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Gymnast hopefuls from 2 to 18 now have another option for learning “real gymnastics, not just tumbling and trampoline,” said Debbie Hoag, president and head coach of Rising Star Gymnastics.
Hoag and husband, Ralph, moved from the East Coast to Shawnee two years ago and began their first gymnastics class Aug. 17 at Rising Star Gymnastics, located in the old Coca Cola building on the corner of Kickapoo Spur and North Kennedy Avenue.
Debbie Hoag has been actively involved in gymnastics for nearly 40 years.
“I was a competitive gymnast in Pennsylvania until the age of 16, then became a coach,” she said. “I have coached USA Gymnastics levels one through 10 and United States Association of Independent Gymnastic Clubs levels bronze through platinum. As a child and teenager, I took dancing school, which included ballet, tap, jazz, baton and acrobat with contortion on the side. In 1995, I took a group of gymnasts to Moscow, Russia, to train at Dynamo. What a great experience.”
Hoag coached the National USAIGC Champions and several state champions, as well.
Even given all her travels and her roots in Pennsylvania, where she and her husband grew up, Hoag said the couple quickly took to the idea of life in Oklahoma and bringing their talents here.
“We drove through Shawnee a couple years ago looking to buy property for our horses and really liked it here,” she said.
“It’s a lot different than the fast-paced east coast, much slower. Everyone was so kind, we eventually bought a ranch in Little. We thought about building a gym and then the Coca Cola building became an interest. We began working with the owner and before long, had the gym opened.”
Hoag owned another gymnastics facility from 1995 to 2007 in Delaware, where she had moved in 1994. She taught tumbling at a dancing school, choreographed cheer routines and worked with baton and twirling groups while working as a bank officer and teaching gymnastics for her childhood coach.
“My gym in Delaware had 500 students and I look forward to having that many in the Shawnee area,” she said.
“I am currently training staff for classes as well as birthday parties and for open gym support. Being a certifier for the USAG, the training is pretty intense and takes a couple months to complete.”
Although Hoag’s current gym caters to recreational students, she said competition readiness is not far off for some of them.
“Competition takes a few years to build skills and a team, so I don’t see that coming over the next year or so,” she said.
“I do have a few students that could compete fairy quickly, but that’s a big decision for a family to make. A lot of family time is taken over by competitive gymnastics. Most of the parents at the gym are glad we have recreational gymnastics right now and there’s no pressure to come three, four or even five times a week to train.”
Although they are not training for competitions, Hoag said her students stay busy and learn numerous skills, including conditioning homework that they do for the following week’s session.
“Being that most of the students only come once a week, it’s important that they practice their strength and flexibility at home to make the skills easier and safe,” she said.
“My primary goals are to provide a fun and safe gymnastics environment for all the local children. I like to provide positive reinforcement and build self-esteem for their futures, whatever that may hold.”
Hoag said she also sees the addition of her gym as a way to help Shawnee receive further recognition for its many talents.
“I would love to have Shawnee recognized as a great gymnastics community along with the other local successful sports programs,” she said.
Classes at Rising Star Gymnastics are taught in eight-week sessions and a 10 percent tuition discount is given to siblings. Most classes are taught after 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to allow time for homeschoolers and Parent and Tot classes during the daytime.
Parent and Tot classes include 2- and 3-year-old students.
Other classes offered are for 4-year-old students, 5-year-old students, 6- to 8-year-old students and 9- to 18-year-old students.
Boys and girls are taught in separate classes beginning at age 6.
“I have adjusted the schedule for the parents of Shawnee and their very busy schedules,” Hoag said. “It is constantly being updated as new students join and is continually being updated with the newest class schedule.”
Hoag said warm-ups and floor exercises begin each class session, regardless of age.
“I firmly believe all skills begin on the floor and progress to the equipment,” Hoag said. “We work on two to three additional events each week, rotating different events each week.
“I have all the competitive artistic men’s and women’s events like beam, vault, uneven bars, pommel and high bar. I have the same equipment on a smaller scale for the Parent and Tot classes, as well as for the 4 and 5 year olds.”
Hoag said students learn basics of movement and beginner gymnastics skills, such as rolls, cartwheels and limbers, on the floor. Students also learn pullovers, casting, hip circles, stride circles and more on the bars and they do a lot of jumping on vault, she said.
“The boys love to vault,” she said. “Each skill we learn on the floor will eventually be mastered on the balance beam for the girls.”
Rising Star Gymnastics held its open house and celebrated National Gymnastics Days within the past month. Students were able to bring a friend to the gym to “try out the equipment and see what we do,” Hoag said.
“I plan on having other scheduled open gyms for those other students who aren’t sure or can’t afford a session,” she said. “Anything scheduled will be available on our Web site at www.rsgymnasticsok.com.”
Rates at the gym vary by age and ability and all students pay a $40 annual registration fee.
Session rates are available on the Web site. Additional materials include a leotard for girls and shorts and a t-shirt for boys.
“Our pro shop has gymnastics apparel and other gymnastics items for sale,” Hoag said.
For more information, call 273-1068 or visit the gym’s Web site.
