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Saving gymnastics
Posted On 2009-07-15 , 8:04 PM
Well, it's been quite a busy time these past 6 weeks. I found out our AD was recommending to the board that gymnastics be discontinued this fall. Quite a blow after 35 years! After letting my gymnasts and parents know what was happening we made an appeal to the board to let us continue at least for one more year. We didn't want to go out like this. I thought of my girls and how they had set goals for a 4-year high school competitive phase and how some of them had already been working out throughout the year and my heart went out to them.
We were given the okay to continue IF we could raise $11,000 in the next 3 1/2 weeks. After another board meeting it was extended 2 more weeks.
I'm overwhelmed at the support given to us by our community, family, and friends. We made our goal and it feels great. So Newton will have a high school team for at least one more year!
What is high school gymnastics like in your area?
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high school gymnastics
Posted On 2008-05-01 , 9:56 PM
I am passionate about gymnastics from many perspectives. First, I was a gymnast, then a gymnastics teacher, a gymnastics coach, and now a judge. I started coaching 35 years ago. When I was interviewed about my years as a coach one of the questions was "do you have any standout teams that come to mind", and my answer was "no, I remember more individuals even having had two state championship teams". My best memories have been about relationships. Relationships with individual students, with parents, with other coaches, judges, and more. It has been good.
My biggest concern right now is where high school gymnastics is going, especially in my own state of Kansas. I've coached club gymnastics and high school gymnastics and they are both good, both have their separate advantages and disadvantages. I have seen individuals blossom in gymnastics in both places. The team aspect that high school gymnastics brings is good for the girls who have competed as individuals for many years. I was pleased to hear about a petition that helped save one high school in another state and wonder why we didn't fight more for the schools we lost in our own state. What are some ideas others have that can help our sport?
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