When Coach Hannah looks back on this year’s YMCA National Gymnastics Championships, one moment stands out above the rest. Watching her athletes step onto the podium as national champions in level 6 and runners-up in level 4 was about more than medals. It reflected years of practice, perseverance, and the spirit of a team that trains together week after week at the Mel Korum Family YMCA.
A Week to Remember
This year’s YMCA National Gymnastics Championships brought 14 Mel Korum athletes to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The week-long event opened at Lambeau Field with Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles speaking to the athletes. “To have an Olympian like Jordan talk about her journey was incredible for the girls,” Hannah says.
The Mel Korum teams rose to the occasion. The level 6 team claimed first place in the nation, while the level 4 team took second in their session. A junior competing at level 8 delivered a standout performance on vault, winning first with a difficult skill known as a Tsukahara tuck. “For her to land that vault on the national stage was huge,” Hannah says. “It is not an easy skill, and she nailed it.”
For three level 2 athletes, it was their first year competing, and stepping onto such a large stage was an achievement on its own. “Imagine your first year in gymnastics and your first competition experience is Nationals,” Hannah says. “They were nervous, but they went out there and did their routines beautifully.”
Behind the Success
Victories like these are built long before the national stage. The gymnastics season begins in December, moves through state and regionals, and culminates with Nationals in June. Athletes train 10 to 16 hours a week, balancing school during the day with evenings in the gym.
“These girls are so dedicated,” Hannah says. “They go to school all day, then come here, practice for hours, go home, sleep, and do it again.”
Beyond the medals, Hannah is most proud of the way the team bonded. The athletes made and traded friendship pins with gymnasts from across the country, a reminder that connection matters as much as competition. “Some of my favorite memories are of them laughing and trading pins with other teams,” she says.
Living the Y’s Values
At the heart of the Mel Korum team’s success is more than training hours or technical precision. Hannah and her staff emphasize the YMCA’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. “We want them to be good gymnasts,” Hannah says, “but even more we want them to be good people.”
Families also play a vital role. Traveling to Nationals is a major financial commitment, and parents are deeply supportive, often fundraising and volunteering to make the trip possible. The community’s generosity through the Y’s Annual Campaign helps ensure gymnastics remains accessible to young athletes at every level.
Preparing for the Next Season
There is little rest after Nationals. Summer is dedicated to building new skills, with level placements announced in August. By September, gymnasts are back to learning and mastering routines for the next competition season, which begins in December.
“Gymnastics is a year-round sport,” Hannah says. “There is really no off season.”
For Hannah and her athletes, that commitment is a joy. “It is about growth, resilience, and being part of something bigger,” she says.
Whether through cheering at competitions, enrolling a child in a gymnastics class, or contributing to programs that make opportunities possible, community members play a part in every flip, vault, and routine.