By Rob Potter
MONTICELLO — February 25, 2011 — The Monticello Gymnastics Club recently held its first ever open house.
Even though the 2010-2011 season marks the 34th year of operation, the club’s coaches and officials decided to host an open house on Feb. 12 to let the community know about the club and some of its new programs.
As the brochures printed for the event noted, “It’s not just gymnastics anymore.”
Current members put on gymnastics demonstrations and Coach Pedro “Pete” Tweed and Sixto Martinez conducted a Filipino Sticks for fitness demonstration.
An eight-week Filipino Sticks for fitness program for those ages 14 and up began on Feb. 15 and is scheduled to continue for eight weeks.
The Monticello Gymnastics Club is also offering Tai Chi and Chi Kung classes which began on Feb. 17. Days and times for Latin Dancing classes will be announced in the near future.
The club will also host birthday parties for children which include pizzas, goody bags and activities such as an obstacle course and parachute games.
Among those enjoying the event were Jennifer Shamah, who learned gymnastics from Tweed and the other Monticello Gymnastics Club coaches several years ago, and her two children, David Shamah and Sarah Shamah. Both Sarah, who turned 8 years old on the day of the open house, and David, who celebrated his sixth birthday the following day, are now Monticello Gymnastics Club members.
Many of the current club members were at the open house to perform demonstrations soon after traveling to upstate competitions.
On Jan. 30, Joshua Doty and Adam Parker-Chan competed in the Polar Bear Invitational in Syracuse. Doty, a Level 4 gymnast, received an almost perfect score on high bar with a 15.5 out of 16. Parker-Chan, competed in Level 5 at the event.
On Feb. 5-6, the Monticello Gymnastics Club’s Level 4 and Level 6 girls’ teams competed in the I Love New York Cup Invitational in Binghamton. Both teams received third place team banners. And Nicole Schulz won first place in the all-around for Level 6.
The Level 6 team included Schulz, Juliana Kane, Arianna Klein, Allison Stein and Laurel Parker-Chan.
The Level 4 team members included Madison Carnell, Isabella Franco, Brooke Huebner, Morgan Roth and Taylor Schulz.
“This was very successful,” Pete Tweed said as coaches helped some club members perform routines. “It was our first open house. We wanted to let people know what we are doing here at the club.”
Crystal Tweed, who is Pete Tweed’s wife and President of the Monticello Gymnastics Booster Club, noted that six children signed up for the club while attending the open house with their parents.
Crystal Tweed and other parents baked cakes and other treats for those who attended the open house.
The Monticello Gymnastics Club currently has 130 members, but always welcomes more. The club is independently owned and operated and registration can be done anytime during the eight-week session.
The cost is $50 for Village of Monticello residents and $90 for Town of Thompson residents and those who live elsewhere. There is also a $10 one-time registration fee. The club members range in age from 14 1/2 months to high school age and older.
The club is also offering tumbling clinics for cheerleaders.
For more information about the club, please call 794-2835 or e-mail monticellogymnastics@yahoo.com.