John Geddert Inducted into the Region 5 Hall of Fame
How do you even begin to recognize and reward someone who has achieved thirty- two years of INCREDIBLE SUCCESS as a gymnastics coach, and who has contributed countless hours…no, YEARS of volunteer time to Region 5 and the gymnastics community as a whole? You honor him with induction into the Region 5 Hall of Fame.
This year John Geddert, owner and head coach of Twistars USA, has the distinct honor of being the sole inductee into the class of 2009. Last year, the inaugural class of 2008 had six inductees. This is an enormous honor to say the least.
As John noted in a recent Team Newsletter: “I’m not old enough to be in a Hall of Fame, I thought, I’m not done coaching. Why not Dick Mulvahill (coach of 16 Olympians), Bill Sands (Olympic Coach and research extraordinaire), Steve Whitlock (God Father of Michigan gymnastics and educational wizard). Perhaps this is a mistake. These are some initial thoughts I had before feeling downright good about myself…WOW what an honor.”
Shortly following his notification that he was being inducted, John also received notice that Twistars USA has been ranked the Number 1 women’s gymnastics club in the Nation. What a Year! John’s sheer dedication to coaching coupled with his desire to be the best at what he does has certainly been recognized and rewarded as he takes his well deserved place in the Region 5 Hall of Fame. Congratulations John!
Below is the list of Accomplishments and Contributions that lead to John’s Induction:
• Attended Central Michigan University on an athletic scholarship for gymnastics.
• In 1984 he took over as head coach of a very young and un-established club in Lansing. The Great Lakes Gymnastics club would grow to national prominence under his direction. A private club with less than 200 students when he arrived had grown to a national power with over 800 students when he left in 1996.
• In 1996 he and his wife Kathryn started Gedderts’ Twistars USA Gymnastics Club. 13 years later Twistars has etched it place as one of the top gymnastics clubs in the country.
• John has given 20 Years Service to Region 5 as JOPC, Apparel Coordinator, AllStar Team Trip Coordinator, and Congress Speaker
• John is the most decorated women’s gymnastics coach in Michigan gymnastics history. His 24 year win/loss club record is an unprecedented 1751 wins and 50 defeats in STATE CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION. His teams have compiled more state championship titles than ALL OTHER MICHIGAN TEAMS COMBINED.
• He along with his wife Kathryn have coached more NATIONAL CHAMPIONS than ALL other Michigan coaches combined.
• During the past 24 years, Twistars gymnasts have earned in excess of 2.7 million dollars in athletic scholarships to major universities around the country.
• On the National front, Gedderts Twistars USA has emerged as the National Power in Junior Olympic Gymnastics. In the years 2001-2002 and 2004 Twistars USA had more National Qualifiers, National medalists, and National Team Members than any other club in the USA.
• In 2008 John coached the USA ELITE NATIONAL CHAMPION in the Junior Age Division and placed a second athlete on the Jr Elite National team. This is the most national team members at the highest level in the country.
• In 2008-09 Current elite national team members, Jordyn Wieber and Kamerin Moore placed in each of their USA Gymnastics international assignments. 1st (Wieber) and 3rd (Moore) in Belgium, Jordyn won American Cup (USAs most prestigious competition), Kamerin won the USA vs Japan Dual competition and they placed 1st and 3rd at the GymNix international event in Montreal.
• He was on the coaching staff of the 1995 Sr. Pan American Games team champions.
• He was on the coaching staff of the 1996 Sr. Pacific Alliance team champions.
• He coached one of the alternates to the gold medal winning 1996 Olympic team.
• He coached the 2009 Jr. Elite National Champion and the 2009 American Cup Champion and the 2009 US v. Japan Dual Meet Champion.
• He developed coaches and elites including: Katie Teft, Melissa Green, Jordyn Wieber, Kamerin Moore, Laura Szczepanski, Heather Berry, Melissa Grupe, Jane MacIntosh. • Developed over 40 JO National Champions and National Team Members
• He has coached over 20 gymnasts who have made the JO National Team.
• He has coached at least 40 gymnasts who were JO National or Elite NATIONAL Champions and over 20 JO or Elite National Team Members.
• He has coached gymnasts at competitions in over 15 countries including Spain, Italy, France, Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, El Salvador, Sweden, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, China, and Japan.
Awards and Honors:
• Region 5 COACH of the YEAR: 1990-1991-1993-1996-2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.
• Awarded the FIRST EVER USA NATIONAL COACH of the YEAR by USA Gymnastics – 2007
• Michigan COACH of the YEAR: 1990, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2009
• Region 5 CONTRIBUTOR of the YEAR: 1989, 1990, 1999, 2003
• U.S. Elite Coaches Association – CONTRIBUTOR of the YEAR: 2003.
Community Service:
• John has served on the National Governing Body’s ( USA Gymnastics) Junior Olympic Program Committee for the past 20 years. He has been instrumentally involved in the development of the current system, which is now used worldwide as the preferred developmental program for gymnastics. He helped author the current compulsory routines used in the grass roots system, and he is actively involved in rules and policy making that govern the sport of gymnastics in the US.
• He is also actively involved within his local community. Currently, Twistars USA is involved with the Children’s Miracle Network and has raised in excess of $30,000 for the cause.
• In a project designed to assist less fortunate countries with obtaining new and used donated equipment from the USA, John was instrumental in providing a club in Columbia with a full gym of equipment. This club eventually went on to qualify Columbia’s first ever Olympian in 2008.
• In an effort to assist less fortunate athletes, John and his club at Twistars USA have played host to aspiring international athletes from Slovania, El Salvador, and Columbia.
• John is currently actively involved in the educational process for regional coaches, athletes and judges. He is instrumental in various regional programs that support and reward athletes for their participation in the sport. Over $110,000 was raised this past year in order to outfit our national qualifiers for National and International competition. He is instrumental in organizing international experiences for our Regions top athletes and many of his program ideas are being implemented in other regions around the country.
