Gymnasts show off their skills in End of Year Show

Tim Brody - Editor

Members of the Sioux Lookout Gymnastics Club showed their parents and friends what they’ve learned and accomplished this past season at the club’s End of Year Show on April 1 at the Recreation Centre.
The club had 84 members this year, divided into kindergym, Rec Jr, Rec Sr, and an advanced class.
Sioux Lookout Gymnastics Club President and Coach Sara Sakamoto said of this season, “It was awesome that there were no Covid shutdowns so things were able just to go as normal. We had a lot of kids this year, which was amazing. All our classes were full. We had wait lists for them. We’re hoping that we get that same turnout for next year.”
Sakamoto said the year end show went smoothly.
Gymnast Sydney Braizer from the advanced class said she enjoys being in the sport with her friends.
She worked hard this season on her splits, as well as floor and bars.
Gymnast Makayla Hoftyzer, also from the advanced class, said of the year, “It was really fun.”
Asked what she had been working on this past season she felt especially proud of her progress in, she answered, “My splits. I’ve been working on them for the past year, I do 20 minutes of stretching every morning and my back walk over, I just got it this year.”
She said of performing in the year end show, “It’s pretty cool because we put so much time and effort into it.”
Olivia Gaudry, another advanced class gymnast, said she has been working hard on her front and back walkovers this season.
She said of taking part in the year end show, “It was cool but also scary.”
Sunny Sakamoto, also from the advanced class, said of her love of gymnastics, “I just like being with my friends and have the experience of going to competitions.”
She has been working hard this past season on her roundoff backhands.
She said of taking part in the year end show, “It was stressful, but it was really fun.”
Nine members of the advanced class attended a competition earlier this season in Red Lake. Those same gymnasts will compete in two more competitions this season – April 15 in Kenora and April 22 in Dryden.
Sara Sakamoto said the club is hoping to host a competition next season or the one after.
The club is also hoping to run a gymnastics summer camp this year.
The club is on the lookout for volunteers. Anyone interested can email slgymnasticsclub@gmail.com to express their interest in volunteering.