When people hear the word “gymnastics,” they often just see routines, medals and scores. What they do not see are the years of dedication behind every single moment. They don’t see the early mornings and late nights, the injuries, the fear, the pressure and determination it takes to continue. They don’t see how much we give to this sport because we truly love it.
As a freshman, I had the opportunity to train and compete alongside talented and hardworking athletes who constantly supported and pushed one another to become better every day. Together, we won the WPIAL and state competitions. These accomplishments represent years of dedication, sacrifice and love for gymnastics. Moments like these mean everything to gymnasts. Not just because of the titles, but because the sweat, tears and pain all pay off.
It is heartbreaking to know we might never have the opportunity to experience those moments again because WPIAL has decided to remove gymnastics from its recognized sports.
Gymnastics is not just an activity. For many athletes, it is a second home. It’s where we grow up, where we learn resilience, where we build confidence and where we make memories that last forever. Most of my best moments, hardest days and greatest lessons have come from this sport. That is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Removing gymnastics as a WPIAL sport sends the message we matter less, even though we work just as hard as any other athlete representing their school.
It is difficult to accept that gymnastics will no longer be supported by WPIAL. This decision changes more than just the list of sports. It affects athletes, teams and future generations who deserve the same opportunities we were given. As a little kid, I always dreamed of being a part of the high school gymnastics team and competing at big meets such as WPIALs and states. Goals like these are the reason young athletes keep pushing. Now, after just one short year of reaching my dream and achieving more than I ever thought I could, we don’t have the chance to do it all again.
We might never again be able to stand on those WPIAL or state championship podiums. But no decision can take away what we’ve built. What we’ve experienced matters, and it deserves to happen again. No decision can erase what has been achieved over the years, and no young gymnast with big dreams should be denied the support to grow, believe and experience those moments too.
I hope people understand how much this decision affects us. Gymnastics deserves support, recognition and the opportunity for us to inspire young athletes for years to come.