Gymnasts, coach hope to revive Kaukauna gymnastics program after learning it will be cut

Kaukauna High School will cut its gymnastics program after over 50 years. The team hopes to make one last state run over the next two weeks. (Courtesy: Kaukauna Gymnastics Booster Club)

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s been over 50 years since the Kaukauna High School gymnastics team first made a state run, but next week’s tournament appears to be its final hurrah.

“It’s sad for me, because I grew up doing the sport,” said junior Agape Koester, a gymnast at Kaukauna High School.

“Knowing that I might not have the opportunity to do it next year makes me really sad,” added Makenna Leaman, a freshman gymnast.

“I called the athletic director last week and asked if the program was being cut. I heard the program is being cut,” said assistant coach Kari Kleinschmidt, recalling when she first learned the news. “And we talked about our facilities a little bit, the fact they would rather utilize their facilities for more children.”

Oshkosh North/West co-op is only other high school gymnastics program in the Fox Valley

The Kaukauna High School team has just six members, but there are more athletes at the lower levels, sponsored by the gymnastics booster club.

Kleinschmidt, currently in her first year an assistant coach, said she’ll look into a co-op with other schools, but isn’t confident it would work out. Two of the eight teams in Kaukauna’s sectional are co-op teams (Valders/Roncalli and Lakeland/Northland Pines) — a setup where multiple schools join to form one team.

She also started a petition and said she’ll look to fundraise. She is even seeing if the team can provide its own facility to continue the program.

The school district cites declining participation, gym space as reasons for cutting

Superintendent Mike Slowinski said in a statement:

“With a very limited number of schools in our region continuing to offer gymnastics, competitions involve extensive travel, and the specialized equipment setup limits broader access to the high school’s shared spaces for extended periods of time,” said Slowinski, who acknowledged it was a difficult decision.

These factors limit the district’s ability to allocate resources and facilities in a way that maximizes opportunities for student participation in extracurricular activities.

“I was a little bit sad, because I still have another year next year for me to be on the team, and I won’t be able to do that if it gets cut,” said Koester.

Overall participation is down beyond just Kaukauna High School, according to Kleinschmidt. She said the main factors are the cost of gymnastics from a young age and the training required from a young age to excel even at the high school level.

Koester’s mom said they don’t plan to have Agape participate in club gymnastics, partly due to cost.

“Just having the high school team is a great resource for students who enjoy gymnastics and want to continue in the program,” said Nikki Koester, Agape’s mom. “Private clubs are just not a great fit for everybody.”

“Also, we have the winter camp with the littles, and I see the eighth-graders and the younger kids and how good they are and how much they’ve improved just over the winter camp season,” said Leaman. “It made me sad thinking about how they wouldn’t have this experience of having the team when they come to high school.”

Unless the program finds new life, the Kaukauna gymnastics team will try to make one last state run.