For the athletes at Umpqua Valley Gymnastics, the summer months are typically a time to recharge. After nine months of competition and training, the gymnasts and coaches finally have a chance to reflect and brush up on their skills.

But a new school year is here, and with it comes the start of a new competitive season. Fortunately for Roseburg’s gymnastics faithful, the girls have one more opportunity to show what they have learned before the summer fun ends.

Saturday’s Summer Showcase signals a fresh start for UVG’s 25 most dedicated gymnasts, and head coach Khumbulani Moyo expects to see a few signs of what’s to come this fall.

“All summer long we try to recruit new team members and teach them new routines,” said Moyo, one of three instructors at Umpqua Valley Gymnastics. “Then we hold the Summer Showcase to give them a feeling of what it’s like to compete. It also gives the coaches an idea of their strengths and weaknesses, and shows us how they might hold up in an actual meet.”

Some of the girls already have big-meet experience, having competed with the team since they were 6 or 7 years-old. One of the UVG’s most accomplished gymnasts, 15 year-old Stephanie Huffer, won a regional vault championship last spring in Whitefish, Mont., and has advanced to Level 9 status for this season.

Another long-time competitor, 14 year-old Kaila Stutzman, has also developed an advanced skill set that landed her a top 12 all-around finish at the 2005 regional meet. She will also be competing at Level 9 during the upcoming season.

Likewise, Jordan Potter and Mary Ling are quickly moving up the competitive ranks, and will both be competing at Level 8 this season.

But there are others at the gym who are relatively new to the competitive scene, and hope to use Saturday’s event as a springboard into the fall and winter seasons.

Moyo said Level 5 gymnasts Gabby Cardenas and Michaela Jeffredo have come a long way since last season, and Level 4’s Megan Smith and Lauren Baque are also finding their competitive groove.

“There’s definitely a lot of promise with the younger girls,” said Moyo, who is assisted by Alison McAfee, a former Seattle Pacific University gymnast, and Sheyden Boodt, a former UVG student. “They have been working really hard all summer, and the showcase helps them go out and see what they can do in front of a crowd.”

Most of the spectators at Saturday’s all-local event will be friends and family, but that doesn’t mean the girls won’t experience the anxiety and nervousness that accompany other competitions.

Each of the gymnasts has been working on a variety of new skills this summer, and Moyo says most of them haven’t yet demonstrated those talents to anyone other than the coaches.

“This is mainly an opportunity for the coaches to evaluate the girls’ skills, and see what we need to work on before the meets begin,” Moyo said. “But we also use the showcase to attract new members.

We welcome anyone who might be interested in the program to stop by and see what we offer.”

UVG hosts its biggest meet of the year, the Harvest Invitational, in November. Based on past participation, Moyo expects to see upwards of 15 clubs attend the meet, which has become one of the club’s major fund-raisers.

“All the clubs seem to love it and look forward to it,” Moyo said. “It’s one of the favorite meets for the Level 4 through 6 gymnasts because we offer a preliminary and finals format. That means the girls have to qualify, which kind of adds to the excitement.”

Umpqua Valley Gymnastics is always looking to grow, and the Harvest Invitational has been one of the driving forces behind getting the club state-wide recognition.

The non-profit organization is funded primarily by the gymnasts’ tuition, but the club also holds various fund-raisers throughout the year to purchase new equipment, pay meet expenses and so on.

“We try to do a little bit of everything to gain support,” said Moyo, who has been the head instructor at UVG since 1997. “It’s been nice to see everyone pull together for the program, and the parent support has been amazing. I definitely can’t complain.”

Moyo is also eternally grateful to his two coaches. McAfee, 24, brings with her a wealth of experience from competing on an NCAA Division II stage, while Boodt, 19, knows the program inside and out because of her lifetime involvement.

“Al has been here for three years, and we are very fortunate to have someone with her experience in our community,” Moyo said.

“Sheyden brings a lot of enthusiasm to her work with the younger kids, and I am really glad she has stuck with it.”