Donna Stevens
Bio – Donna has been coaching HS Gymnastics at Reedsburg HS in WI since 1999 and became Head Coach in 2004.  She was named the WI HS Div. 2 coach of the year in 2007.  Her background includes 14 years of competitive gymnastics including Club, HS and College.  She was a Director of the La Crosse Boys and Girls Club program in the early 90’s. Donna also worked at the International Gymnastics Training Camp for 5 seasons.  When not in the gym Donna likes boating and spending time with her husband and 2 children.
The best thing about HS gymnastics is?  “The best thing about HS gymnastics is watching girls grow and mature right before your eyes from freshmen to seniors.”
The worst thing about HS gymnastics is?  “The worst thing about HS gymnastics is the heartache you see some of the girls go through when they set goals and are disappointed when they fall a little short of that goal.  As a coach it can also be hard to see gymnastics not get as much respect as other sports in a school because people don’t understand it as well.”
How do you balance less experience gymnasts with the more experienced on your team?  “We are fortunate to have 2 paid coaches for about 12 girls and we all work together.”
How do you motivate your team?  “We have a lot of positive affirmation posters in our gym at school and also work on mental imagery to build confidence and reduce performance nerves.  We have also had team dinners and sleepovers to help the team bond.”
What benefit do you get from belonging to the National Gymnastics Association?
“The ability to network and meet other HS coaches is the best thing about belonging to the association.  Knowing that you can call other coaches in the association for technical advice is a great thing.  When I come to Senior Showcase Invite to coach it really recharges my batteries watching what the girls do in the competition.”
What do the gymnasts take away from competing at Sr. Showcase Invitational?
“Taking gymnasts to Sr. Showcase Invite who have usually competed against each other levels the playing field when they are suddenly competing together for our state squad. They discover that opinions they may have formed about each other were wrong and leave the meet as friends”
Favorite event to watch in Gymnastics is?  “I love a unique floor routine with unusual choreography that just stands out.  A well executed bars routine is also great to watch because the judging criteria for bars is so tough these days.”
Best idea for fundraising?  “We run at youth clinic at the school three weeks before our season starts.  The team works with children in our area once a week for 3 weeks, you can also work with area scout troops.”
How do you promote your team in your community?  “You’ve got to toot your own horn.  We are lucky to have great support from our local paper and radio.  We also have an athletic director who is a fan of gymnastics but treats all sports equally at our school.”
HS Gymnastics is a win/win for a student because?  “The closeness of girls on a HS Gymnastics team is comforting.  They back each other.  They drive each other to achieve.  What you go through as a gymnast just seems to make the girls better, stronger people.”
How would you keep gymnastics going in your state?  “I’d like to keep growing our WI state association and help the coaches grow thru clinics. “

Cara Loux
CT – Trumbull HS
Bio – Cara Loux is in her 1st year as Head Coach of Trumbull HS in Trumbull, CT, Trumbull has fielded a HS Gymnastics program since 1988. Last year she served as assistant coach to Maria Cherniske who was wonderful at showing her the ropes. She has been involved in gymnastics for over 17 years and was named All American on Floor & Beam in 2003. As a student at Stratford HS she successfully wrote a proposal to be allowed to compete HS Gymnastics as a team-of-one for her school even though the school did not offer the sport when she arrived. Her parents Pat & Larry Loux served as her coaches and she was able to travel with Pat Simon’s Milford, CT gymnasts. Her father Larry will be joining her as assistant coach this year , making a dynamic father daughter duo. Cara attended Springfield College studying Athletic Training and was a diver for their swim team. In addition to her coaching duties she is a Certified Licensed Massage Therapist.
The Best Thing about HS Gymnastics is?
" I love the way HS Gymnastics allows girls of all sorts of abilities to compete. You can see the really strong Level 9-10 girls compete but you also see girls who might be have Level 7 skills on floor and Level 2 skills on bars. Girls can set goals in areas of their choice to attain skills or build on their strengths and still be a part of HS gymnastics."
Why do USAG Gymnasts like HS Gymnastics?
"HS Gymnastics gives the USAG trained girl the ability to play a little bit more – to have the freedom to try different skills and create something they really enjoy."
The Worst thing about HS Gymnastics is?
"My least favorite thing about HS Gymnastics is trying to get support from USAG Club Coaches for the HS schedule of meets and practices. Trying to keep kids at my practices when we have a big meet coming up and balancing that with their Club meets is tough sometimes but this is all worthwhile if the student-athlete enjoys being part of the team."
What is the most fun for you during the Gymnastics season?
"Our bus rides are amazing. We relax and laugh a lot. There is a lot of singing on our bus rides – they sing the soundtrack from Lion King and Praise the bus drivers the most! We also create a creative team dance for the Ro Carlucci Invitational and will be attending our ‘fun title’ this year. "
How do you balance the experienced gymnasts with the less skilled girls on your team?
"At our first practice of the season we go around and introduce ourselves. I ask each girl to come up with three goals they have for the season and we share these at the first practice. By putting their goals out there the team sees what each of their teammates are working towards. The more experienced girls on the team lend their support to helping the less experienced meet the goals they set, and the novice girls provide tons of encouragement."
What do you do to motivate your team?
"We have some great team dinners – we get to eat a lot of family specialties – sometimes it is pasta, another time it could be sushi. I also try to figure what type of coaching fits each girl best – some girls do better with a more passive coaching approach. Other girls ask me to be more a ggressive. I like finding what motivates each girl – what turns up the motivation."
Best Fundraising idea?
"At the start of our season we do a Flip-a-thon. We flip on the field at a Home Football game, receiving a pledge for each flip performed. It serves two purposes, not only does it raise money for our team but it lets the school community know who we are and what we do as a THS team."
What kind of community support do you get?
"Our school is a Pay to Participate school – students pay a fee to fund athletic participation in the sport. We don’t own our own equipment and have to practice off site. I do have a great athletic director, Michael Herbst, who is so supportive of our program and makes things happen for our team. This season the captain will have announcements made at school about their successes and as their coach; I will also make sure I contact news reporters to get our program recognized in the local paper."
How does your State Association help you to coach?
"Our HS Association in CT is so great and they make me feel comfortable being a coach. There is always some one you can go to with a question or as a resource who is willing to help you. Our judges do a Rules Review of the HS Federation Rules for us each year too. Everyone works together to help each other and make it successful for the state."
Why is HS Gymnastics a good thing for a school district?
"Gymnasts tend to be great for students often in the top of their class due to the time management skills they develop over the years of balancing practice in the gym and getting homework done. Students who are gymnasts often are good at representing their school in other sports like Track & Field or Diving – gymnastics creates athletes."
Do you have a favorite gymnast?
"I grew up with the Magnificent 7 Atlanta Olympians and Amanda Borden is a favorite of mine. She embodied strength and hard work, but also grace and expression. I got to have her as a beam coach at IGC and continue to admire her."
If you could change one thing about HS Gymnastics what would it be?
"I’d love to change the rules to allow floor music with lyrics – I think it would allow the girls more personal expression. Opening up music choices (to tunes still appropriate, of course) would help floor evolve away from some of the boring music we sometimes hear and allow the girls to have more fun with their choreography."