Three Mid-Illinois gymnasts qualify for Region 5 Championships

Blakely Kinkle, Madelyn Pruitt and Alexis Clark will represent Mid-Illinois Gymnastics at the USAG Region 5 Level 6-8 meet in Indiana.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:52pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the overlapping movements and perspectives of a gymnast performing on the uneven bars, with sharp geometric shapes in vibrant blue, red, and yellow hues.The dynamic, geometric style of this illustration captures the energy and movement of the upcoming Region 5 gymnastics championships, where three young athletes from Mid-Illinois Gymnastics will compete against the best in the Midwest.Fort Wayne Today

Three gymnasts from Mid-Illinois Gymnastics in Godfrey, Illinois have qualified for the USAG Region 5 Level 6-8 Championships in Fort Wayne, Indiana this weekend. Blakely Kinkle, Madelyn Pruitt and Alexis Clark earned their spots at the regional competition after strong performances at the state meet in March.

Why it matters

Qualifying for the regional championships is a significant achievement for these young gymnasts, as it allows them to compete against top athletes from across the Midwest region. This opportunity will help them continue to develop their skills and experience competing at a high level.

The details

Kinkle, Pruitt and Clark are all first-year Level 7 gymnasts who have shown major improvement in their consistency, according to their coach Allison Jennings. The regional championships will take place at the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana and will feature qualifiers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.

  • The state competition where the gymnasts qualified was held on March 21.
  • The Region 5 Championships will take place this weekend, from April 18-20.

The players

Blakely Kinkle

A Level 7 gymnast from Mid-Illinois Gymnastics in Godfrey, Illinois who qualified for the USAG Region 5 Championships.

Madelyn Pruitt

A Level 7 gymnast from Mid-Illinois Gymnastics in Godfrey, Illinois who qualified for the USAG Region 5 Championships.

Alexis Clark

A Level 7 gymnast from Mid-Illinois Gymnastics in Godfrey, Illinois who qualified for the USAG Region 5 Championships.

Allison Jennings

The coach of the Mid-Illinois Gymnastics team, who has seen major improvement in the consistency of Kinkle, Pruitt and Clark.

USAG

The governing body for USA Gymnastics, which is hosting the Region 5 Championships that the Mid-Illinois gymnasts have qualified for.

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What they’re saying

“Now, having the opportunity to compete against top athletes in Region 5 , these girls have a high chance in bringing back medals to our gym in Godfrey.”

— Allison Jennings, Coach, Mid-Illinois Gymnastics

What’s next

The Region 5 Championships will take place this weekend, from April 18-20, at the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The takeaway

The qualification of these three young gymnasts to the prestigious Region 5 Championships is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Mid-Illinois Gymnastics program, and an exciting opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills against top competition from across the Midwest.