YMCA Gymnastics Team Looks Forward to Competitive Season

With a number of veteran athletes and some enthusiastic newcomers, the North Suburban YMCA’s Competitive Gymnastics Team is preparing for its first meet on January 11, 2015. The gymnasts on the team range from age 8 to 14, and will be competing against other teams in the YMCA and AAU leagues.

“We’re very excited about the prospects for this year’s team,” noted NSYMCA Sports and Gymnastics Director Carol Sassorossi, who shares coaching duties with Jenna Norman, Leah Kartsimas, Jessica Thompson and Kerry Stinchcomb. “Our experienced gymnasts have been with the program for a long time, and the younger girls have the potential to develop quickly under their leadership.”

The Competitive Team is the culmination of the NSYMCA’s progressive developmental program, which starts with preschoolers and offers training through eighth grade. The overall goals of the program are the development of skills, strength and self-confidence in a fun, supportive environment. Participants progress through levels at their own pace with attention given to individual needs. Competitive team members are selected through evaluations, and are expected to travel with the team to meets during the season, running from January to May. The 2015 team includes Level 3s Chesine Ciota, Jenna Freund, Sarah Gordon, Dylan Rome, Lauren Stinchcomb, and Charlotte Trout; Level 4s Zena Abdelhamid, Katie Dahlke, Molly Fraser, Abby Knebelkamp, Sophie Rogoff, Genevieve Sanchez, Talia Siegel, Josie Sobecks, and DeDee Van Treeck; and Level 7 Bridget Billig.

Gymnasts enjoy the supportive, individualized nature of the Y’s program. Bridget Billig, an eighth-grader who has been on the team for five years, comments, “I have always loved the program because of the laid back feel and the focus on making individuals succeed and be happy where they are. Nobody is forced to compete in a level that is too difficult for them, but my coaches don’t hold kids back in order to get the highest possible score.” She also appreciates the Y’s flexible scheduling that accommodates other activities. “The amount of time we spend practicing is very manageable for kids with other sports and activities like soccer, basketball, volleyball, and dance, yet we almost always do very well in competitions despite fewer practices.”

Registration is now open for Winter session programs at the North Suburban YMCA. For more information about Y gymnastics, visit www.nsymca.org or contact Carol Sassorossi, csassorossi@nsymca.org.

About the North Suburban YMCA
The YMCA is a not-for-profit entity and relies on donations to make services available for all families and individuals in its 15-city region. All board members are volunteers, who donate their time, talents and financial resources. Located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook, the YMCA has served the northern suburbs of Chicago for over 45 years. The Y is about youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, providing programs and services that address the needs of our diverse community and are accessible to all. For more information or to make a donation, contact Barb Flanagin at 847-272-7250 or bflanagin@nsymca.org, or visit www.nsymca.org