Photograph by David Heller

Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club members Courtney Wallace, Allisa Hayes, Siobhan Faul and Tiffany Chin.




Gym Dandy

Local gymnastics club provides a positive outlet for kids

By Daniel Hindin

Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club coach Al Reilly is a Santa Cruz surfer with a passion for gymnastics. Gymnastics has been part of his life since his junior high days in Tucson, Arizona. Soon after taking up gymnastics, he moved with his family to Southern California where he competed all the way up through the college level.

Reilly began coaching gymnastics down south in Redondo Beach and surrounding communities. But after a few years he went through a divorce and decided to move north to finish school at San Jose State University. "I took a gymnastics class there and they told me that I would be good for the Sunnyvale program," says Reilly. That was 23 years ago.

After 20 years of living in San Jose, however, Reilly decided to move to Santa Cruz while keeping his job in Sunnyvale. "I used to drive down to Santa Cruz every morning to surf and them come back up here to coach," says Reilly. "I finally decided that it made more sense to live in Santa Cruz and make the drive up here in the afternoon. This way I don't battle traffic during rush hour."


Photograph by David Heller

Level five team members, Raedawn Bohn, left, Lauren Ettchells, and Aya Chafey improve their strength by performing moves like
the whip pull-up.




Reilly makes gymnastics fun for his students. "I enjoy coaching gymnastics," he says. "It's not a real job and you get to wear shorts to work. Sometimes you may get a little fed up, but overall it's really rewarding."

A few times each year, Reilly brings his more advanced students down to Santa Cruz, rents surf boards and wet suits for each girl, and tries to teach them how to surf.

There are currently about 200 girls involved with the program. "There are 10 different levels in gymnastics," says Reilly. "Levels four through six compete at the compulsory level. Levels seven through nine compete at the optional level. And level 10 is what you see on TV." All of the girls at the compulsory level must complete the same routine that has been specified by the officials. Once the girls enter the optional division, they can make up their routine to suit themselves.


Photograph by David Heller

Six-year-old Sarah Wurn, a friend of one of the team members, lies on a mat and watches as the girls stretch during practice.




According to Reilly, about 50 of the girls who participate in the club compete with the Sunnyvale team. All of the girls practice year round. The noncompetitive girls practice three days a week. The compulsory girls practice four days and the optionals practice six days each week.

Although the girls practice all year, the regular season of meets lasts only three months, says Reilly. The compulsory competitions are every other week between October and November, with the zone and state competitions in middle to late November. Optional competitions are held between January and March, with the final competitions in middle to late March.

At a recent practice, Reilly's assistant coach Brian Loomis asked the level six girls why they liked gymnastics. The girls, who have yet to compete in an official optional competition, were hesitant at first. It seemed that it was a question that they had never really pondered. But after some thought the answers came pouring out.

Ten-year-old Aya Chafey works on her flexibility during practice with the Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club.




Photograph by David Heller







Some said they liked it because it was better than other sports, but they didn't know why. Some said that they enjoyed making friends with the other girls. Others said that they enjoyed the feeling of flipping in the air. And one girl merely said that she does gymnastics because she is short.

Whatever their personal reasons for participating, all of the girls agreed that they had fun. Much of the reason, undoubtedly, is because of the coaches. Tough when they have to be, but normally very easy going, coaches like Reilly create a friendly, comfortable atmosphere for their girls.

The Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club may not send as many girls to the state competition as some of the other clubs in this area that spend more money on facilities and coaches, but Reilly and his assistants haven't lost sight of the reason they are there.

"It's great to be a positive part of these girls' lives," Reilly said.

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