Victory Gymnastics Trio Set to Compete at State Level
Three gymnasts from Victory Gymnastics Academy – Advika Dhanya, Reina Kawamura, and Mackenzie Stamper – are preparing to compete at the Level 10 state competition this Friday and Saturday in Bloomington, Indiana. The athletes made the decision to continue training with Victory Gymnastics rather than transition to high school gymnastics, a path chosen by many of their peers.
Transition to Level 10
After last year’s club season, coach Gary Stam suggested the trio move up from Level 9 to Level 10. Training for the higher level began in May, and they began competing as Level 10s in December. Gymnasts described the jump as challenging, requiring significant skill development.
“It was really tough,” said Dhanya. “There’s a lot more skills that we have to do getting up to a Level 10, but being at this higher level, we’re able to experiment more with higher skills and kind of choose what is for us.”
Stam noted the difficulty of the transition, stating, “It takes a long time to get ready for Level 10. Between Level 9 and Level 10, they have to add some really big skills, and these girls have all stepped up to the plate and done it, which is really nice.”
College Aspirations
All three gymnasts aspire to compete in college gymnastics, potentially becoming the first from Columbus, Indiana, to do so since Morgan Lane competed at the University of North Carolina from 2014-2018.
Kawamura, a junior at Columbus North, has attended camps at Brown and Yale and ranks first in her class. Dhanya has visited the University of Michigan and UCLA. Stamper, a sophomore at Columbus East, is being recruited by the University of Alabama and plans to revisit for a camp this summer, similarly considering Georgia and Auburn.
“You watch on TV the atmosphere of being at college and college gymnastics,” Dhanya said. “We go to camps, too, and we’ve gotten to feel some of that, and it’s really exciting, really fun to be part of that big team.”
Stamper expressed her desire to continue the sport at a high level: “I just believe the sport is something that’s really important to me, and I want to keep working hard and setting goals for myself. College is that goal, my place to reach.”
Upcoming Competitions
Following the state competition, the gymnasts have the opportunity to advance to the regional competition, scheduled for April 9-12 in Columbus, Ohio, and potentially to Level 10 Nationals, taking place May 7-10 in Oklahoma City.
The gymnasts emphasized the importance of focusing on their individual routines and performance rather than external pressures. “I feel like we all just have to focus on hitting our skills and being confident with our routines instead of worrying about anyone else,” Kawamura said.
“What’s important is being there and doing the best you can do, no matter what,” Stamper added.
Dance Party Meet Results
Mackenzie Stamper competed at the Dance Party meet on January 31, 2026, at Nexus Park in Columbus, Indiana, achieving a score of 36.175. Kei Pagan, also from Victory Gymnastics, scored 36.175 at the same event. Meet Results are available online.