Brandon Twp.– Training to be an Olympic gymnast requires talent, discipline, dedication and many hours of practice.
Girls who are motivated to pursue the lofty goal will soon be able to work toward that dream locally.
GRIPS Gymnastics will open in September as a member of the USA Gymnastics junior Olympics program. A parent meeting will be at noon, Aug. 27, at GOB Gymnastics, Dance & Cheerleading, 142 Harbor Pointe, the gym at which GRIPS will rent space. Registrations will also be taken on that date.
‘This league takes kids all the way to the Olympics,? said GOB coach and owner Paul Frezza. ‘It’s the big leagues of gymnastics.?
GOB Gymnastics will continue to participate in the Michigan Recreational Gymnastics League, what Frezza calls a ‘fun? league. The new program will be for gymnasts who aspire to a higher level and is offered because of high market demand and because Frezza said his gymnasts need more of a challenge– with their talent, they are ‘blowing the competition away.?
GRIPS accepts girls ages five and up. Participants should be prepared for 12 hours of practice per week in dance, gymnastics, flexibility and strength training, as well as a controlled diet.
‘This league is not for everybody because of the strictness and discipline involved,? says Frezza. ‘It’s for the highly dedicated, motivated kid who wants to excel to the extreme in this sport above all else.?
The new league takes girls all the way to the Olympics, notes Frezza, from level one to ten. Girls are tested to see which level they are at when they join. Once a gymnast has achieved level 10, they are considered an elite gymnast, at which time they join the International Gymnastics League, where they represent the United States and compete against gymnasts from other nations.
Frezza’s son, Garrett Frezza, 22, will coach GRIPS gymnasts. The younger Frezza has been involved in gymnastics since he was 8. He currently coaches recreational gymnastics, but is excited to teach the skills and routines of USA Gymnastics.
‘I’m looking forward to teaching new skills, working with higher-level gymnasts and winning trophies,? Garrett Frezza says. ‘I can’t wait to start.?
For more information on GRIPS Gymnastics, call (248) 627-6317.