Evansville, IN — Ten-year-old gymnast Haven Ward is set to launch into her 2025-2026 competition season on November 15th at The Zone Athletic Center, where the annual Mock Meet & Team Pictures will serve as the unofficial kickoff to months of training, grit, and high-flying ambition.

After three seasons in the Xcel program, Ward has made the leap into the USAG compulsory ranks — a jump that’s as much mental as it is physical. The routines are stricter, the standards higher, and the spotlight a little brighter. But if there’s one athlete unfazed by pressure, it’s Haven.

Her favorite event? The balance beam — that four-inch strip of suspense where poise and precision meet nerves of steel. While some gymnasts would rather face a vault run than risk a wobble on the beam, Ward thrives there. “The beam rewards focus,” her coach said with a smile. “And Haven’s got plenty of that.”

Training four days a week and adding in private lessons whenever possible, Haven has been all-in on refining every move leading into her new season. Her proudest skill — a round-off, back handspring, back tuck — isn’t even part of her Level 4 routine, but it’s a glimpse of what’s coming down the road. Those who’ve watched her train know she’s not just preparing for this meet — she’s building a foundation for something bigger.

The mock meet is a tune-up, but Haven has her sights set on New Albany, Indiana, where she’ll compete December 12–13 at the SIGS Spectacular, her first official meet of the season. Her goal: qualify for the state competition and gain the confidence that comes only from hard work paying off under pressure.

For a gymnast like Ward, this weekend is more than practice — it’s proof that dedication, discipline, and a dash of daring still define the sport. The chalk dust may settle, but the message is clear: Haven’s ready to beam.