———
Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
Gymnast hopefuls from 2 to 18 now have another option for learning “real gymnastics, not just tumbling and trampoline,” said Debbie Hoag, president and head coach of Rising Star Gymnastics.
Hoag and husband, Ralph, moved from the East Coast to Shawnee two years ago and began their first gymnastics class Aug. 17 at Rising Star Gymnastics, located in the old Coca Cola building on the corner of Kickapoo Spur and North Kennedy Avenue.
Debbie Hoag has been actively involved in gymnastics for nearly 40 years.
“I was a competitive gymnast in Pennsylvania until the age of 16, then became a coach,” she said. “I have coached USA Gymnastics levels one through 10 and United States Association of Independent Gymnastic Clubs levels bronze through platinum. As a child and teenager, I took dancing school, which included ballet, tap, jazz, baton and acrobat with contortion on the side. In 1995, I took a group of gymnasts to Moscow, Russia, to train at Dynamo. What a great experience.”
Hoag coached the National USAIGC Champions and several state champions, as well.
Even given all her travels and her roots in Pennsylvania, where she and her husband grew up, Hoag said the couple quickly took to the idea of life in Oklahoma and bringing their talents here.
“We drove through Shawnee a couple years ago looking to buy property for our horses and really liked it here,” she said.
“It’s a lot different than the fast-paced east coast, much slower. Everyone was so kind, we eventually bought a ranch in Little. We thought about building a gym and then the Coca Cola building became an interest. We began working with the owner and before long, had the gym opened.”
Hoag owned another gymnastics facility from 1995 to 2007 in Delaware, where she had moved in 1994. She taught tumbling at a dancing school, choreographed cheer routines and worked with baton and twirling groups while working as a bank officer and teaching gymnastics for her childhood coach.
“My gym in Delaware had 500 students and I look forward to having that many in the Shawnee area,” she said.
“I am currently training staff for classes as well as birthday parties and for open gym support. Being a certifier for the USAG, the training is pretty intense and takes a couple months to complete.”
Although Hoag’s current gym caters to recreational students, she said competition readiness is not far off for some of them.
“Competition takes a few years to build skills and a team, so I don’t see that coming over the next year or so,” she said.
“I do have a few students that could compete fairy quickly, but that’s a big decision for a family to make. A lot of family time is taken over by competitive gymnastics. Most of the parents at the gym are glad we have recreational gymnastics right now and there’s no pressure to come three, four or even five times a week to train.”
Although they are not training for competitions, Hoag said her students stay busy and learn numerous skills, including conditioning homework that they do for the following week’s session.
“Being that most of the students only come once a week, it’s important that they practice their strength and flexibility at home to make the skills easier and safe,” she said.
“My primary goals are to provide a fun and safe gymnastics environment for all the local children. I like to provide positive reinforcement and build self-esteem for their futures, whatever that may hold.”
Hoag said she also sees the addition of her gym as a way to help Shawnee receive further recognition for its many talents.
“I would love to have Shawnee recognized as a great gymnastics community along with the other local successful sports programs,” she said.
Classes at Rising Star Gymnastics are taught in eight-week sessions and a 10 percent tuition discount is given to siblings. Most classes are taught after 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to allow time for homeschoolers and Parent and Tot classes during the daytime.
Parent and Tot classes include 2- and 3-year-old students.
Other classes offered are for 4-year-old students, 5-year-old students, 6- to 8-year-old students and 9- to 18-year-old students.
Boys and girls are taught in separate classes beginning at age 6.
“I have adjusted the schedule for the parents of Shawnee and their very busy schedules,” Hoag said. “It is constantly being updated as new students join and is continually being updated with the newest class schedule.”
Hoag said warm-ups and floor exercises begin each class session, regardless of age.
“I firmly believe all skills begin on the floor and progress to the equipment,” Hoag said. “We work on two to three additional events each week, rotating different events each week.
“I have all the competitive artistic men’s and women’s events like beam, vault, uneven bars, pommel and high bar. I have the same equipment on a smaller scale for the Parent and Tot classes, as well as for the 4 and 5 year olds.”
Hoag said students learn basics of movement and beginner gymnastics skills, such as rolls, cartwheels and limbers, on the floor. Students also learn pullovers, casting, hip circles, stride circles and more on the bars and they do a lot of jumping on vault, she said.
“The boys love to vault,” she said. “Each skill we learn on the floor will eventually be mastered on the balance beam for the girls.”
Rising Star Gymnastics held its open house and celebrated National Gymnastics Days within the past month. Students were able to bring a friend to the gym to “try out the equipment and see what we do,” Hoag said.
“I plan on having other scheduled open gyms for those other students who aren’t sure or can’t afford a session,” she said. “Anything scheduled will be available on our Web site at www.rsgymnasticsok.com.”
Rates at the gym vary by age and ability and all students pay a $40 annual registration fee.
Session rates are available on the Web site. Additional materials include a leotard for girls and shorts and a t-shirt for boys.
“Our pro shop has gymnastics apparel and other gymnastics items for sale,” Hoag said.
For more information, call 273-1068 or visit the gym’s Web site.
———
Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
