Final Dismount: The girls gymnastics program in SMSD will have its final season next year

Girls gymnastics district-wide will have its final season next fall after Sunflower League announced the sport’s retirement in an email sent to coaches on May 1. The decision will affect 12 active teams in the league, including the Lancers.

“This decision reflects several years of challenges, including declining participation numbers, difficulties in finding enough qualified coaching staff and logistic challenges in consolidating practices and competitions,” the letter read.

According to the letter, participation in gymnastics fell from 108 to 70 athletes in the past season. Another factor in the decision was the growth in participation of other girls sports, such as wrestling, cheer and dance.

“It was announced very suddenly,” assistant coach Brooklyn Beck said. “We didn’t really know it was something they were even talking about.”

Beck said that the district gymnastics program is not particularly costly to the Sunflower League, as the program provides its own equipment and uniforms. 

“It’s hard to look at it as numbers, because they’re all athletes, the sport means something to them, and [gymnastics] has encouraged them in some way and created a community,” Beck said.

While high school gymnastics is often overshadowed by club gymnastics, head coach Sarah Hink said that the program is still valuable for girls who retire from club gymnastics.

“By the time you get girls coming into high school, they’re 14, 15, 16 years old, so they’re probably done in their career as a club gymnast competitively,” Hink said. “Coming into high school gives them one more chance to finish out that sport they love.”

Junior Kara Parrett joined the SM East team after quitting club gymnastics, and has participated in the sport for three years at East. Parrett was disappointed about the decision, as she feels that the East program offered her a second chance at her favorite sport.

“I’m really happy to get my senior season, but I’ve met some great friends through gymnastics, and it’s one of the only constant things that I’ve had in my life,” Parrett said. “Since I was 4 years old, I’ve always been a gymnast. It was always kind of my thing.”