Perfect Balance

East Gymnastics Rebuilds Its Post-Pandemic Team

Story and photos by Reid Neureiter

For the GPHN

The East gymnastics squad finished second, behind Northfield High, at the Denver Public Schools league meet on Oct. 8. Coach Keely Knack noted that East gymnasts also did well individually, with senior Olivia Ellis finishing third overall, junior Delaney Donahue finishing fourth, and sophomore Pippa Bouck and freshman Linnea Cropp tying for fifth place overall.

Knack, who is new to East this year, has been coaching gymnastics and fitness for more than 20 years, and competed herself through the high school level. But this is her first time coaching a high school team. It is also the first time, post-COVID, that East has had its own gymnastics coach. Last year, East’s athletes trained and competed with the squad from Northfield High School.

Knack identified a number of challenges that East gymnasts face as the team rebuilds post-pandemic. The high school’s gymnasium does not have set of parallel bars. It also lacks the fully sprung floor needed for a complete floor routine. Instead, the 11 varsity and juniors varsity girls practice their tumbling passes on a narrow strip of sprung flooring.

Parallel bars are one of the four disciplines in gymnastics, along with floor, balance beam and the vault. Knack said it has been difficult without parallel bars at the East gym, but fortunately, the Dardano’s School of Gymnastics, on the business block of Kearney Street at 23rd Avenue in Park Hill, allows the East squad to practice on its equipment twice a week.

“We have made it work,” says Knack. “Everyone is on board doing the best we can with what we have. We are doing a great job even without a fully functional facility. The parents have been awesome.”

The East gymnastics team is set to complete its regular season with regionals on Oct. 27-29 and, if any athletes qualify, will compete in the state championship meet on Nov. 3-5 at Thornton High School.