May 23, 2002 By Jim Wexell For The 4 min read

Of course, there aren’t any records to back up the claim, but parent Lou Ann Nicholson can speak for the last four years, and she feels this past season’s performance by the Uniontown High Flyers, a YMCA gymnastics team, was superior to anything she’d witnessed on the local scene. “This was definitely the best year,” said Nicholson. “The other teams didn’t want to see us at meets this year. People used to look at us and say, ‘No big deal. It’s Uniontown.’ Now, it’s ‘Oh, no, Uniontown’s coming.'”

Nicholson pointed out that last year’s Uniontown team didn’t place anyone at the state championship meet. This year, all 15 girls on the team qualified and 14 finished among the top 10 in various events. And never had a Uniontown team gone to the national tournament, whereas four members are going this year to the Fourth of July meet in New York.

“Last year, our girls couldn’t do the bars at all. Not one girl could do the bars,” Nicholson said. “This year, our bars were fantastic. They really brought the girls around.”

By “they”, Nicholson is referring to new coaches Staci and Kim Wyatt. The two sisters are former Level 9 and Level 10 gymnasts, respectively, and their teachings took hold immediately.

“I’m in the gym with them a lot,” Nicholson said. “When I see a routine that doesn’t look like it can be fixed, they’ll see something and it right away.

“The kids are so much stronger, too. They’ll hate me for saying this, but they make them exercise a lot and they’re all in excellent shape.”

Staci Wyatt, the head coach, recently graduated from California University of Pennsylvania. Her younger sister is still a student at the school. Both girls graduated from Brownsville High and began their competitive careers at the YMCA. Both went on to compete nationally.

“When we were gymnasts, we were the opposite on just about everything,” said Staci. “So between the two of us, we’re able to give a well-rounded coaching effort. I’d say we complement each other.”

But Wyatt has one plea, and she did it over phone and via fax.

“Please,” she said, “don’t write about us. Write about the kids. They deserve the recognition.”

The Wyatts took over a team that was already intact, but one that had gone through several coaching changes. So the 15-girl roster embarked on the season with nine of the girls making up a Level 4 team. Those nine were all first-year gymnasts, but the team ended up second at the Western Pennsylvania championships and then again at the Pennsylvania championships.

Members of that Level 4 team included Nicole Bakewell, Brooke Burns, Ashley Grimm, Halie Huey, Leah Kaylor, Tiffany Marghella, Lauren Molchan, Brandi Morgan and Lacie Williams.

“At the beginning of the year, we moved about eight Level 4s onto a developmental team,” said Wyatt. “They were not ready to compete but when they were ready they moved right onto the team. They just started in September and we weren’t really sure they’d compete, but they pulled together and were beating teams at the Western Pennsylvania championships that had 12 to 14 year olds. For all of them being first-year gymnasts, it was a huge accomplishment for them. Individually, they also placed very well.”

The Uniontown team also included Level 5 gymnasts Linzy Bouras, Anna Howard, Jessica Marghella and Rachel Thompson. The Level 6 gymnasts were Emily Nagy and Mirhi Nicholson. Neither level included enough gymnasts to compete as a team, but Howard, Nagy, Nicholson and Thompson qualified for the national tournament.

“It turned out very well,” Wyatt said. “The team had an excellent year and, from what I’ve heard from the parents, one of most successful years they’ve had.”

The High Flyers practice two days a week during the competitive season (October through April), and during the summer they practice three hours a morning, three mornings per week. Team members have come from the YMCA classes, but also straight from dance schools.

Girls (grades K-12) are encouraged to join practices at any time, or they can begin the process by signing up for summer classes at the YMCA or the June 3-7 Gymnastics Camp. For more information, call Andy Ferguson at 724-439-2577.