For the past three years, the boys’ gymnastics program at South has slowly been declining in numbers, with only 12 athletes competing this season for the team, senior gymnast Alex Goldberg said.
This trend is not unique to South, leading the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) to officially discontinue boys’ gymnastics competitions in 2023 because the sport did not meet the participation threshold, according to ihsa.org. Despite this lack of participation, the boys’ gymnastics team continues to practice their events. They plan meets through the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association (IHSGCA), which is supported by the coaches who help fund the meets, Steve Gale, Boys’ Gymnastics Head Coach, said. The team is making an effort to advertise the sport as they enter their competitive season In hopes of finding new athletes, Goldberg said.
“We are doing our best by putting up signs and making the sport look fun, and getting people’s attention through flips, handstands, and swinging,” Goldberg said
Gale retired from teaching at South in 2010 but continues to coach both boys’ and girls’ gymnastics, he said. Though the numbers may not be as strong as in previous years, Gale is proud of the team’s work ethic, especially during their first meet on March 18 against Niles West. At this meet, both the varsity and the JV teams placed high, with the JV team outscoring the Niles JV team in five of the six events, Gale said.
“I am happy with what is going on in practice,” Gale said. “The varsity kids have prepared for the season, and they are able to do the skills that I expect them to do.”
Matthew Schick, junior and varsity boys’ gymnast has been on the team since his freshman year. Schick joined after his older brother, who also competed, convinced him. He stayed after developing a love for the sport’s focus on individuality and personal strength. Through these values, Schick has found a community within South that he can rely on, Schick said.
“Since gymnastics is a relatively small sport, everyone knows each other, so there is a lot of community and understanding,” Schick said. “By the end of the season, there is friendship between everyone on the team.”