Region 5 Athlete of the Week: Anna Reed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few freshmen made as strong of an impression this past season as Gymnastics Etc. standout [player_tooltip player_id='5067' first='Anna' last='Reed']. The Illinois native wrapped up an outstanding first year of Level 10 competition by showcasing advanced difficulty, explosive power, and the confidence to compete skills that many athletes don't attempt until later in their careers. As she heads into her sophomore season, Reed is already proving she has the talent to become one of the top gymnasts in the Region 5 Class of 2029.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vault is an event where Reed's power is immediately apparent. Last season, she competed a front handspring-front tuck, attacking the table aggressively and generating impressive block into the second flight phase. She's made it a dependable event in her lineup, while also demonstrating the explosive power that will serve her well as she continues increasing her difficulty.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On bars, Reed stands out with one of the more unique routines in her class. She competes an Ezhova release move, a skill not commonly seen among younger Level 10 athletes, highlighting both her courage and technical ability. She finishes with a beautiful double layout dismount that showcases excellent body position and amplitude. The combination of originality and difficulty gives her routine a distinct identity and makes bars one of her most exciting events to watch.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beam is another event where Reed displays composure throughout her skill set. Her routine features a back handspring-layout stepout series, a Barani, and a roundoff 1.5 dismount. She attacks each tumbling element with conviction while maintaining the rhythm and poise needed to put together a polished routine. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On floor exercise, Reed's powerful tumbling is matched by an engaging performance quality. Her routine includes a front layout to front double full, a 2.5 twist, and a 1.5 through to front tuck connection, giving her one of the more difficult tumbling lineups in her class. Between passes, she brings plenty of personality to the floor with fun, energetic choreography that complements her powerful tumbling and keeps the audience engaged throughout the routine.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What's especially exciting about Reed is that her current routines are only the beginning. She's training an impressive collection of upgrades across every event. On bars, she's working on Jaeger releases and adding a cast half into her Ezhova, increasing both connection value and overall difficulty. Beam upgrades include a cat leap to Barani connection and a roundoff double full dismount, while vault is progressing toward a front handspring-pike half. On floor, she's developing both double fronts and double backs, adding even more power to an already loaded tumbling arsenal.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For an athlete just coming off her freshman season, Reed's combination of difficulty, originality, and explosive power is remarkably advanced. She already possesses the kind of event-winning skills that attract attention, and her ambitious upgrade list suggests her ceiling is even higher. As she enters her sophomore year, [player_tooltip player_id='5067' first='Anna' last='Reed'] is rapidly developing into one of Region 5's most exciting young all-around gymnasts and an athlete with the tools to become a valuable contributor in virtually any college lineup.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->