Bella is 14 years old and on the Gymnastics Team, competing at the Bronze level.

Bella first started taking ballet classes at Discovery in 2014 when she was only 2 years old. According to Bella’s parents, that lasted only about 3 years, until she saw the kids on the gymnastics side doing flips and cartwheels and begged to do gymnastics. “The rest is history, ever since that moment she was a happy member of the Discovery gymnastics community. She has grown in her ability to work hard and work through challenges.”

Bella’s parents share that their favorite memories of Bella “are in little tutus and leotards prancing around the gym having the time of her life. We also love all the friends that she made through the more than ten years of being part of the Discovery community.” Bella remembers playing Hangman and doing homework with her friends in the lobby before practice.

Bella shares that the skills she has learned at Discovery have helped her work hard to overcome challenges. “Discovery has given me the skills to never give up, work hard, and have confidence in myself.”

Bella’s favorite Discovery memory is when she accidentally did a squat on on bars for the first time at a competition!

Nora was 5 and Alice was 3 when they started taking gymnastics classes at Discovery. They are now 14 and 13, respectively, currently competing on our gymnastics team. Nora competes at the Diamond level and Alice competes at the Bronze level.

Their parents share that when they were younger, they were thrilled to do handstands and cartwheels. Today, they are doing tricks that take their breath away, from kips and free hip circles on bars, to flips on floor and back walkovers on beam.

“In the ten or so years since the girls started at Discovery, being on the gymnastics team has become such an important part of their lives. Both girls have learned how to push through the difficult times, and each has such a sense of accomplishment when she gets a new trick or perfects a routine. Even more importantly, Nora and Alice have learned how to be teammates–always cheering on their friends and taking pride in each other’s accomplishments.

Recently, the best parts of gymnastics are two-fold: the incredible physical feats and the wonderful friendships. We had no idea what we were getting into the day little Nora came home and announced, ‘I made pre-team!’ But we are so grateful to the coaches for all these years of education and camaraderie!”

“Being on the gymnastics team at Discovery has taught me how to be disciplined and how to get over my fears, which definitely has helped me in other parts of my life, such as school, and will continue to help throughout my life.

One of my favorite memories at Discovery was when I did a really good routine on the bars during the showcase this year. It was so exciting and all my coaches and teammates were so happy for me.

I have been coming to Discovery since I was 5, and I have so many memories, but one that really stands out is from when I was 8. One day at practice the whole group of kids on team did the Cotton Eye Joe dance. It was so fun. Also, I have made so many friends over my time at Discovery, many of whom I am still very close with.”

Wyatt is almost 16 and Bode is 12. Wyatt is a former karate student, holding a Brown belt, Bode is a current karate student with a Green belt. Wyatt and Bode have been coming to Discovery since they were each toddlers in various classes, including Gym for Tots, art, and sports, before starting karate.

According to their mom, “it’s such a great journey watching them mature through the program.  It’s starts as fun as they learn the moves and the concept of discipline and then as they get older they take it more seriously and you see them change and learn to respect the sport and Karin’s skills and the discipline that is required.  It’s been great for my boys.”

Bode shares that “learning karate made me feel stronger and like I could protect myself if I needed to.” Some of his favorite memories are making friends, doing the jumping kicks, breaking boards, and being promoted.

Bode remembers being in white belt karate and jumping on the trampoline and playing with other kids. Before the pandemic, the students competed offsite against other karate schools and Bode remembers that being really fun.