Photo Gallery: Gainers Gymnastics Talent Showcase
Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Gainers Gymnastics in DownTown Park Forest celebrated it’s “Green and Gold Festival” recently, showcasing the talents of young gymnasts. Participating gymnasts were as young as four years old, while others were high school age. About 75 children, some as young as four years old, participated.
The youngest children demonstrated their ability to turn somersaults and even did successful hand stands with some assistance from coaches Carol Hudson of Country Club Hills, and Vanessa Franklin, from Chicago Heights. Older children did head stands, high jumps, and more. Some showed impressive abilities on the uneven bars, while others performed carefully on the balance beams.
The gym, which moved to Park Forest from South Chicago Heights about a year ago, is owned by Judy Redmond. Redmond has operated the gymnasium for 25 years.
The kids were cheered on by a large crowd of family members seated around the performance area. Still, there’s no doubt who is in charge. When a few of the youngest athletes begin to nudge each other too much, a quick glance from Judy Redmond is all it takes to restore discipline.
Michele Panton brings her daughters from Country Club Hills. The girls, Mikayla 11, Maliyah 8, and Makenna 5, have trained at Gainers since they were 22 months old.
“I love it here,” Mrs. Panton says. She says her girls started out in the “Keepers and Creepers” class for “mom, or father, and tot.” Her daughter Maliyah and Mikayla now compete at levels five and seven respectively. “Both of them went to state this past April, and both of them were state champions in their level,” mom says.
Mrs. Panton says the gym has other champions as well, “but I was really blessed this year.”
Many parents praised owner Judy Redmond, including Mrs. Panton, “She’s more than just a coach. She’s that ‘second parent.’ It’s a very warm environment. There’s nothing the Redmonds wouldn’t do to help you, even if it’s something that has nothing to do with gymnastics – they’re there.”
Gainers Gymnastics is located at 300 Victory Drive, Park Forest, IL, 60466.
