent State vs Central Michigan competitions both coming down to the wire and one ending in a tie or was it? Lots of 9.9's across the country from our Region 5 alums and we sat down with Kent State Freshman Rachel DeCavitch to dish on this weekends meet and how her freshman year is going in this weeks alumni conversation. 

This week we recap action from week 6 from our Region 5 Alums. Makarri Doggette 1 1/2's her way into all around, the many faces of Claire Gagliardi, Rotation for Donation weekend, NIU ends in record form, and Michigan gets the better of rival OSU. 

Week 4 in the NCAA was filled with lots of big performances from our Region 5 Alums. From the mesmerizing performances of Anastasia Webb to the Gator Chopping in the all around from Payton Richards and many 39+ performances in between. We may have also been rollin with Rowland on floor this week. Find out who are College Salute Best 5 of the week are and more from our Region 5 Alums this week.  This weeks Alumni Conversation is with Florida Freshman Payton Richards. 

Whose House, Hu's House! Missouri Freshman and gymternet sensation Helen Hu joins us for our Alumni Conversation. Week 3 in the NCAA showcased some great performances for our Region 5 Alums we break down the highlights and recap CMU vs EMU, Michigan vs Illinois and OSU vs MSU. 

We break down some of the new rules as well as all the action from week 2 in the 2020 NCAA Season. The SEC, BIG Ten and MAC all had competitive competitions with a few coming down to tenths for the win. We dive into the battle between NIU and Kent State with our Region 5 Alums being well represented. Michigan State hosted CMU and ISU while Michigan squared off with Texas Womens and Washington. Helen Hu is all the talk while Nyah Smith soars in her 2nd meet of her young career. This episode is full of DeMerzey with a Pinch of Mahoneyness. 

Our second College Salute 2020 Season preview looks at our Region 5 Alums in the Big Ten. The Big Ten features many of the big names from Region 5 and there is a lot to look forward to in this conference in 2020. The excitement is building with the incoming freshman around the Big Ten and the impact they will have on this upcoming NCAA season. Before we back dive mount to our Big Ten preview, we break down the Michigan Quad exhibition meet held at the University of Michigan which featured quite a few former Region 5 athletes.

"The MAC Attack" In this first episode of the 2020 NCAA season we preview what the MAC conference looks like for the perspective of our Region 5 alums. We break down the seven teams in the MAC with discussion on each terms returnees that will make an impact as well as the incoming freshman. Lots of talent Region 5'ers will compete in MAC this season we give you insights on who and what to watch from this underrated conference. 

We are back for season 3 Episode #1 as we dish on what went down at the 2019 Region 5 High Tech/ High Performance Training Camp, very in depth conversation on the JO Rule Changes for the upcoming season and trends we think we will see in terms of skill selection (might just break out in song Round the Outside, Round the Outside) and our favorites from the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships.