MIAA Board Votes to Revisit Dropping Boys Gymnastics

The state body in charge of sanctioning high school sports voted Wednesday to revisit its earlier decision to drop boys gymnastics from its official roster next season.

Richard Ellis, coach of the Braintree High School boys gymnastics team, one of only seven in Massachusetts, and Braintree Athletic Director Michael Denise, presented evidence in support of the sport to the MIAA Executive Board.

In an email, Ellis said both "gave compelling reasons to secure the recognition in the Commonwealth." The board will reconvene June 12 for a final decision.

A lack of activity – the sport has lost dozens of participating schools in recent decades – and a decision by the National Federation of State High School Associations not to write rules for next year prompted the 10-2 vote by directors earlier this year.

Denise and Ellis have been working to convince USA Gymnastics, the sport's national governing body, to write the rules that the high school federation declined to prepare. Denise said Wednesday that he was able to present evidence to the board that USA Gymnastics will help write the rules, negating its chief complaint.

There is no reason for the board not to reinstate the sport if the rules get written, Denise said. While few schools offer the program statewide, some 150 student athletes participate and administrative costs for the MIAA to run the championship are minimal, he added.

Denise also pointed out Wednesday that the western Massachusetts girls gymnastics league has only six teams and less than 100 participants and is sanctioned by the MIAA.

Another impact of dropping boys gymnastics would be the potential unsettling of girls' teams that would see boys wanting to participate, Denise said. Boys gymnastics also has a rich tradition in Massachusetts, Ellis and Denise argued. Braintree High itself has a program that dates back 51 years.

Denise said he, Ellis and others will strategize for the June meeting, and that he is hopeful about the outcome.

"There was positive discussion on both sides of the table," he said.