Three locally trained athletes are headed south to pursue their gymnastics dreams.
Shenderey Gymnastics in Newmarket is celebrating the signing of scholarships for Lenee Dimkin and Rachel Van Nanem, and offers made to Isabella Kowan.
Dimkin has officially accepted a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) scholarship to Southern Connecticut State University.
The 18-year-old Keswick resident has been doing gymnastics since she was 14 months old and trained at Shenderey for the past three years.
Having done gymnastics for most of her life, she said, “I like the team aspect of it and it teaches you a lot of life skills, too.”
Dimkin, who said this scholarship is a dream come true, has been talking with the coach at Southern Connecticut for the past few years.
“I kind of always knew I was going to end up with him,” she said.
Van Nanem, 17, signed a NCAA scholarship with Winona State University in Minnesota last November.
She has been doing gymnastics since she was four years old, training first in Barrie where she lives and then at Shenderey for the past few years.
"I just like how every day there’s a new challenge and it motivates you to keep going,” she said of the sport. She added that she also got to meet some of her best friends there.
Kowan, 17, who has been doing gymnastics since she was 16 months old, joined Shenderey last October.
“I really like the fact that in gymnastics there’s always something new to learn, striving for more. I love the idea of perfection. Everything is very specific and you have to work hard to achieve that,” she said.
The Pickering resident has yet to sign but is considering offers.
“I’ve been offered but I’m not sure where I’m going to go yet. I haven’t made any concrete decisions,” Kowan said.
Their coaches said they are proud of the athletes and recognition for the gym.
“We are a smaller gym than you would find in Toronto or Mississauga and the fact that we can produce such high-level athletes that are recognized internationally I think is absolutely a proud moment for us,” said Alanna Kerler.
“We feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with these kids because they’re high achievers,” coach Chris Hanley said.
They both said it is tough to say goodbye but that change is important.
“We are always super sad when they do go. We’re obviously super excited that they’re continuing with the sport and we get to watch them compete for these schools, but the dynamic does change in the gym when a group of them leave. Then the next crop has to step up and be the leaders,” Kerler said.
Shenderey is the longest standing gym in Newmarket, having opened in 1984. Kerler has been a coach at Shenderey for 22 years and Hanley has been there for 16 years, however the pair worked together at a previous gym in Markham.
“It’s been many, many years that we’ve been the work husband and wife, the mom and dad of the gym,” Kerler said.
On top of the three athletes offered scholarships this year, the gym has three former athletes who also signed NCAA scholarships who are all currently competing and studying at schools in the U.S.
