By Laura Stabbert
MONTICELLO — June 29, 2010 — “The part that is most rewarding is watching the kids who couldn’t do anything or had a hard time with something do it,” said Pedro Tweed.
Tweed has been working with the youth of the county for 33 years, creating what some consider a gymnastics dynasty.
Friday evening marked the 26th annual Monticello Gymnastics Club Exhibition, a fundraiser for the club.
The exhibition, which was held in the Monticello High School gymnasium, included fresh gymnasts, who are just 14 months old, up to eighth-grade students. Tweed continues to work with the athletes until graduation from high school, currently coaching about 200 kids in his program.
“I’m at the gym everyday [of the week] and we compete in competitions on the weekends,” Tweed explained.
Tweed has figured out a formula for success, coaching a boys’ first place individual State Champion in the all-around for 14 consecutive years.
“There is no such thing as failure,”said Tweed.
Tweed’s program is a revolving door, saying goodbye as seniors graduate and always welcoming fresh faces. Graduation does not mean Tweed will not see his former athletes walk through his doors again.
Former Monticello Gymnastics Club members and state champions Maria Karkos and Kienan Garn both attended the exhibition to support the program.
At Tweed’s request, Garn even performed an unprepared routine on the rings, the apparatus which earned him a state medal a few years ago.
Betsy Conaty was the Master of Ceremonies, keeping the exhibition running smoothly as 15 different levels of gymnasts took turns taking the floor.