Tumbling Toward A Dream

Dreams can lead you to tumble.

They can create magic on the practice floor and propel a young girl around the uneven bars, culminating in such a perfect landing, that it allows a smile to creep across a sweat-bathed face.

Dreams are a huge part of the attitude that drives the "Get A Grip" gymnastics center.

"Hard work and determination are all it takes to make dreams come true in this gym," said Get A Grip owner Kathy Rimer. "All you have to do is want it bad enough."

Larissa Fantetti, 14, works hard on the uneven bars while coach Joe Quinn watches her technique and safeguards her well-being. The determination and concentration that she exudes is rare in a girl her age.

When most girls are wandering the mall, she's in the gym perfecting her moves and techniques that may one day help her achieve the goal of a college education.

Quinn, who is just one of five instructors at the center, has seen girls come and go, but most of the ones that walk through the gym door walk out with an appreciation for the sport he's loved for most of his life.

"Gymnastics is a wonderful sport," Quinn said. "It's one of those sports that gets into your blood and you never lose the love for it."

Since 2006, Get A Grip has been the proving ground for many girls and boys that are passionate about gymnastics and want to cultivate that passion into friendly competition and a healthy lifestyle.

But what started as a simple yearning to help their daughter Bobbi continue her gymnastics training turned into a full-blown institution for Jim and Kathy Rimer, who take great care to hold on to the family atmosphere that's one of their trademarks.

"We're just one big family," Kathy Rimer said. "I treat the girls and boys like they were my own sons and daughters."

At The Beginning

Before Get A Grip, girls interested in learning gymnastics took classes at the Highlands County YMCA, but when that gym ended its gymnastics program, it left a void for a growing population of young girls and boys committed to the sport.

"We learned that the closest place for anyone to go for gymnastics lessons was Winter Haven," Rimer said. "That didn't seem to fit into a busy lifestyle for most working parents, especially if the girls were into competitive gymnastics."

Competitive gymnastics requires a major commitment from not only the child but the parent, as practices are three to four days a week for three hours a day.

"We didn't think it was feasible for us to drive to Winter Haven, so we decided to give the kids a place to go," Rimer said. "I'm just a gym mom, but this has been an amazing experience for me."

Quinn, who was an instructor at the YMCA, made the move to continue teaching the girls and also coaches the Highlands Aerials - the gym's competitive gymnastics team - which includes numerous state and national champions since its inception.

Never Too Young

The key for success, Quinn says, is to get the kids at a young age.

"When you get the girls or boys at a young age, then they'll less fearful and pick up moves very quickly," Quinn said. "Every event seems to have its own fear factor, but most get past that anxiety quickly as they begin to master the specific move or technique."

Get A Grip accepts potential gymnasts as young as three for girls and five-years-old for boys, but the average age that begins taking lessons is seven.

The center even offers the Mom & Tot classes, where mothers can exercise and play games with their babies.

Sense Of Accomplishment

Bobbi Rimer, 14, eight-year old Kami McGrath and Fantetti, all agreed that the biggest hurdle in gymnastics was the back hand-spring - a move that baffles many novice gymnasts but once perfected opens the door to a whole realm of new moves.

"I screamed when I finally did my back hand-spring," Bobbi Rimer said. "I couldn't wait to do it again and again to show that I could do it."

"It is such a sense of accomplishment for these girls once they get past that hurdle," Quinn said. "It takes so long to do and they fall so many times that when they finally do perform the move successfully, they get such a sense of pride."

Gymnastics is a sport that both boys and girls can do at the same pace. The center still is dominated by girls with only a handful of boys taking lessons, but the word of mouth has been positive and the hope that more boys will take up the sport.

"I think boys still think that this is a girls' sport," Rimer said. "We're hoping the young boys watch the upcoming Olympics and see what kind of athletes we have in the men's Olympic team and decide to give us a try."

What To Expect

All newcomers start off by learning the basic moves (tumbling, forward roll and handstand) which every other move they'll learn is built off of.

Much like martial arts, gymnastics has certain skills that all athletes must perform during qualification to advance to the next level.

To move up from pre-team to level three, the gymnast must have a basic knowledge of floor exercises, uneven bars, balance beam and the vault.

"I was really excited to make it to level 3," McGrath said. "I worked so hard to finally make it and am proud I stuck with it."

"When you finally reach level 3, that is when the whole realm of gymnastics opens up to you," Bobbi Rimer said. "You're not a beginner once you make it to level 3."

As competitive season draws near, workouts become more regimented and intense to focus on their specific events and the hopes of receiving some recognition by colleges.

"I'd love to go to college and continue my gymnastics career," Fantetti said. "I guess you could call me a gym rat. I love coming to the center and working out, not to mention the friendships I've made since being here.

"We're all competitors when we're at a meet, but we're also always there for the other, win or lose."

Dream. Believe. Achieve.

Get A Grip stresses its mantra: Don't be afraid to dream, believe in yourself and you can achieve whatever you want in life.

Those words hang near the doorway and a constant reminder that athletes can have whatever they dream if they have the desire to make them a reality.

For more information on classes, call Jim or Kathy Rimer at 863-386-GRIP (4747).