Gymnasts showcase talents at End of Year Show

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout Gymnastics Club participants eagerly showed off their skills and passion for the sport to their family and the community during the club’s End of Year Show on April 6 at the Sioux Lookout Recreation Centre. 
Gymnasts said they had a great time being part of the club this season and honing their abilities. 
Sunny Sakamoto, 13, said of taking part in the End of Year Show, “It was very fun. I really liked it. 
I really liked doing the routine with my friend Makayla.”
She said she really enjoys the sport and put a lot of work into getting ready for the show.
Makayla Hoftyzer, 13, agreed it was a great End of Year Show, “It was pretty cool. Sunny does most of the really hard stuff, but I was learning lots of stuff this year.”
She said of being a member of the club this season, “I just really love the people, and the environment is just so fun.”
Olivia Gaudry, 13, said of the End of Year Show, “I think it went good and it was fun to do.”
She said she enjoys everything about the sport.
Club President Sara Sakamoto explained, “At the end of each season we have a little bit of a celebration just to show families what the gymnasts have learned over the past year.”
She said, in her opinion, the End of Year Show went well.
Close to 100 children have been part of the gymnastics club this season.
Club members have ranged in age from 18 months to 13 years old.
Children enrolled in kinder gym, rec junior, rec senior, pre-comp(etitive) and comp(etitive) levels within the club.
The pre-competitive level is something new in the club this year Sakamoto said, “These are gymnasts that are identified as having the ability, the attitude, the dedication, commitment, and desire to compete. So, we introduced that this year, so we hope to continue on with that. We have a great group of girls, gymnasts, that are coming up and even some boys and that’s what we’re trying to do is open it up to more boys, a lot of them do drop out when they are five or six, so we would love to be able to promote that more. That’s on the horizon for next year.”
She added, “We’re also going to do a bit of re-branding for next year, have new names, have a mascot, we have a mascot contest going out, just to bring some energy, revitalize the club.”
Sakamoto said the club is on the lookout for new coaches and volunteers to join its executive.
“I was president for the past couple of years, hoping to pass on the baton to somebody so I can focus more on the coaching, but we’re willing to have anybody. We will train people; we will mentor people so that they are comfortable doing it. Always looking for help.”
Sakamoto thanked current coaches and club volunteers stating, “I had some fantastic volunteers that stepped up, so really appreciate them.” 
Anyone interested in helping out with the gymnastics club can email them at slgymnasticsclub@gmail.com.