The mission of the Twisters is to provide competitive gymnasts with opportunities for social and physical development in an atmosphere of sportsmanship, through a well-managed program that is professionally staffed by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department and parent-supported through the Twisters Booster Club.
As a year-round sport, the Cartersville Twisters gymnastics team is entering the twenty-sixth year of competition. We have made great strides in developing strong competitive teams. We compete within the USA Gymnastics (USAG), Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs (USAIGC).
Our competitive facility (located directly behind the Civic Center on the corner of Cherokee and Lee) is among the best in the state. The Cartersville Gymnastics Center was the Pre-Olympic training site for the 1996 Men’s Olympic Gymnastics Team from Belarus. Our facility benefited from a grant from the Governor’s office in preparation for the Olympic Games. The Booster Club funded a trip for the optional girls to compete in Munich, Germany and train both in Germany and Switzerland’s Olympic Training Centers.
Our boys and girls continue the tradition of success in the competitive arena. This past season we had 23 Event State Champions and 4 All-Around State Champions. 9 gymnasts advanced to the Regional Competition and 1 became a Regional Champion. Three competed in USA Gymnastics Men’s Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee, two competed in USA Gymnastics Women’s Nationals in Clemson, South Carolina; one competed in USAIGC College Bound in Kissimmee, Florida and five competed in USA Gymnastics Tumbling Nationals in Chicago, Illinois in our fourth year of Tumbling competition. We have sent six young women on gymnastics scholarships – Lindsay Bourdon to the University of Michigan, Kristen O’Shields to the University of Kentucky, Lauren Johnson to the University of Georgia and Melanie Root to the University of Oklahoma. Mariel Box is currently with the Gym Dogs at the University of Georgia. The Cartersville High School gymnastics team practices at our facility.
How did this happen? The City gave full support to this program and with the help and cooperation of the Booster Club, knowledgeable and caring coaches, devoted and determined gymnasts and the support of our community sponsors these successful and positive results have occurred.
We hosted four competitions in which twelve hundred boys and girls competed. Cartersville High School hosted three competitions in our facility. Events such as these bring economic support to the community along with a strong sense of pride.
Thanks to the support of community sponsors of the Booster Club and the City Parks and Recreation Department, we now have an exciting program that fulfills the Cartersville Twisters Mission Statement.
From the Gymnastics Coordinator, Andrei Kouznetsov
"The work and effort expended by the parents provide top-line equipment used by all levels of our gymnasts. They provide opportunities that would be unavailable to some children due to the expense. Each family pays for the training. The Booster Club pays for their competitive experiences which would be impossible without the support of the community. We appreciate any support you are willing to extend to this young group of athletes. On behalf of the Cartersville Gymnastics Program, I extend our thanks."