Every season, the headlines bring us familiar names of gymnasts leading their teams to glory. Behind those headlines, though, are athletes quietly making their mark with new skills, new events, and increased impact on their teams. Whether they started that ascent toward the end of last season or are about to show what they can do now, these are the EAGL gymnasts who are poised for a breakout season.
Lola Montevago (George Washington)
Named EAGL Rookie of the Year, Montevago was a mainstay in the bars and beam lineup, setting the program record for bars with a 9.975. She was added to the vault rotation for the last six meets, and in a sign of what’s to come, competed all-around for the first time in the EAGL championships. Head coach Stephanie Stoicovy Worrell intends to keep her there: “Lola is a competitor and having that mindset in every lineup will elevate our team.” With a revamped floor routine featuring new tumbling passes and leap connections, she is positioned to be a strong contributor for the defending EAGL champs.
Kyrstin Johnson (Temple)
Johnson started her collegiate career at Talladega. When that program shut down after just one season, she needed a new gymnastics home. She found Temple. It was there that she worked with the Temple Diamond Gems dance team to develop what is now a viral hip-hop inspired floor routine, packed with enough energy as if to beg the fans to stand up and dance along. By the end of the season, that routine earned her a career high 9.900 twice, matching her season high 9.900 on vault. She was named First Team All-EAGL for both vault and floor. Now firmly entrenched as an Owl, Johnson’s junior season promises to be electric.
Maya Peters (George Washington)
Peters served as a beam specialist throughout 2025, achieving a season high 9.900. She finished third at the EAGL championships, placing her on the First Team All-Tournament for beam. As a freshman, she had previously competed on bars with a high of 9.850. For the upcoming season, she will return to bars competition with a new toe front pike half bar dismount. In addition, she will be debuting a new floor routine, giving her the potential to become a triple threat in three events as a junior.
McCall McMullen (New Hampshire)
After competing primarily on vault as a freshman, McMullen added floor for her sophomore campaign. Her progress and contributions earned her both team captain and the Most Improved Gymnast award from her teammates. Head coach Lindsey Bruck Ayotte concurred: “McCall is one of the hardest working gymnasts I have ever had the privilege of coaching.” McMullen achieved career highs of 9.900 on beam and 9.825 on vault. She will add a bars routine in 2026 as her team looks to her to become a strong all-around competitor.
Kaira Cartwright (LIU)
The LIU sophomore delivered standout performances throughout her freshman year, achieving career highs of 9.800 on vault, 9.825 on beam, and 9.800 on floor. Demonstrating remarkable consistency, she successfully hit 34 of her 36 routines. Her efforts were recognized with an EAGL Rookie of the Week honor, along with Second Team All-EAGL recognition on vault and Second Team honors on the EAGL All-Tournament Team for vault and beam. With her first year now behind her, the Sharks, entering their sixth season, will be looking to her for increased leadership.
Nikki Rengifo (Temple)
Rengifo, a former state vault champion in Florida, competed initially on vault for the Owls, achieving a season-high 9.850 on the event. Midway through the season, she joined the floor lineup, culminating in a 9.850 at the EAGL championships. Rengifo was the winner of the team grit award. Head coach Hilary Steele praised her determination: “Nikki is building on a strong freshman season and came back with greater confidence and consistency.” If she can pick up where she left off on floor and stay consistent on vault, she can provide a two-event punch for Temple.
Brissa Portillo (Towson)
Portillo joined the beam rotation later in the season, competing in the last six meets with a season high 9.850. She also competed twice on bars with a season-high 9.825. She is currently training a Yurchenko full on vault along with a floor routine. Towson is loaded with depth this year with seven seniors dominating the rotations. As a result, it’s no small feat just to get into the lineup. Still, head coach Jay Ramirez has high hopes for her: “Brissa lives and breathes the core values of Towson gymnastics. She is relentless in the pursuit of enduring excellence.” Portillo is likely just a mere stuck landing away from having a much bigger role in the Tigers’ rotations.
Mady Harvey (New Hampshire)
Harvey competed beam in every meet her freshman season with all of her scores falling in a two tenths of a point range, a testament to her consistency and composure. She achieved a career high of 9.825 and earned an EAGL Rookie Specialist of the Week award. This upcoming season, she will expand her role adding both vault and bars and setting her up to become a key contributor for the Wildcats. Head coach Lindsey Bruck Ayotte is excited at the prospects for her sophomore: “Mady was a rock for us on beam, and we’re confident she will make a big impact on all three events for us this year.”
Ellorie Cane (LIU)
Cane served as a beam specialist in 2025 with remarkable consistency, averaging 9.800 over her last six meets, with a 9.825 career high. She earned EAGL Rookie Specialist of the Week twice and received First Team honors on the EAGL All-Tournament Team. She is currently in the process of adding bars and floor to her repertoire for 2026.
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Article by Sara Finkelstein
