Region 5 Gymnastics Insider Podcast

This alumni conversation guest has become famous for what appears to be effortless gymnastics including her layout kickover front on beam and regularly close to if not perfect vaults. Michigan State Junior Captain Gabi Stephen joins us to talk about the fan stardom she has achieved in her two years at MSU, her change in her gymnastics in college and what we can expect to see in 2024, her 2023 NCAA experience and as always how Region 5 impacted her. Gabi has a funny sense of humor and that comes out in this podcast for sure.

Ball State 5th Year senior and MAC Conference stand out Megan Teeter joined us for our conversation. Megan talks about her decision to take her 5th year though played a bit of a prank on her team and us fans. We talk about her upgraded bars dismount she debuted last season and what we can expect to see in her 5th year season. Region 5 pride flows from her soul and she talks about how competing in the MAC ( I mean the Region 5 Conference) is like she is back in her Region 5 days. Of course you dont want to miss her answers to the our Fab 5 questions at the end of the pod. 

Our first Alumni guest of the season is the most decorated Region 5 athlete ever and was inducted this past July into the Region 5 Hall of Fame. Her middle name Six seems to fit her well not only with her NIL opportunities but in her career winning the 2019 Nastia Cup in her 6th apparence at the event. Makarri is tied for only one of two athletes to win all four events and the all around at the Level 10 National Championships. She has 2 perfect 10's and is looking for more in her 5th year.  We talk Pandas, perfect 10's and the "Six" and where would she travel back in time to all that more on this episode. 

Dynasty could be happening but Kim are you sure it’s UTAH, Sierra Brooks is the Champion, We had a perfect 10 in region 5, well we had 10 alums at nationals, Region 5 National Champion at the USAG Nationals, It’s a Ring for Torrez, Sad face feelings continues for Davis and the ESPN event streams are the best for behind the scenes crazy! We also announce our R5 College Salute Best of 2023 on each event list.

So Many Routines, Three Region 5 Alums moving on as Individuals, 6 competing athletes on teams, some drama filled finishes to regionals but should one have been, Some athletes might just have a GPS for landings in their Nervous system, There was at least one 10 at every regional one went to a region 5 alum, Kim takes us behind the scenes at Pitt and please more Payton Richards

4 Regional sites,  4 competitions at each,  a crazy 5 days of competition from Wednesday to Sunday.  What are the R5 Universities Chances of qualifying to nationals, what R5 Alums have qualified as  individuals, what should Region 5 fans be watching. Who do Kim and I feel will be moving onto Regional Finals and NCAA's? Well after this special podcast episode you are going to know the answers to all those questions.

Conference Championships weekend did not disappoint, from the excitement, to the faces, the stuck landings or stick and show to the high fives it was non stop crazy all across the country. For some this was the last stop on their gymnastics journey and the lasting memories of their lives in gymnastics but for many it’s one last tune up for NCAA Regionals. They hope they have NORMENTUM going into post season.

Final week of the regular season with Conference Champs only a few days away well unless your special and compete for a school in the WIAC, who needs a shoulder…. Bustello sure doesn’t, Is the commentator curse real well Kim didn’t want to test that out at EMU for AG but sure did for EC, Kent is hosting MAC’s next week but it might be another BALL STATE WMU SHOW TWO weeks in a row, Tetter Town is where it’s at Hey Ball State I have a plan, the Sarah SHOW and we apparently need to NIP and TUCK!!!!! 

KRAZY In Michigan- 3 exciting meets all in the Mitten state and Kim was there for them all, she might even have some blue blazer stalkers, there was a  4th meet on Monday and we are going to quickly discuss it, Records set and then broken, 3 perfect scores this week,  LIU vacationed in Michigan this weekend and poparazzi Kim was all about it  We have the NFL, the NBA the MLB but our favorite Gymnastics Aunt might have another 3 Letter combo that killed it in week 9… plus, and we take Kim back to math class

Cross town rivals share BIG Ten, High 5 Helps make it epic again, Munoz is making her mark in more ways then one, Flip for Ella and of course  Mikayla Stuckey Mikayla Stuckey Mikayla Stuckey. Oh and maybe some talk about some the Betts blinged out  R5 shoes. That and our  Week 8 R5 University line-up coming at you 

Region 5 has 5 to Nastia, It’s Back Back again, Q’s Vault tell a friend, we have a breakdown of BIG and JPAC, I have another new favorite bars team, we got some FAB,  MAKIE oh she brought it, week 7 R5U and first NQS and we have the REAL NQS.

Week 6 and oh it was somethin Something Even College rules don’t have an answer for, MAC conference holding their own in the R5U line-up this week, Linda Zivat let’s the judges know what an actual stuck landing is literally, Volpe is spectacular and fabulous more on that, Murphy surely AL SCHARNS it, and Kim has a scroll of Fab for you this week

Bowling strikes and knocking teammates down after routines is the new standard, another alum 10, EMU is my favorite bar squad in the NCAA and Did R5U thrive in week 5? We recap Buckeye Classic, break down our week 5 line-up and find out who fired up the chips and who celebrates like a happy dolphin. 

Perfect 10, perfect double back technique, 2 perfect 9.975, and not so perfect stream, I just can’t wrestle with that one. BAMA debut, the R5 University on fire again this week and we are fired up about a beauty and beast and camera angles.

It’s week 3  and I have my NCAA Bars Champion crowned, aerial to Y scales and double back to a cliff hanger toe dances were a thing, Super SUKI well Big Thing do Come in Small Packages. We had almost complete Region 5 line-ups and it’s not even Kent State or R5U, some exciting battles in the Big Ten, Farden was funky and our week 3 R5U lineup killed it. Listen in as Kim leads with an ode to the MSU Spartans. 

Lots of questions with scores in week 2, a vault 4 years in waiting, and a new double front ½ out dismount upgrade as a senior.  We have our 2nd week lineup scores for Region 5 U and let’s just say we have thoughts, Kim has an MVP named Andi Li. Are  the vault lines actually helping the judges? We roll back to 1992 for a tribute routine in Fab 5 and have you met Linda "Produnova" Zivat?

We open the season with the break down of the first R5 University line-up and how they fared against the rest of the country on week 1. Region 5 had lots of freshman debuts this week and we highlight many of them for you. Our Fab 5 features Fisk, Cal Bear Head and a Barbie Girl! Oh and who is on Olivia Karas mind in this weeks Karas Kickover. Listen in as we big arch back salute our alums in week 1. 

Season 5 for the Region 5 College Salute is only a few weeks away and we are breaking down the newcomers to watch, the routines that we expect to be a must see, and maybe some that may not be so expected. Kim was on hand for the Michigan quad exhibition and she has her thoughts on floor, floor and more floor...... not too much of a surprise there. We set the scene for the 2023 season for our Region 5 Alums and what's this Region 5 U well listen and find out! 

She is known by only one letter "Q" but do you really know much about Iowa Senior JerQuavia Henderson. We take her back to her years in Region 5, find out how her achilles injury during her Freshman year impacted her more then she ever imagined as well how food in important to her life but not as you would think. After listening to this podcast, you will see Q for more then just the powerhouse gymnast she is. 

In this episode of Alumni Conversation we have 2022 MAC Beam and Floor Champion Payton Murphy from Western Michigan on the show. Payton is headed into her senior year for the broncos but we get to take her back to her club days and find more about the injury that shaped her into the tough athlete she is today. We discuss her major neck injury from her freshman year and how that has impacted her and made her the leader she has become. We discuss her long journey on bars with dismounts and releases and of course talk about her 2022 MAC Championships.