While in college, both Joe and Ray Gura were active in national gymnastics competitions. In 1978 they founded their own private gymnastics school in Avon Lake, Ohio. We met with Joe recently, and listened as he described the services Great Lakes Gymnastics offers;
Great Lakes Gymnastics is a 15,000 square foot facility dedicated to providing boys and girls of all ages and abilities with gymnastics instruction. Our classes are available to those between two and eighteen years of age, and during our peak enrollment times we have approximately 900 students. Even though we have had national and international champions, our goal is to ensure that every boy and girl coming in the door benefits from their gymnastics experience.
Our classes are specialized for the age of each athlete. We start students at age two with the parent/child class which is called our Twinkler's program. We also have a three year old, four year old, and kindergarten program. Once our students advance to our class program, which is for those in first grade and above, they go on the trampoline, balance beam, vaulting, uneven bars, and the floor, so they participate in all of those activities every time they come in. Within the competitive program our athletes compete in a variety of competitions. As they become more proficient, they then participate in a variety of state and national competitions.
Naturally, the earlier an athlete begins studying gymnastics, the easier it is, but we have had very good gymnasts who didn't start until they were eight to eleven years old. Many of our athletes go on to participate successfully in many other sports. For example, the state champion in pole vaulting and the state wrestling champion were previously gymnasts here. The wide skill base that the children develop through gymnastics provides them with the skill progressions that enable them to become successful in many other athletic endeavors.
Our main focus is the welfare of each child. We are very proud of the self-esteem that our students develop, and think it is simply great to see a three or four year old confidently walking across the balance beam with a smile of their face. Once they have learned to do that in front of hundreds of spectators, it is much easier for them to do a report in school in front of twenty of their friends.
Great Lakes Gymnastics focuses on providing students with the training and confidence they need to face the challenges of their future endeavors. Call or stop by Great Lakes Gymnastics today, and don't forget to tell them Avon Lake Business & Living sent you!
