Welcome Parents of the 2009-2010 Canton Varsity Gymnastics Team
Some history for our new parents: Canton's first team competed in 1977-78 with Barb
Winn as the coach. Your fearless leader (JC), who started gymnastics in Plymouth in the
spring of 1968 with the Plymouth High School Gymnastics Club, was asked to take over
the team in 1979 when Mrs. Winn was pregnant. Thirty years and 24 All American
Teams later, I'm still here. We have never won MHSAA States as a team, placing second
once and third six times. We have had two State champions, Katey Gilles and Alyssa
Kelley. We have a long list of Canton All American gymnasts over the years. Our
success at Invitationals has brought us a dozen first place trophies. We have placed in the
top ten at MHSAA States for six years running.
With such a large team, our coaching staff is critical to our success, both as teaching
gymnastics to our beginners and creating winning routines to our higher level
competitors. John Cunningham (That's me) taught English at Canton when they opened
the building for classes in 1972 and retired in 2005. I started gymnastics as a freshman in
high school in Alpena in 1959, competed at the University of Michigan, coached my own
and MAG's club teams, and coached here at Canton for 30 years. Janelle Hudak is
Canton's Varsity diving coach, four year Canton gymnast, and assistant coach. Billy
Gunnis, club, high school, Eastern Michigan Club, and two year assistant will return in a
limited capacity (Once a week?). Michelle Wimberly is starting her first year coaching at
Canton. She brings club, high school (Liv. Blue), Eastern Michigan Club, and MEGA
coaching experience with her.
Canton will have a 15 meet season leading into MHSAA Regionals in March. We will
qualify both individuals and a team into MHSAA State Finals at Rockford the second
weekend in March. While Saturday invitationals will only compete five gymnasts per
event, our dual meets will all compete twelve gymnasts per event. This will allow lots of
girls the opportunity to be in lots of meets. Letter winners must compete in at least four
meets during the season. (The Red and White scrimmage counts as one.) Away KLAA
League and dual meets will have a bus to and from the meet. All gymnasts are expected
to travel, whether they compete or not. Canton does allow parents to transport their
children home from away meets.
SPEAKING of transportation! No Saturday meets will have busses. We have a meet
in Vassar in December that will require parents to drive (It's by Frankenmuth.). Our
Rockford and Farmington Invites will also need drivers. The Rockford Invite will be an
overnight trip.
You will see several t-shirt, sweatshirt, bag, warm up, etc. orders brought home. None
of them is required. The school supplies a competitive leotard for each gymnast. Grips,
wrist guards, music, outside floor routines are the responsibility of the gymnast.
The "pay to play" fee is due the week of November 16th• ($180 or $100 for second
sport)
One last thing that I do for the benefit of my gymnasts: Conflicts with practices and
meets is allowed with parent permission slips. I don't want my girls to miss out on a play,
musical, recital, or skating competition for fear of punishment or sanction. If it happens
to be a serious gymnastics meet, perhaps we can talk about it.
My goal is to have my girls learn and enjoy gymnastics. I can't ask for more.
John Cunningham
