More Than Cartwheels and Handstands: Sokol Gymnastics
By Siri Schroeder
Over the weekend of April 4-6, seven gymnasts from Sokol Minnesota Gymnastics traveled to Crete, Nebraska to participate in a meet with other Western District Sokol Gymnastics programs. The Western District Competition is held once annually and is the only gymnastics meet the Sokol Minnesota team competes in, making it a highlight of the year for the gymnasts. Team members Amari, Norah, Maeve, Shae, Laura, Jas, and Landyn took home individual medal placements, and some even performed a “special number,” a team dance with tumbling throughout the choreography.
Sokol Minnesota Gymnastics is a small but steadfast program, located in the C.S.P.S. Hall at 383 Michigan Street, just off West 7th Street. Sokol means “falcon” in Czech, and the organization was founded in 1862 in Prague, in what is now known as the Czech Republic. Created by Dr. Miroslav Tyrš, Sokol provided educational, cultural and physical fitness programming based on Tyrš’ belief that physical and mental wellbeing, along with cultural engagement, were key to creating and sustaining a healthy society. Sokol organizations expanded to the U.S. in 1865, and Sokol Minnesota was founded in 1882. The C.S.P.S. Hall was built in 1887 and became the home of Sokol Minnesota in 1900, making it the oldest Czech-Slovak center in continuous use in the nation. The C.S.P.S Hall was designated as a National and State Historic Site in 1977.
Sokol Minnesota offers programming beyond gymnastics, including Czech language classes, Czech folk dancing, a Czech cultural camp for youth and events throughout the year.
You don’t have to be Czech to participate in gymnastics or any of Sokol Minnesota’s programs, and generations of gymnasts from across the West 7th and West Side neighborhoods have grown up practicing in the second story of the C.S.P.S. Hall. Many gymnasts become coaches once they reach high school, and this fosters a uniquely caring, familiar and community-oriented atmosphere in the gym. Gymnasts grow up together over a shared love of gymnastics but learn far more than cartwheels and handstands. They learn to take risks by trying new skills, and to persevere when it takes time and repetition to master skills. They learn to work collaboratively and creatively by creating routines, and they develop confidence by showing their routines to the group. They learn to cheer each other on through falls and stuck landings and they make lifelong friends with teammates. Sokol gymnastics is about far more than sport. It’s about learning to care deeply for a community and the wellbeing of oneself, of others, and of society–a cornerstone of Dr. Tyrš’ vision.
Siri Schroeder is the Head Women’s Coach of Sokol Minnesota Gymnastics. For more information or to sign up for Sokol Minnesota Gymnastics, visit sokolmn.org or contact [email protected].
