LAKE BUENA VISTA (USA), FIG Office, April 15, 2012: After the success of American mixed pair Michael Rodrigues and Kristin Allen two years ago, Dylan Maurer and Kelianne Stankus hope to follow up with a medal at their first World Championships together.

How do Americans Kelianne Stankus and Dylan Maurer resolve a conflict?

"We hug it out!" laughed Maurer, one half of the lone American mixed pair competing at the World Acrobatic Championships in Orlando. But arguments between the good friends from Riverside, Calif. rarely happen anyway, and the duo certainly has no difficulty agreeing how excited they are to be at their first World Championships together.

As the only Americans in the mixed pairs competition, Stankus, 16, and Maurer, 21, are hoping to follow in the footsteps of now-retired duo Michael Rodrigues and Kristin Allen, who won gold in mixed pairs at the 2010 Worlds in Wroclaw.

"The goal is definitely to medal, to hit all of our routines," Maurer said. To prepare, they've trained 22.5 hours per week in the gym and devoted several hours each week to outside preparations, which in Stankus's case has included stoning their competition costumes by hand.

Stankus and Maurer trained at California's Empire Acrogymnastics Sports Inc. for years, but didn't become a pair until Maurer's old partner decided to take up swimming instead. Though their partnership is still comparatively young, they share the same dreams and goals, namely becoming World champions in their own right.

When they aren't preparing their own routines, Maurer and Stankus are already inspiring the next generation, coaching a younger pair competing at the Orlando All Stars meet.

For the present, however, "it's just exciting to be here," Maurer said.