| Page 2 of 2 < |
Club Rules Leave High School Gymnastics Teetering
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
"The kids in club with us are not kids who all of a sudden decided they wanted to do the sport," Galvez said. "If they're at that level in high school, it means they've been training all their lives."
Oakton sophomore Morgan Perpall, a club gymnast since she was 3, finished seventh in the all-around competition at last season's Northern Region high school championship but this winter is competing only at Chantilly Academy Gymnastics. She said she wanted to compete at both the high school and club levels, but her club coach would not let her. Initially disappointed, Perpall now believes that decision best serves her long-term interests.
"I want to [compete] in college, and I know that I have to do well at club to do it in college, and high school is not as important," Perpall said.
Stonewall Jackson senior All-Met Kelsey Deitz said she and several friends switched gyms years ago when their Manassas club prohibited them from competing in high school, a move that she is glad she made.
"It made me part of my school instead of just being 25 hours a week at club and no one ever sees me," Deitz said. "Both of my coaches have to be understanding and work with me a little bit. You have to give and take a little bit."
But is give-and-take something that the high school and club coaches will be willing to do?
"Having been in both environments, it's a matter of trust between the two," Herndon Coach Keith Naquin said. "It would be great for high school coaches to meet with some of the club owners and communicate their concerns for keeping the sport alive. We could help each other if we sat down at the drawing table and came up with some sort of strategy."
If not, one of two things could happen: The clubs might get more crowded, or fewer girls might try gymnastics.
