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Competing at the highest level is nothing new to Roseburg gymnast Kaila Stutzman.
However, competing all alone at the highest level is an entirely new undertaking for the Umpqua Valley Gymnastics Level 8 standout.
For the first time in three years, Stutzman, 15, will travel to the USA Gymnastics Region 2 Championships without her friend and teammate, Stephanie Huffer.
"It's going to be a little different without Stephanie there to cheer me on," said Stutzman, who will fly to Boise, Idaho, Saturday to compete in Sunday's event.
"But I'm not going to think about it too much. I've done well at every other meet this year, so there's no reason to get nervous now."
Stutzman said she is more confident than ever entering the Regional competition. She placed 12th out of more than 40 gymnasts in last year's Level 8 all-around, and she believes she has honed her skills enough to place even higher this time around.
"I'd really like to place top 10," said the Roseburg High freshman. "I've been working really hard since last year and I think I've improved a lot. I just feel better prepared this year."
Regardless of where she finishes, Sunday's Region 2 Championships will mark the end of an era for Stutzman.
Now that she has completed the necessary requirements, she will now be able to join Huffer at Level 9 -- the highest classification held by any gymnast at UVG.
"We're going to start her Level 9 training as soon as this competition is over," said coach Khumbulani Moyo, who will travel to Boise with Stutzman. "She was really close last year, so we have been expecting this for a while. I have no doubt that she is ready."
Stutzman spends an average of 20 hours per week working with Moyo, and will try to increase that to 25 hours during the summer.
Her strongest events are the balance beam and floor exercise, and she expects to score high in both events at Regionals. But Stutzman concedes that she will need to raise the "bar" on the uneven bars.
"Bars are my weakest event and that's what I'm focusing on the most right now," she said. "I'm also working on a new vault routine, which has a higher level of difficulty.
"I really want to push myself hard this summer because I don't just want to become a Level 9. I want to be a good Level 9."
Sunday's Level 8 Regional competition will begin in the morning and will feature 10 gymnasts per rotation.
Stutzman qualified by placing in the top 60 percent of all Level 8 gymnasts in Oregon, and she will be up against the best athletes from seven western states.
But none of that concerns Stutzman at this point.
"I'm going to approach Regionals just like I would any other meet," she said. "I don't want to get nervous and freak out. I'm just going to do what I know how to do and hope for the best."
However, competing all alone at the highest level is an entirely new undertaking for the Umpqua Valley Gymnastics Level 8 standout.
For the first time in three years, Stutzman, 15, will travel to the USA Gymnastics Region 2 Championships without her friend and teammate, Stephanie Huffer.
"It's going to be a little different without Stephanie there to cheer me on," said Stutzman, who will fly to Boise, Idaho, Saturday to compete in Sunday's event.
"But I'm not going to think about it too much. I've done well at every other meet this year, so there's no reason to get nervous now."
Stutzman said she is more confident than ever entering the Regional competition. She placed 12th out of more than 40 gymnasts in last year's Level 8 all-around, and she believes she has honed her skills enough to place even higher this time around.
"I'd really like to place top 10," said the Roseburg High freshman. "I've been working really hard since last year and I think I've improved a lot. I just feel better prepared this year."
Regardless of where she finishes, Sunday's Region 2 Championships will mark the end of an era for Stutzman.
Now that she has completed the necessary requirements, she will now be able to join Huffer at Level 9 -- the highest classification held by any gymnast at UVG.
"We're going to start her Level 9 training as soon as this competition is over," said coach Khumbulani Moyo, who will travel to Boise with Stutzman. "She was really close last year, so we have been expecting this for a while. I have no doubt that she is ready."
Stutzman spends an average of 20 hours per week working with Moyo, and will try to increase that to 25 hours during the summer.
Her strongest events are the balance beam and floor exercise, and she expects to score high in both events at Regionals. But Stutzman concedes that she will need to raise the "bar" on the uneven bars.
"Bars are my weakest event and that's what I'm focusing on the most right now," she said. "I'm also working on a new vault routine, which has a higher level of difficulty.
"I really want to push myself hard this summer because I don't just want to become a Level 9. I want to be a good Level 9."
Sunday's Level 8 Regional competition will begin in the morning and will feature 10 gymnasts per rotation.
Stutzman qualified by placing in the top 60 percent of all Level 8 gymnasts in Oregon, and she will be up against the best athletes from seven western states.
But none of that concerns Stutzman at this point.
"I'm going to approach Regionals just like I would any other meet," she said. "I don't want to get nervous and freak out. I'm just going to do what I know how to do and hope for the best."
