A gymnast jumps for Trampoline Development Coordinator Joy Umenhofer recently at Roots Gymnastics Center. (Submitted photo)
WESTFIELD – Everyone knows the tale about “Jack and the Beanstalk,” how a young boy is offered some “magic beans” which grow a gigantic beanstalk, leading to a land of giants, and eventually a great many rewards.
Well, in Montgomery, there’s a boy, interestingly enough, named Jack, who, along with his high flying teammates, is helping grow a new pilot program for Westfield’s most recognizable gymnastics center, and picking up his own rewards along the way.
Twelve-year-old Jack Demarinis, and Stephen Pryor, age 8 of Westfield, are the current 2013-14 New England Regional champions in trampoline for their respective age groups. Riley Pryor, 6, was runner up at the prestigious event, which took place last spring in Martinsburgh, West Virginia.
Members of the Roots trampoline and tumbling team listen to Trampoline Development Coordinator Joy Umenhofer during a recent practice. (Submitted photo)
Jack is the son of Kari DeMarinis, founder of Roots Gymnastics Center. Stephen and Riley are the children of the facility’s current owners Pam and Steve Pryor. All three children have had the benefit of learning the sport by hanging out at the gymnastics center since it was first built. They and 13 other athletes, aged 6-14, now make up the competitive trampoline and tumbling team at Roots Gymnastics Center, located on Root Road in Westfield.
That team is part of a pilot program, now in its second year at the facility, giving local trampolinists a reason to jump for joy in a fun and safe environment while now offering a competitive atmosphere as well.
Roots recently completed a joint venture with USA Gymnastics to help develop the future of the sport of trampoline across the United States. The Westfield center was just one of a dozen chosen to participate in this partnership nationally, and is now recognized as a USA Gymnastics Trampoline Development Center or TDC.
“We were honored to have been selected by USA Gymnastics as a TDC, and were equally excited to work with (TDC Coordinator) Joy Umenhofer and other National Team Staff in the development of a trampoline and tumbling program that will serve as a model for others to follow here in New England,” said Roots co-owner Steve Pryor. “Competitive trampoline and tumbling is the perfect addition to our existing competitive girls’ gymnastics team and our newly formed boys’ competitive team,” he said. “We are eager to realign our current recreational curriculum with the established protocols at the national level. We will continue to offer our ever popular trampoline and tumbling classes, but are excited to now offer a competitive outlet for those who are looking to fly higher.”
The Roots staff entertained a comprehensive three-month series of visits by Umenhofer, who is also a head coach at The Matrix Gym in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as a national staff member to the US’s Junior Men’s Gymnastics program.
“Since our facility’s opening seven years ago, we have lived by our tagline of ‘planting the seeds for healthy bodies and minds’, and now we look forward to this next chapter of growth for our students, and strive to help them take flight to new adventures,” owner Steve Pryor said.
The trampoline and tumbling team will participate in its first competition of the season January 17 at the YMCA of the North Shore in Beverly. A series of competitive meets will be held throughout the next several months, concluding with a state and regional meets this spring throughout the northeast. Together, this competitive team is working toward achieving both personal and collective team goals of growth and improvement throughout the 2014-15 season.
Pryor said that while competing at a high level and maintaining progress is an important part of the trampoline and tumbling team’s mission, it is also important that gymnasts take away life lessons in addition to learning proper nutrition, exercise, and the physical prowess that it takes to control your body while flying high through the air.
Trampoline made its first appearance at the Olympic Games in 2000 and its growth has been steadily on the rise since this debut. While trampoline and tumbling represents a new program at Roots, it is just one of several held at the 20,000 square foot facility where traditional events such as floor exercise, uneven bars, balance beam, and vault have been taught by a well-trained staff since it opened in 2008.
The Roots Gymnastics Team staff is joined by Trampoline Development Coordinator Joy Umenhofer, center, gymnasts, and other area coaches. (Submitted photo
