Men's Gymnastics in the Community

NORMAN, Okla. Despite classes of their own and training for the upcoming 2006 season, the members of the University of Oklahoma men's gymnastics team still find time in their busy schedule to make weekly visits to Cleveland Elementary in Norman, Okla.

Cleveland Elementary program coordinator Regina Bell along with OU head coach Mark Williams have instituted a program that works for both sides. Gymnasts are assigned to assist a specific teacher with day-to-day activities, which include reading, practicing grammar skills and math exercises.

“As the coordinator of the program I have witnessed some wonderful things happen in a very short time with the partnership,” said Bell. “Kids come to my room telling me they read with Jamie Henderson, saw Jonathan Horton's muscles, or played a math game with Wes Aderhold or Taqiy Abdullah-Simmons. These personal moments add up, the kids want to come to school to see their gymnast. The gymnasts are making these kids feel so special.”

Jog-a-Thon Photo Gallery

On Friday, Sept. 23, students of Cleveland Elementary and the OU gymnastics team will participate in the school's only fund raiser. Survivor Jog-A-Thon 2005 is an event that all the students participate in by wearing race t-shirts and competing in various events to help raise funds for the school. The event, put on by coordinators Ronda Smicklas and Tohnya Scaramucci-Ables, will be a fund-raiser for the school's music and physical education departments. Additionally, the event will help fund teacher training and curriculum support. The gymnasts along with their head coach will all be competing in the event throughout the day.

“The guys really enjoy the interaction with the students and the kids are always excited to see them,” added OU coach Williams. “The kids really look up to them because of their position in OU athletics. It makes the guys on the team appreciate what they do and appreciate that they are important in another child's life by helping in the classroom and serving as a positive role model.”

The interest in the sport of gymnastics has also peaked at Cleveland Elementary. The gymnasts have been spreading their knowledge of the sport to the students. In a school-wide assembly, a video of past meets was shown to the students and in the future, the team will put on a gymnastics demonstration for the entire school.

Excitement for the upcoming season is already in the air at Cleveland as the school plans to have Cleveland Elementary nights at home meets to help cheer on the defending national champions. The school also plans to make good luck cards and banners for the team throughout the season.

“The gymnasts have opened their arms to the kids and the staff,” added Bell. “They have shared tons of information about themselves and the sport of gymnastics. This partnership proves that you can never be too young or too busy to volunteer.

"These student athletes have a full class schedule, workouts, and laundry and yet they still find time to come and visit a school and touch the life of a child. To me that is the best lesson that can be taught and it makes me proud to be an OU alum and coordinator of this program.”

The community service for the gymnasts doesn't stop at Cleveland Elementary however. On Saturday the team will travel to Fort Worth, Texas, where they will host an exhibition along with the Texas Woman's University team to help promote the new high school gymnastics program at Saginaw High School.

“Texas has quite a few high school programs,” remarked Williams. “It's exciting that they continue to add more. The numbers have dropped on the collegiate level, so it's always good to hear about more club and high school programs. We like to help develop the sport wherever there is an opportunity.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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