Gym Spotlight: Meet California's West Valley Gymnastics Recruits

California's West Valley Gymnastics continues to develop a talented group of athletes with their sights set on the next level. From established Level 10 competitors to rising prospects making their mark in the upper levels, the gym's recruits bring a combination of skill, consistency, and continued development to the competition floor. In this Gym Spotlight, we take a closer look at the West Valley gymnasts to know, highlighting the strengths, accomplishments, and potential that make them athletes to watch as they pursue their college gymnastics goals.    Entering her junior season, [player_tooltip player_id='4158' first='Jordan' last='Oakland'] is coming off a strong second year of Level 10, highlighted by a season-high all-around score of 37.625 at State, where she placed second. She is particularly impressive on vault, where her Yurchenko full earned a 9.600 at Nationals, placing 13th on the event. Oakland's routines feature a Maloney-bail to handstand-toe shoot to high bar connection and toe-on-front tuck 1/2 dismount on bars, a 2.5, front layout-front pike, and 1.5-front pike on floor, and a back handspring-layout step-out, aerial, and round-off-1.5 dismount on beam. This summer, she has been training several exciting upgrades, including a toe-on-pike 1/2 dismount on bars, a Yurchenko 1.5 on vault, a double pike and front through to 2.5 on floor, and a back handspring-back handspring-layout series and aerial-split jump on beam. With her strong vaulting, proven all-around consistency, and continued development across all four events, Oakland is a recruit to watch as she heads into her junior season.     Coming off her first season of Level 9, incoming sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='4956' first='Kylie' last='Chen'] is a recruit to watch as she continues to build on an impressive debut at the level. She posted a season-high all-around score of 36.425 at Regionals, where she placed seventh, and stood out for her consistency on floor. Vault was another highlight, as her huge Yurchenko layout earned a season-high 9.700 at Regionals, placing second on the event. Chen's vault showcased exceptional height and clean body position, making it one of the most memorable events of her season. Her routines also feature a back handspring-back tuck and back handspring-tuck 1/2 dismount on beam, a toe shoot handstand-bail and toe shoot to high bar on bars, and a full, front full, and front layout-front pike on floor. After battling a wrist injury early in the year, Chen returned to competition and successfully qualified for Westerns. She has also been training a double tuck on floor, adding another exciting element to her continued development. With her consistency, standout vault, and determination to return strong from injury, Chen is a young gymnast to keep an eye on as she enters her sophomore season.     Incoming junior [player_tooltip player_id='94816' first='Amaya' last='Umphrey'] is preparing to return to competition after an injury cut short her second season of Level 10. In the meets she was able to compete, Umphrey showed the power and difficulty that make her a standout, posting a season-high 9.800 on her huge Yurchenko double full vault and a 9.675 on floor. Her floor routine features a front double full, switch side-Popa, front full-front layout, and double tuck. Throughout her recovery, Umphrey has continued working hard toward a strong return, training an impressive collection of upgrades across all four events. On beam, she has been seen working a Barani, front toss-back handspring, and aerial-split jump. On vault, she has trained a Yurchenko 1/2-on-pike 1/2 alongside her Yurchenko double full. Her floor upgrades include a full-in, front through to double pike, and double layout, while bars work has included a Maloney-Pak, toe full pirouette, Maloney 1/2, and double front dismount. Umphrey has also recently taken an official visit to Cal, adding another exciting chapter to her recruiting journey. With her power, ambitious upgrades, and determination through recovery, she is a recruit to watch as she works toward a return next season.     Coming off her second season of Level 9, [player_tooltip player_id='94811' first='Everley' last='Capone'] is building an impressive résumé, having qualified to Westerns in both seasons at the level. Last year, she posted a season-high all-around score of 36.975, showcasing her consistency and competitive confidence across all four events. Her beam routine features a front aerial-back handspring combination, switch leap-split 1/2, and back tuck, while her floor routine includes a Rudi, switch ring-wolf full, front layout-front pike, and 1.5-front pike. On vault, Capone competes a Tsuk pike and tuck Tsuk 1/2, and her bars routine includes a bail to handstand and double tuck dismount. She has been working toward several exciting upgrades, including a Tsuk tuck full on vault, a front aerial to scale, standing layout step-out, and front aerial-layout step-out on beam, and a Jaeger on bars. On floor, she has been training a 1.5-front full, front layout-front full, front layout-Rudi, and Rudi-split jump. With her Westerns experience, strong all-around foundation, and continued upgrades, Capone is a recruit to watch as she continues to progress.     Coming off her first season of Level 9, incoming junior [player_tooltip player_id='4556' first='Anneliese' last='Kniskern'] is entering the next chapter of her career with an impressive all-around foundation and plenty of power to build on. She posted a season-high all-around score of 37.375 and was a standout on vault and floor, where her explosive gymnastics helped her make an impact. On vault, Kniskern recorded a season-high 9.700 twice, including at Westerns, where she placed third on the event. She also posted a season-high 9.550 on floor and earned a 9.525 at Westerns, placing fourth. Her floor routine features a 1.5-front pike, switch side-Popa, front layout-front pike, and front full, while her Yurchenko layout highlights her vaulting power. On bars, she competes a double tuck dismount, and her beam routine includes a back handspring-layout step-out, back tuck, and round-off-full dismount. This summer, Kniskern has been training a Maloney and full pirouette on bars, along with a Yurchenko tuck full and Yurchenko 1/2 on vault. With her strong vault and floor performances, competitive experience, and continued development, Kniskern is a recruit to watch as she moves forward.     Entering her senior season, [player_tooltip player_id='94813' first='Emily' last='Lei'] is coming off a standout Level 9 campaign that showcased her all-around consistency and competitive strength. She posted a season-high all-around score of 38.275 and placed second at Westerns with a 38.125, where she also took first on floor and second on vault and beam. Lei's floor routine features a Rudi-staddle jump and switch side-Popa, while her Yurchenko layout stands out for its huge height off the table and clean body position. On bars, she competes a toe handstand-bail to handstand combination and double tuck dismount, and her beam routine includes an aerial and back handspring-back tuck. This summer, Lei has been training a Yurchenko full on vault, several exciting floor upgrades—including a double pike, double tuck, front layout-front full, front layout-front Rudi, and front double full—and a switch side, aerial-back handspring, and Barani on beam. On bars, she has been working toward a Maloney and full-out dismount. With her Westerns success, strong all-around scores, and continued upgrades, Lei is a recruit to watch as she enters her senior season.     Incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='94815' first='Beatrice' last='Salme'] is coming off an impressive first season of Level 9, establishing herself as a standout on beam and the reigning state champion on the event. She posted a season-high 9.700 on beam twice, combining beautiful artistry with confidence and steadiness throughout her routine. Her beam work features an aerial, a back handspring-layout step-out, and a back handspring-full dismount, showcasing both her technical ability and composure. Salme has also been working hard this summer to refine her existing skills and add new ones, training a Maloney and Pak on bars, a back handspring-layout-layout series, front aerial, and aerial-layout on beam, and a front Rudi on floor. With her strong beam résumé and continued development across multiple events, Salme is a young recruit to watch as she begins her next chapter.

California's West Valley Gymnastics continues to develop a talented group of athletes with their sights set on the next level. From established Level 10 competitors to rising prospects making their mark in the upper levels, the gym's recruits bring a combination of skill, consistency, and continued development to the competition floor. In this Gym Spotlight, we take a closer look at the West Valley gymnasts to know, highlighting the strengths, accomplishments, and potential that make them athletes to watch as they pursue their college gymnastics goals.