Giant Gymnastics celebrates anniversaries, earns grants

HACKETTSTOWN — Owners Jennifer and John Skorski have much to celebrate this fall. Ten years ago, with a goal of sharing their love of the sport with children of all ages and abilities, they opened Giant Gymnastics in Hackettstown. Recently, they held a daylong celebration filled with open gyms, obstacle courses, contests, free prizes, a special anniversary ribbon cutting by the mayor, and even a magician to perform for all who attended. They also recognized their staff with special awards honoring their years of service. The free event was the Skorskis way of saying thank you to the communities their gym has been honored to serve for the last 10 years. “My favorite part about the celebration was that we had time to truly enjoy everyone’s company,” shared Jennifer Skorski. “We had family, friends, and even former gymnasts attend to share in our accomplishments as a gym and business.” One such former gymnast was USA Gymnastics National Team member Christina Desiderio. Desiderio spent the afternoon signing autographs for all the attendees.
Just 5 years after the doors opened in Hackettstown, the Skorskis were approached by colleagues Bob and Pat Schutz, who were looking to retire Schutz Gymnastics. This would be a second location in Lafayette, and as residents of Newton, they welcomed the idea of having a gym in their home county of Sussex. Having outgrown that space in just one year, Giant Gymnastics moved that second location to its current locale in Sparta on White Lake Road. This past July, they held a similar celebration for the community to thank them for 5 years of growth.
Both locations honor National Gymnastics day, an event sanctioned by USA Gymnastics (USAG), each September, but this year turned out to be extraordinary for both gyms. Every year, USA Gymnastics offers gyms across the nation a chance to apply for grants. A gym can apply for funds to help with starting a new program, new equipment, to help run a special event or for USAG staff trainings. Coach Anthony Russo is a staff member at the Sparta location. He is a former Trampoline and Tumbling competitor- a program he hopes to bring soon to the Sparta gym. Russo applied for a grant to help purchase a competitive Double Mini Trampoline. In Hackettstown, Coach Linda Lebo applied for a grant to attend USA Gymnastics hands on training courses for the multitude of coaches on staff. Both locations have applied in the past for grants, and for the first time, both were awarded grants this year. In Sparta, Russo received a call from the national office of USAG to congratulate him on being awarded $1000 towards the Double Mini Trampoline. In Hackettstown, they were awarded three sets 5 different trainings valued at $1275. “We were so excited to be given a grant from USAG, but to then learn that Hackettstown had also been given one? It’s still a bit surreal,” said Sparta coach Margaret Witt. “Coach Anthony has so much to bring as a coach, with his trampoline experience. He has already taught one Trampoline clinic-which was packed- and the second one is this month, and it’s almost full already, too.”
For more information about Giant Gymnastics classes, clinics, and special events, visit them online at www.GiantGymnastics.com or call 973-579-9400.