Abby Kutchma, an 11-year-old Evans City Elementary student, recently won first place in the floor, bars and all-around at the Pennsylvania State Level 7 Gymnastic Championships.

EVANS CITY — Abby Kutchma ignores her nerves before the start of her gymnastic routines.

Instead, she focuses on key phrases.

“Watch my feet and push off with my hands,” Kutchma said.

With that approach, the 11-year-old Evans City Elementary School student hasn’t faltered.

In March, Kutchma capped a strong season by winning several Pennsylvania State Level 7 Gymnastics titles. She won the all-around (38.175 points) in the 11-year-old A1 division, along with the bars (9.750) and floor (9.675).

While the state meet ended her competitive season, Kutchma’s enthusiasm hasn’t faded.

Soon after that meet, Kutchma lit up after landing two consecutive handsprings on the beam.

That puts her another step closer to Level 8.

“I’m very excited. Right when I came out of season, I already put a new skill on the highest beam we have,” said Kutchma, who is 11 and attends Evan City Elementary School. “I almost have all the skills done for Level 8.”

In January, Kutchma, who trains at X-Cel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township, won the Junior A Division all-around title at the National Judges Cup Competition in Tacoma, Washington. Her trip to Washington was the first time she traveled that far for a competition.

“I was a little nervous,” Kutchma said. “I haven’t been to a competition like that.

She also took first place in the bars, beam and floor exercise representing the Pennsylvania All-Stars.

“It was fun and really exciting just to go,” Kutchma said. “Even if I didn’t win anything, I thought it would be a good experience.”

Kutchma was put into gymnastics when she was a little over a year old by her parents.

Diane Kutchma was looking for an activity to keep her triplets, Aiden, Abby and Gabby busy.

“We were trying to figure out what to do with them,” Diane Kutchma said. “It took both of us (her husband Brian) to go with them. Aiden and Gabby decided it wasn’t for me as they got older.”

Diane never doubted that Abby, who trains 20 hours a week, would stick with the sport.

“She’s very flexible. She does the moves a lot of gymnasts can’t do,” Diane said. “She’s a very determined kid.”

Abby Kutchma hopes to reach Level 10 or higher. She plans to keep focusing on key phrases and not let nerves get to her.

“I was a little nervous (at nationals),” Kutchma said. “Once you do a hard skill, it’s a little more relaxed. You still have to focus. Once you do a hard skill, you’re not nervous.”