Hi GymBeat Family,
Welcome to the December newsletter, the final one of the year, can you believe it? We all know that it has been quite the year for all, and we're all looking forward to 2021 but for now, let's take a moment to think about what we were able to accomplish this year. No matter how big or small, to reflect on the fact that we were able to persevere despite the year's challenges, is something to celebrate, so let's do exactly that.
Coach of the Month
Elena Agler
Lena has been with Gymbeat since August of 2019. She hails from many gyms throughout the USA and knows all about how to create champions! She competed in her home country of Russia, when she started training at the tender age of 6 until 14. Because of Lena’s gymnastics talents, she worked as an acrobat in the Novosibirsk Circus starting at 18 and began her coaching career right at age 20! She taught gymnastics and tumbling for children at the Siberia Gym for 15 wonderful years! Lena immigrated to the United States in 2005 and has loved teaching and growing her reputation ever since, as one of the best gymnastics coaches around. In her spare time, Lena loves doing lots of “fixer-upper” projects in her house and is most proud of her cooking and baking skills! During the first few months of the world shut down in 2020, Lena volunteered her skills to help clean, paint and move equipment around our gym. Now with a ‘new look’ of the gym itself, she cannot wait for her Junior Olympic team to start competing again! Thank you coach Lena for all your talents and love for the kids!
< 2016 Olympian Simone Biles with coach Agler!
2016 Olympian Laurie Hernandez with coach Agler! >
Athletes of the Month
Isabel Frausto
Isabel is 9 years old and is in 4th grade. She competes for us in the Junior Olympic program at level 3. Her favorite skill is doing back-handsprings, while her favorite event is the floor exercises. Her goals are to learn as many skills as possible and someday be able to continue her gymnastics training at the college level. Isabel’s hobbies are gardening and traveling to warm beaches! She has a pet cat named Joy! Hey, maybe Joy can meet Precious, our gym cat!
Olivia Lopez
Olivia is 6 years old and is in 1st grade. She competes on the Junior Olympic team at level 3. Her favorite event is floor exercises. She loves floor so much, she practices her routines at home in front of the whole family! Olivia wants to improve her skills and continue higher-level training with her “awesome” coach Lena! Her optimal goal would be to make it to the summer Olympics!....let’s see if you’re 6 now, then maybe the 2032 Olympics?! Outside of the gym, Olivia enjoys drawing, riding her bike, playing, and giving treats to her pet rabbit named Jasmine, and spending lots of time with her Grandma & Grandpa!
Sam's Corner
Each year as we wind down, we wish to thank everyone for their support of our gym! We are the only competitive gymnastics and cheer training program in Fresno! There are some gyms throughout the central valley, located in Clovis, Madera, Sanger, Hanford, and Visalia, but we’ve been the major competitive players in Fresno for the past 18 years in business! During this pandemic, we’ve been told that over 175 similar gyms have closed their doors permanently throughout the United States and as of this writing, it’s not going to end anytime soon. However, there is always light at the end of the tunnel….and we see it! Modern medicine and technology will produce better vaccines and so far the summer Olympics will go on as planned ( since it was canceled last year ). Many of our families are calling letting us know, that they will be back starting in January and they miss our gym dearly! And we miss everyone as well! That being said, our staff and coaches wish everyone a safe and wonderful year’s end, and let’s all look towards a better 2021!
Recipe of the Month
Roasted Chickpeas
Recipe by Delish
INGREDIENTS
1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed.
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°. Pour chickpeas onto baking sheet in an even layer.
When oven is heated, place chickpeas in oven until completely dry, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove chickpeas from oven and toss with oil and salt. Return to oven and bake until golden brown, dry, and crispy, 33 to 35 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Combine chickpeas and seasonings on sheet tray and toss to combine. Spread into an even layer and let cool completely.
Enjoy!
That's all for this month's newsletter! Thank you for standing by Gymnastics Beat this year, for better and for worse. As this year comes to a close we look forward to welcome a new year with new and exciting asperations. From all of us at Gymnastics Beat, Happy New Year! We'll See you next year! 😃
Signing off for now!
-The Gymnastics Beat Team