November Region 2 Athlete of the Month: Lily Westling

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some gymnasts catch your attention with big skills. Others stand out through the details that make every routine memorable. Lily Westling manages to do both. With a combination of grace, precision, and an impressive technical foundation, Westling made an immediate impression in her first Level 10 season, establishing herself as one of Region 2's gymnasts to watch. Her development hasn't been limited to the competition floor, either. Westling recently returned from a trip to London with Region 2, where she had the opportunity to train internationally and gain a new perspective on her gymnastics. Experiences like these offer valuable opportunities to learn, challenge yourself in a different training environment, and bring new ideas back home. For a gymnast still early in her Level 10 career, the chance to combine international training experiences with an already successful competitive season makes her trajectory even more exciting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Making the jump to Level 10 is a significant milestone for any gymnast, but Westling didn't take long to find her footing. In her debut season, she not only qualified for the Level 10 National Championships but delivered when it mattered most, finishing 13th in the all-around and capturing the National title on bars. Her 9.75 on the event was also her season high, capping off a standout year and demonstrating just how much she has to offer. While her performance at Nationals was certainly a highlight, Westling's success was built on consistency across all four events. She finished the season with a 9.575 season high on vault, a 9.65 on beam (which she earned twice), and a 9.55 on floor. Those numbers tell the story of a gymnast capable of putting together strong performances throughout an entire competition, but watching her routines reveals even more about what makes her special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":99345,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgymnastics.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/11/Lily-Westling2.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-99345"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Team Photo Sports, sent by athlete</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On vault, Westling competes a Yurchenko full that showcases one of her biggest strengths: body position. She maintains a clean, extended shape throughout the skill, keeping her toes pointed and finishing with an easy, controlled landing. Her 9.575 season high reflects the attention to detail she brings to the event, where the little things make a significant difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beam is another event where Westling's gymnastics really shines. From her creative mount to the meticulous artistry woven throughout her routine, she brings a distinct personality to the event without sacrificing precision. Her connections include a back handspring-layout stepout and a front aerial into a split jump-beat jump combination. She also incorporates an aerial before finishing with a roundoff-1.5 dismount. What makes her beam particularly exciting is the way she approaches each skill. There is a level of intention and control in her movements that makes the routine feel polished from beginning to end. Her attention to positions, rhythm, and presentation gives her gymnastics a maturity that is especially impressive for a first-year Level 10. With a 9.65 season high earned twice, she has already demonstrated that her beam work can translate into big scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On floor, Westling combines difficulty with the same effortless presentation that defines the rest of her gymnastics. Her routine features a front layout-front full, a 1.5-layout, and a double tuck. Each pass contributes to a routine that balances power and control, and her double tuck is particularly notable for how easily she makes it look. She reached a season-best 9.55, providing another example of her ability to turn strong tumbling into a complete performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, bars is where Westling made her biggest statement last season. Her routine features a Maloney, toe hand-bail to handstand, and full-in dismount. She brings the same attention to detail seen throughout her other events, but pairs it with the difficulty and execution that helped her earn a 9.75 and finish first on the event at Nationals. Winning a National title in her first Level 10 season is an accomplishment worth celebrating, and it gives her an exciting foundation to build upon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":99346,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgymnastics.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2026/11/Lily-Westling4.jpg?w=681" alt="" class="wp-image-99346"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Team Photo Sports, sent by athlete</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the most exciting part of Westling's story is that her first Level 10 season may only be the beginning of what she can accomplish. Already, she's working on upgrades that could add another dimension to her routines and give her even more opportunities to separate herself from the competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On floor, she's training a Rudi, a 1.5-layout, and a double pike, all of which could provide additional options as she continues to develop her routine construction. On bars, she's working toward a Ray and a full-twisting double layout dismount, two upgrades that would build upon an event where she's already proven she can compete at the highest level. Her beam training is equally exciting, with a back handspring-back handspring-layout and a front aerial to scale among the skills she's developing. Both would complement her existing combination of difficulty and artistry, giving her even more ways to showcase her strengths on the event. And on vault, she's working a Yurchenko 1.5 into the foam pit, an upgrade that could significantly increase her difficulty down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With so many skills in progress, Westling has an exciting runway ahead of her. Heading into her sophomore year, she still has considerable time to develop her gymnastics, build confidence in her upgrades, and continue refining the routines that already brought her national recognition. The recruiting process is still ahead, but Westling is putting together the kind of foundation that makes her an interesting name to follow as that next chapter approaches. A National champion on bars, a National all-around qualifier, and a gymnast who brings an unmistakable level of grace and precision to every event, she has already accomplished plenty in her young Level 10 career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between a National title, a top-15 all-around finish, an international training experience in London, and a growing list of upgrades, Westling is already building an impressive gymnastics résumé. Yet, as she heads into her sophomore year, there is still so much room for her to grow. With time to continue developing her difficulty, refining her execution, and gaining valuable experience, she has the opportunity to become an even more well-rounded competitor before the recruiting process begins. Her first Level 10 season showed what she can accomplish, but if her work in the gym is any indication, Lily Westling's best gymnastics may still be ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->