New year, new theme
What’s happening with the Gymnaires team
The Gymnaires have always been an important part of the Union community. The students who join this program dedicate themselves to their craft in an effort to learn, teach, entertain, and, above all, uplift Christ. The team’s theme this year is “Aim High.” From an acrobatic standpoint, striving for improvement is vital. There are always new things to learn and higher goals to achieve. However, the application of the theme isn’t solely focused on physical improvement, but also spiritual refinement.
The theme verse, Colossians 3:1-3, says, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (NIV) As head coach Matt Teller put it, “We were made for more as humans. Since God has redeemed us, we can raise our sights to Jesus. Instead of being content with things of the earth, we can focus on our heavenly inheritance. We shouldn’t be satisfied with the status quo, but aim higher–we were called for more.”
Thomas McFarland and Katie Carlson have been named men’s and women’s team captains of the year. Thomas is a sophomore IRR major, and Katie is a sophomore secondary education major.
In this first month of practicing, both captains have been working on their leadership skills and bringing the team together. “They both want to help the culture and legacy of our program grow. They have shown this through their actions and dedication,” Coach Teller said.
“My goal for this year is to get better at tumbling and improve my overall strength. Even though I’m excited for the year, I’m most excited for Acrofest. This is the first year that my family will be able to come and see me perform,” Thomas shared. Acrofest is going to be held at Southern Adventist University in mid-November. The team has already begun building skills that they will use for this big event. Tumbling skills are one of the main emphases this year, along with partner routines. By the time Acrofest rolls around, they plan on having their main routine polished and ready to go, and being well underway in building up their tumbling and partner routines.
Something new is happening this year with the Gymnaires. They are expanding their program to include more than just the people within the acrobatic team. The Union Acrobatic Program now consists of three parts: the Gymnaires, the acrobatic performance exhibition team; the Union Acrobatic Academy, an acrobatic school for kids aged 8-18; and the Union Acrobatic Community Connection, a Sunday evening program open to anyone who wants to learn acrobatic skills. The goal of the entire program is to reach out and connect with people in the community and across the country. Watch for a later article with more information about how you can get involved in these programs!
By: Sami Hoffer