South’s Boys’ Gymnastics Team has just kicked off their season with an impressive start, Brandon Tucker, Varsity Boys’ Gymnastics Head Coachsaid. The team has collected a variety of very qualified gymnasts for the up- comings season, Tucker said.

Through building a successful team, the gymnastics program has created bonds, junior Jacob Smalec said. The program helps bring gymnasts together and bond as both students and athletes.

“You are able to get to know a lot more people through being on the team and are able to bond with your teammates,” Smalec said.

The team members help influence one another by demonstrating skill for others to follow, sophomore Alex Goldberg, varsity gymnast, said. By displaying new skills, the team is able to recruit new interested gymnasts to the team.

“I do skills and other people watch. They are amazed and want to do the same,” Goldberg said.

But now, team bonds and new skills might not be enough. Last year, IHSA met, discontinuing boys gymnastics as it has fallen below the seven percent of schools participating threshold, Tucker said.

Many of the gymnasts and coaches feel that their hard work and dedication to the strenuous sport has been wasted due to gymnastics being eliminated as an IHSA sport, Tucker said. IHSA eliminated the sport due to the lack of competition and the small number of high schools participating in the program. Although the decision has set the team back, they are working on promoting the gymnastics program. The program’s goal is to make gymnastics look appealing and exciting so that more students are curious enough to join the program.

“I just want to show everyone about [gymnastics] so they know [the sport] exists,” Tucker said. “Then people that want to get stronger and learn to flip around [will] think it’s fun.”

The incoming season is looking very promising and the team is working hard to improve on their goals for the season, Goldberg said.

“[The team’ goals] are to gain new skills and to be confident with the routines, learning skills, and then adding those skills to the routines,” Goldberg said.

The team has gathered a very strong group of gymnasts, all having a vigorous work ethic and persistent leadership skills, Tucker said.

“[We are looking for] hard work, dedication, and willingness to learn leadership,” Tucker said.

Compared to last season, the gymnasts are always looking to improve. The hopes are high for the incoming coaches, as they are bringing experience and expertise to the team, Tucker said.

“[The coaches] are looking for- ward to bringing the experience they have to the team to build on what the previous coaches have,” Tucker said.