Rising Talent: Region 4 Level 9 Watchlist

The journey from Level 9 to the next stages of gymnastics is where many athletes begin to separate themselves, and Region 4 is home to a group of gymnasts who are making that progression exciting to follow. This class brings a combination of athleticism, determination, and developing skill sets that showcase the hard work happening in gyms throughout the region.   From athletes building powerful upgrades to those refining the details that make routines stand out, these gymnasts are showing the growth and potential that define the next generation of competitors. As they continue gaining experience, increasing difficulty, and finding their competitive identity, these Region 4 rising talents are names worth following throughout their continued development.    Brynley Nowak is a powerful and dynamic gymnast who stands out for her explosiveness, particularly on floor, where she showcases impressive amplitude and control. Her double tuck is a highlight, complemented by a front full and front through to 1½, demonstrating her strong tumbling ability and power. On bars, Nowak competes a clear hip handstand, ½ pirouette to bail, and double tuck dismount, while her Yurchenko layout on vault highlights her athleticism. Beam showcases her confidence and performance quality, featuring a back handspring to layout stepout, switch leap to split jump, gainer tuck dismount, and engaging choreography.   This summer, Nowak has continued to build her difficulty with upgrades including a Tkachev on bars, double pike on floor, and a Yurchenko full on vault. With her combination of power, strong fundamentals, and continued progression, Nowak is an exciting rising talent to watch as she continues to develop as an all-around competitor.     Hannah Hardin is an exciting athlete entering her freshman year with a strong foundation and the potential to continue developing into a standout competitor. She showcases a well-rounded skill set across all four events, including a 1½ to front tuck and front full on floor, a Yurchenko layout on vault, a giant ½ to bail and clear hip handstand to double tuck dismount on bars, and a beam routine featuring a back handspring to layout stepout and roundoff to full dismount.   Hardin has continued to expand her routines with impressive upgrades, including a Gienger, full-out dismount, bail to handstand, and full pirouette to double tuck dismount on bars. She is also training a front layout to front full and double tuck on floor, along with an aerial and front tuck mount on beam. With her strong skill foundation, continued growth, and potential for increased difficulty, Hardin is an exciting prospect to watch as she develops into a future lineup contributor.     Molly Shedlock is a polished and confident gymnast who combines strong execution, artistry, and consistency across all four events. She particularly stands out for her presentation quality, bringing clean lines and excellent showmanship to her routines. On beam, Shedlock showcases a back handspring to layout stepout, split jump to back tuck, and roundoff to full dismount, while her floor routine highlights her performance ability with a double full, front layout to front layout, and 1½ to front pike. She also competes a Yurchenko layout on vault and a bars routine featuring a ½ pirouette to bail and clear hip handstand to double tuck dismount.   Shedlock continues to elevate her routines with exciting upgrades, including a front Rudi, front double full, and 1½ to front full on floor, along with a roundoff to 1½ dismount, aerial, and Barani on beam. She is also training a Yurchenko full on vault. With her combination of artistry, competitive confidence, and continued skill development, Shedlock is a rising talent to watch as she goes into her sophomore season.     Averie Underwood is a dynamic and poised athlete who showcases impressive difficulty and versatility across all four events. She brings a strong combination of power, skill, and consistency, highlighted by her Yurchenko layout on vault, clear hip handstand, bail, and double tuck dismount on bars, and a beam routine featuring a back handspring to layout stepout, aerial, switch leap to split ¾, and roundoff to 1½ dismount. On floor, Underwood demonstrates her tumbling power with a front layout to front pike, whip to 1½ to front layout, double back, double full, and front full.   This summer, Underwood has continued to build on her strong foundation with exciting upgrades, including a Yurchenko full on vault, Jaeger and double layout dismount on bars, and front aerial and roundoff to double full dismount on beam. She is also training a full-in, front Rudi, and whip 1½ to front full on floor. With her combination of athleticism, difficulty, and continued progression, Underwood is a rising talent with the potential to make a significant impact entering her junior season.     Maddie Zintl is a standout athlete who combines polished execution, impressive difficulty, and a performance quality that immediately catches attention. She particularly shines on beam, where she showcases clean lines, precise choreography, and confident execution through skills like a wolf full turn, back handspring to layout stepout, front aerial, and roundoff to full dismount. Her Yurchenko layout on vault displays excellent distance, while her bars routine features a clear hip handstand to Pak salto, ½ pirouette, and clear hip handstand to double tuck dismount. On floor, Zintl brings a college-level performance presence with excellent showmanship, dynamic tumbling, and strong landings, including a double tuck, front layout to front full, and double full.   Zintl continues to elevate her routines with an impressive list of upgrades, including a front tuck, Barani, roundoff to double full dismount, front aerial to back handspring to layout stepout, and back handspring-back handspring-layout on beam. She is also training a full-in, 1½ to front tuck, and 2½ twist on floor, a Yurchenko full on vault, and high-level bars upgrades including a double layout dismount, Ray release, and Tkatchev. With her combination of artistry, power, and advanced skill development, Zintl is a rising talent who has the tools to make a significant impact as she enters her freshman season     Clare Schwoch is a polished athlete who stands out for her precision, strong execution, and performance quality across all four events. On bars, she showcases a clear hip handstand to Pak salto, ½ pirouette, and double tuck dismount, while her Yurchenko layout on vault highlights her consistency and control. Beam is a standout event for Schwoch, where she combines precise form, confident presentation, and strong acro with a back handspring-back handspring series, aerial, and roundoff to tuck full dismount. Her floor routine features a front layout to front pike and front full.   Schwoch continues to build her difficulty with upgrades including a Tkatchev on bars and double tuck on floor. With her attention to detail, competitive composure, and continued development, Schwoch is a rising talent who brings the consistency and refinement that can make an impact as she progresses into her sophomore season.     Kaylee Skarda is a powerful and dynamic gymnast who showcases impressive strength and skill across all four events. She currently competes a Yurchenko pike on vault, a pirouette to bail and clear hip to double tuck dismount on bars, and a beam routine highlighted by a back handspring-back tuck series, back tuck, and cartwheel to gainer full dismount. On floor, Skarda brings explosive tumbling with a 1½ to front tuck, Rudi, and 1½ twist.   This summer, Skarda has continued to build her difficulty with exciting upgrades, including a Yurchenko full on vault, blind change to Jaeger to bail and double layout dismount on bars, and aerial, front toss, and back handspring to gainer full on beam. Her floor upgrades include a double back, Rudi to layout stepout, and double pike. With her power, ambition, and continued progression, Skarda is a rising talent to watch as she enters her junior season.    The future of Region 4 gymnastics is filled with exciting potential, and this Level 9 class is already showcasing the qualities that define the next generation of standout athletes. From powerful skills and ambitious upgrades to artistry, consistency, and competitive confidence, these gymnasts are continuing to build the foundation for what comes next. As these athletes continue to develop their skills, gain competitive experience, and take on new challenges, they are positioning themselves as some of the names to follow in Region 4's next wave of gymnastics talent.

The journey from Level 9 to the next stages of gymnastics is where many athletes begin to separate themselves, and Region 4 is home to a group of gymnasts who are making that progression exciting to follow. This class brings a combination of athleticism, determination, and developing skill sets that showcase the hard work happening in gyms throughout the region.