Local gymnast Cienna Rydman received the 2026 Outstanding Athlete Award this week at the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship.

“It has proven the support I have from the people around me,” Rydman, 18, said in a Friday, July 10, interview. “I have a really good support system throughout the YMCA and my family and the team.”

Rydman attended the competition in Greensboro, North Carolona, representing the Lakewood Family YMCA Gymnastics Team, part of YMCA of Greater Long Beach. She has been a member of Lakewood YMCA’s gymnastic program for 10 years.

“I treated it as a celebration of my gymnastics career,” Rydman said. “One last time to go out, have fun, enjoy being in this environment, enjoy being with these people. It’s a nice closeout celebration.”

Rydman graduated from Millikan High School last month, and will attend Manhattan University in the fall. She will compete on their Division 1 acrobatics and tumbling team, and major in political science. The $2,000 scholarship she received with her award on Tuesday, July 7, will go toward her first year. Rydman is Lakewood Family YMCA’s first gymnast to commit as a D1 athlete.

“I’m looking forward to being able to compete for my school, being part of the first team ever at Manhattan University,” Rydman said. “To be part of that inaugural team, introduce a new sport for female athletes, I think it’s gonna be a really cool opportunity.”

Even as she prepares to move to New York, Rydman said, she will stay connected to Lakewood YMCA. Gymnastics runs in the Rydman family: her sister, Kaylee, a rising junior at Millikan, is also on the Lakewood team, and their mother, Cherie, has coached them for 10 years.

“I’m gonna miss her a ton, but it is a perfect opportunity for her,” Cherie Rydman said in an interview. “She puts herself in situations that are going to benefit her. She puts hard work in everything she does, so I’m glad that we can support that.”

At the YMCA national championship last year, Rydman brought home the championship team title with Lakewood. She and the other five Lakewood athletes were named YMCA All-Americans, and Rydman placed second in floor exercise.

Rydman was also a member of the YMCA of the USA Gymnastics Athlete Council for two years and an athlete representative on the National Gymnastics Association board for about three years.

Her years of balancing competitive gymnastics with school taught her to plan her time around training and academics, Rydman said. Through high school, she was in class until 2 p.m., then she headed to the gym — for five hours of practice.

“I like staying busy,” Rydman said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it definitely teaches you a lot of time management. I’ve learned to plan my days, make time for studying for that extra test or training for that one competition.”

The YMCA of the USA awards the Outstanding Athlete Award annually to two student gymnasts who exemplify academic excellence and social responsibility through their participation in YMCA’s competitive gymnastics program. The national recognition honors the athlete’s commitment to the YMCA’s values of community, youth development and healthy living.

The other 2026 recipient was Kaelyn Gagnon from Manchester, New Hampshire.

Graduating high school seniors who have competed in YMCA gymnastics for at least five years are eligible for the award. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, plan to attend college or a trade school, and compete in the YMCA National Gymnastics Championship that year. Finally, the student must submit an essay and letters of recommendation.

Gymnastics, Rydman said, taught her adaptability and to let go of perfectionism.

“I love the challenges that the sport puts on the gymnasts,” she said. “I really learned to trust myself. I really learned courage under pressure. That work ethic pushes you through anything. All your fears, everything that stands in your way.”