Senior Spotlight 2026: Celebrating Seven Gem City Seniors

Hi, My name is Lila Winking, and I am a senior at Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling. I am the daughter of Corey and Angela Winking, and have two sisters Ava and Sylvia.  I started taking classes here at 18-months old and as I grew up I immediately fell in love with the place. I started competing in gymnastics at six years until I was 14 years old. Throughout my journey as a gymnast I won countless medals. Two medals I remember best are first place on bars at the State Championships and on floor at the Level 7 State Championships. Then I decided that I wanted to try-out for the All-Star team, which I am on now. I have grown up at the gym and it has been the best time of my life! I’ve also been working there since 2022. I love my job and get to teach all different levels and ages. As for my future, I plan to go to Illinois State University, with my major being something medical/health related. I am so grateful to have grown up at the gym and have countless coaches and role models to look up to. Thank you for everything!

My name is Addison Bakalyar. I am a senior at Quincy High School and will graduate this May. I have attended classes at GCGT since I was three years old. I made it to Level 7 on the competitive gymnastics team where I built so many friendships along the way. Although I don’t do gymnastics anymore, I am a part of the All-Star cheer team. I coach gymnastics myself now, which is really exciting as I get to share the sport I love with a whole new group of young athletes. It’s so cool to watch them learn and grow and start their journey with this sport. I feel so very lucky to have been a part of the community here at the gym. I’ve been surrounded by so many friends and coaches who have been so supportive as I’ve grown as an athlete and person. My plan for after high school is to attend John Wood Community College with an undecided major. I also plan to continue to be a part of the All-Star cheer team for one more year and continue to coach gymnastics here at Gem City. My time in high school has been an incredible experience and I’m sad to see this chapter in my life come to an end, but I’m just as excited for what’s to come in the future.

Hi, my name is McKenzee Mellon! I was homeschooled my whole life, graduated early at 17 this past November, and I am now a freshman at Quincy University where I am a member of the Cheer and STUNT team.

Gem City has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember — from going to the gym and watching my siblings when I was only a few months old, to starting classes at age three, and eventually getting the opportunity to coach as I got older. In other words, the gym has always felt like a second home to me. I competed on the Tumbling Team from 2016–2018, and in 2021 I joined the Senior All-Star Cheer team. I currently compete as an All-Star Cheerleader, and together with my team we have become three-time national champions!

I am so grateful for all the years I’ve spent at Gem City and for the incredible coaches who have supported and encouraged me along the way. The lessons, friendships, and memories I’ve gained here will always stay with me. Gem City has helped shape me into the person I am today, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. 

Hi, my name is Irelyn Plenge. I have been involved with Gem City Gymnastics for about 10 years. I was a member of the competitive gymnastics team for six years before joining the Senior All-Star Cheer Squad where I have participated for the past seven years. In 2023, I began working at Gem City Gymnastics three years ago helping with parties whenever my schedule allows. I will graduate from Clark County High School this May and I plan to attend Maryville University this fall to major in Forensics.

Hi! My name is Caydence Ancelet. I will be graduating from Liberty High School this semester. I have been on my school’s cheerleading squad for the past four years. After graduation I plan on attending a 4-year university where I will be majoring in Biomedical Sciences on a Pre-Med pathway. After that I plan on attending Med School and pursuing a career in Pediatrics. I have worked at Gem City for about two years coaching and helping with birthday parties, but before that I was on the competitive gymnastics team for four years when I was 8-11 years old. 

My name is Faith Alford and I am a senior at Camp Point Central High School. I am a high honor student involved in three sports and two clubs, and have been a member of Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling for about 10 years. I was a part of the competitive gymnastics team for six years, and have been enrolled in advanced cheer tumbling classes since then. I’ve worked at Gem City as a birthday party host for about two years and have enjoyed every bit of it. I am super excited to be graduating this year so I can begin my post-secondary education at John Wood Community College. I plan on getting my Associate’s Degree in accounting before transferring to Culver-Stockton College to complete my education with a Bachelor’s Degree. It is so bittersweet to be ending my journey as an athlete, but I am so grateful for all the memories and opportunities!

Hey there, I’m Mikey Goodwin. I am a senior at Quincy University. I will graduate this May with a bachelor’s degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry. I have attended lessons at GCGT since 2022, and I have enjoyed my time there so much that I started working as a birthday party instructor and then got trained to coach classes. Now I am a substitute coach and I am also on the cleaning crew at the gym. I plan to stay in Quincy for one more year continuing my education through a master’s program for veterinary medicine. I also work part time at the Quincy Humane Society. I was a dancer for 16 years – 10 of them I was competitive. I have been cheering for four years at QU and two years ago I was recruited for QU’s NCAA Stunt Team, so I am finishing up my second year on that team right now.