In 1978, our journey began with the goal of “Building Skills for Life” in a modest gym at Windsor Elementary School. Now, 45 years later, as we vault out of 2023, we’re filled with immense pride, heartfelt gratitude, and appreciation for numerous achievements to celebrate. Our thanks go out to every member of the Barron Gymnastics Family, past and present, who have entrusted us with nurturing their children’s lifelong skills. As we leap into the new year, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the standout memories from 2023.
Quick Stats
This year, we made a huge impact on our community and our students. We held 11,550 classes, 350 team practices, and 8 Ribbon & Stars Show Off Months! We offered two instructional performances where we decorated 310 of our gymnasts with ribbons, certificates, and trophies to congratulate them on all of their hard work throughout the year at their classes. We couldn’t be prouder of our students.
Our Special Activities are just that – super SPECIAL!
When we talk about “building skills for life”, it is important to us that we extend this mission far past our classes in order to impact our community. We held 29 camps, bringing joy to 1,868 children. Our back handspring clinics benefitted 336 athletes, providing exceptional training from our experienced coaches that are trained specifically on tumbling technique. Lastly, we celebrated over 80 birthdays, making sure that your child has a special day at a place where children are special every day! We even added exclusive glow birthday parties to our menu of fabulous activities!
Here we GROW again!
This past year, our full-time leadership team welcomed a new member! Lizzie Doerring is a Department Leader – Safety | Assistant Department Leader – Competitive. We also added not one but two leads, Lead Teacher Hannah Underwood and Customer Service Lead, Carrie Clifton.
Also, congratulations to Melissa Barron (General Manager & Department Leader – Competitive), Malinda Kaag (Department Leader – Special Activities & Back Handspring), Melissa Bouvatte (Department Leader – Parent & Tot, Juniors, Performances), Tyler Seim (Corporate Property Manager of Gym & Swim), Oliver Schrader (Department Leader – Boys Ninja Gymnastics), Señyel Marin (Department Leader – Girls Gymnastics), Delayna Doerr – Department Leader of Customer Service) and Jessica Lemke (Assistant Department Leader of Customer Service) for elevating their responsibilities and taking on new positions in 2023! We are excited to see the growth as our leadership team guides us into the new year.
NEW just for YOU – Upgrades
In 2023, our facility took a giant leap forward, redefining the standard for athletic training spaces. We’re not just clean and modern; we’re a cut above! We’ve unleashed the power of innovation with the introduction of new Temprec, enveloping our space with a wider variety of training space. Our athletes now enjoy tailor-made training experiences with a second set of new rings, designed to match their unique sizes and skills.
But that’s not all! We’ve splashed our gym with vibrant hues of purple and teal, specifically for our Junior Program, injecting energy and fun into every corner. And for our gymnastics programs, the excitement skyrockets with our latest addition – a second star bar! It’s not just equipment; it’s a promise of a brighter, stronger future.
Plus, we’ve upgraded our bar mats and weights, ensuring every aspect of our facility reflects our commitment to excellence. At our facility, we’re not just keeping up; we’re setting the pace!
Barron Gives Back
Throughout the year, we collectively raised money for our annual giveback program, Champions Against Cancer. This program raises money for The Costas Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. The hospital is a non-for-profit inpatient and outpatient children’s hospital, located in St. Louis, MO. Because of YOU, we are able to once again make a difference in the lives of these children and their families. This year, we raised an astounding $15,247 between both swim schools and Barron Gymnastics. In addition, our team girls donated over 100 gifts to the children in lieu of giving one another Christmas presents. Their act of love could not be greater. Barron has now donated over $90,000 since our Champions Against Cancer Campaign first began. It was and still remains an honor to represent all of your big hearts.
Team Program
The 2022-2023 season’s team theme was “Be You. Be Bold. Be Barron”, and our girls showed up at each practice and competition with bold hearts and courageous minds. Over the course of the season, our teams had 87 First Place finishes, 102 Second Place finishes, and 65 Third Place finishes. Last but not least, we had 25 state champions! An impressive 75 of our competitive gymnasts made it to state! 3 of our gymnasts qualified to represent Missouri at the Regional Championships. Level 9 gymnast, Payge Schaffer, ended up as the National Vault Champ with an incredible 9.45. Under the leadership of Melissa Barron, Barron offered positive and competitive opportunities for gymnasts both in our area and across the nation. We hosted 657 gymnasts at our Annual Barron Invitational competition.The skilled coaches and experienced event staff established a setting that both pushed the gifted gymnasts and offered chances for enjoyment and building confidence. It was an honor to watch these 1,658 competitors soar!
