Gymnastics

Recreational programs and competitive teams for children ages 2 through 8th grade.

Tots in Training Gymnastics

  • Tots of Fun 2—Ages 2 year olds with adult
    Allows parents (adult) to participate in the development of their tots' large motor skills and socialization. Our staff will supervise your time to play and learn together. Must be 2 years old before session begins.
  • Mighty Jumpers—Ages 3-4 years old
    For children who have little or no experience in a structured gymnastics class. Emphasis is on development of motor skills, coordination and making new friends. Basic tumbling and introduction to various gymnastics equipment.
  • Little Skippers—Ages 4-6 years old
    Designed for boys and girls who have been in Mighty Jumpers and want to continue to improve body awareness, strength and enhance coordination. Basic tumbling and instruction on bars, beam and vault.
  • Terrific Tumblers—Ages 4-6 years old
    Students build on their skills learned in Little Skippers and continue to make terrific progress. More advanced skills will be taught enabling a smooth transition into Youth Progressive Gymnastics. Prerequisite: Little Skippers or Coordinator’s approval.

Youth Progressive Gymnastics
Our Youth Progressive Gymnastics Program is a progressive developmental program. Personal improvement, increased selfconfidence, and fun are our goals. The YMCA program is a progressive program, which allows the students to progress at their own rate and work on their individual needs. The Pre-Team and Competitive Team gymnasts work on compulsory routines. The North Suburban YMCA Gymnastics Team travels and competes in the YMCA League. For more information about our gymnastics program, please call Carol Sassorossi, 847-272-7250, ext. 1220.

  • Beginner 1—First grade and up
    This is the first level in our Youth Progressive Gymnastics Program. Emphasis is on on floor work and improving strength. Basic work on uneven bars, balance beam and vault are taught.
  • Beginner 2—First grade and up
    Gymnasts learn progressively harder skills on the floor and equipment. Work on increasing strength and flexibility. Pre-requisite: Beginner 1 or Coordinator’s approval.
  • Boys Beginner—First grade and up
    Boys will learn and work on basic tumbling, bars, vault and rings. Strength, flexibility and conditioning will be introduced.
  • Advanced Beginner—First grade and up
    Gymnasts work on improving their form and technique through strength conditioning and new skill development. Gymnasts work on Level 3 routines. Twice week classes are encouraged. Pre-requisite: Beginner 2 and Coordinator’s approval.
  • Gymnastics Pre-Team—Instructor Approval
    These gymnasts continue to learn new and more difficult skills on the floor and equipment while fine tuning their previous skills. Strength, flexibility and conditioning are enhanced. Pre-Team gymnasts are strongly encouraged to participate two times a week.
  • Competitive Team—Instructor Approval
    Competitive Team gymnasts will be working Level 4, 5 and 6 routines. The fee does not include meets or team apparel. Competitive Team members must be YMCA members. Pre-requisite: Coordinator’s approval.

State Meet Highlights

The North Suburban YMCA Gymnastics Team had a great State Meet that was held on May, 20 and hosted by Edwardsville YMCA in Edwardsville, IL.

Our team came home with a 2nd place trophy for both Level 4 team and level 5 team, as well as, 2nd place Super Team!

Our levels 4’s were lead by Carly Anderson, Tess Benson, Emily Mac Donald, Molly Fraser, Brianne Barbakoff, Katie Kempff and Christine Jablonsky. In the 9 & 10 year old division Carly had a clean sweep of 2nd place awards on all 4 events and 2nd place all-around with a score of 37.250. Tess came in 2nd on beam, 3rd on vault and 4th all around with a 36.50. Emily tied her teammate with a 2nd place finish on vault and came in 8th all-around. Molly was on the podium with a 6th place finish on floor and 11th all- around.

In the level 4 senior division, Brianne finished her YMCA career as the State Floor Champion with a score of 9.5. She also came in 2nd on vault, bars and 3rd all-around.

In the Junior Level 4 division, newcomers Katie K, placed 3rd on floor, 4th on beam and 6th all-around and Christine followed with a 2nd place beam and 8th all-around.

Our Level 5 team was represented by Katie Brownlee, Bridget Billig and Liat Berkowitz. In the Junior Division Katie is the new State Bar Champion as well as, 2nd place finishes on vault, beam and all-around. Bridget is our new State Champion on Beam, as well as, 2nd on floor and 6th all around. In the Senior Division Liat won dual state championships on vault and beam, with 2nd place on floor and all-around.

Our lone Level 6 competitor was Kara Tyner and she did not disappoint. Kara impressed the judges with a 2nd place floor routine, 3rd place beam and 5th place all-around.

NSYMCA Gymnastics National Meet Highlights

The NSYMCA Gymnastics Team competed in the 2012 National Gymnastics Championship Meet in Milwaukee, WI on June 29-July 1. The Opening Ceremony for the National Meet was held at the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee beginning with a parade of gymnasts through the grounds. 25 states were in attendance with over 1500 gymnasts competing over the course of the weekend. Representing the NSYMCA was Level 4 gymnasts: Carly Anderson, Tess Benson and Molly Fraser; and Level 5 gymnasts Bridget Billig, Liat Berkowitz, Riley McCarthy and Shea McCarthy.

The level 4 girls competed in Session 2-Junior Division on Saturday and Carly Anderson won the All Around National Champion Title with a score of 37.275, as well as being Bars (9.55) and floor (9.625) National Champion. Tess Benson was awarded Vault National Champion with a 9.75 and a second place finish on floor (9.535) and 5th place all-around with a 36.250. Molly Fraser joined her teammates on the awards podium with an 8th place finish on floor with a score of 9.0.

Our Level 5’s competed in the Sunday Session in 3 different age divisions. In the child division Bridget Billig and Shea McCarthy stood on the podium with 2nd and 3rd places on Floor. Bridget’s score of 9.125 earned 2nd place, while Shea’s 9.050 was 3rd. They again were next to each other at all around awards with Bridget coming in 9th and Shea in 10th place.

In the Level 5 Junior Division Riley McCarthy had a great meet and placed 2 nd on Floor; 5th on bars and 4th on vault and all around (34.775).

In the Senior Division Liat Berkowitz was finished the meet strong and is the new National Champion for All Around and Beam. She added 2nd place finish on Floor and 3rd place on vault.

The NSYMCA Gymnastics Team is coached by Carol Sassorossi, Jenna Norman, Rachel Elfant and Maggie Kopp. “The National Meet setting was very exciting and our girls amazed us this weekend and we are so proud of all their hard work and determination”.