(Riverton, WY) – For a second consecutive summer, Riverton’s Next Level Gymnastics (NLG) hosted one of the region’s top-tier training programs for young gymnasts across the western United States.
Many of Next Level’s competitors were joined by Wyoming gymnasts from Casper’s Ka-Larks Gymnastics, Cheyenne’s Diamond Elite Gymnastics and Campbell County’s Gillette Elite Gymnastics.
The event saw several competitors from outside of the Cowboy State attending, including 12 girls from Ray, North Dakota (population 723) that made the 9+ hour drive. The farthest traveled award however went to a young lady visiting from California’s San Diego United Training Center.
Coaches and former gymnasts from all over the country hosted the camp along with NLG owner and coach, Sarah Hutchison.
NCAA national champion and former UCLA gymnast, Savannah Kooyman returned for year two of the event. Riverton coach and Wind River High School educator Tara Cottrill participated in gymnastics when she was younger with Savannah. Hutchison explained, “Coach Tara invited her childhood friend out to be our guest coach last year and it snowballed into what it is today.”
Coaches Hailey Duncan, Malik Donley and Jeff Rush brought a wealth of experience to the event as well. Malik coaches at Cypress Academy in Houston, Texas and is actively training on the Developmental National Team. Hailey has over 20 years of experience and owns Cavalry Elite Gymnastics in Tea, South Dakota. Coach Jeff hails from Detroit, Michigan and is a two-time Olympic Training Center participant and former national team member who competed in Seoul, South Korea.
Joining the gymnastics coaches was dance instructor, Lyric Williams. The Colorado State graduate was President of the CSU Hip Hop Dance Club and Northern Colorado Breakdancing Crew. A former gymnast herself, Lyric helped participants learn some helpful floor-routine skills and simply have fun by showing off their best dance moves.
Gymnastics judge Erin McPherson joined the crew to give athletes an inside look at what they’re being scored for in the four gymnastics events (floor, beam, bars and vault.) McPherson was a Washington state champion gymnast and has been a judge since 2013 traveling to score many events across Wyoming.
NLG’s Sarah Hutchison said even though these young athletes are busy through the competition season in the winter, it’s important to continue to grow during the off-season, “team camps like this are important to the local gymnastics community because it gives the gymnasts a fresh perspective on the sport and it’s an invaluable learning opportunity for the gymnasts as well as the coaches that are shadowing the elite guest coaches. The gymnasts enjoy learning from new coaches, being pushed out of their comfort zones, trying new skills and making new friends that they will see in the upcoming gymnastics competitive season.”
The vast majority of non-local athletes, parents, coaches and judges stayed in the community throughout the entire four days, filling area hotels, restaurants and stores. Many of whom attended a paint party hosted at Riverton’s Rusty Truck restaurant and a pool party at the Riverton Aquatic Center.
“Putting together the camp is a huge undertaking,” Sarah exclaimed. “I could not do it without the support of my husband, Michael, my assistant coaches at the gym and the wonderful parents of all the gymnasts in the gymnastics community who are always my biggest cheerleaders.”
