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For Melissa Henry, gymnastics is no passing fancy.
Like the parents of many rambunctious youngsters, Henry’s enrolled her in a gymnastics class to burn off the endless energy 6-year-olds are notorious for, while also building increased physical fitness. During her third grade year, Henry’s family decided that opportunities for her and her siblings warranted moving from their Sedalia home to Blue Springs. One of those opportunities, in particular, was found at GAGE, a Blue Springs gymnastics training facility recognized for producing elite athletes in droves. Both Henry and her sister initially joined the program, but her sister ultimately found herself swayed toward music. For Henry, however, gymnastics fit like a glove.
Throughout her childhood, Henry completed in levels one through 10. After high school graduation, she went on to compete as a collegiate gymnast on a full-ride scholarship at the University of Minnesota. Upon earning both a bachelor’s and master’s in elementary education, Henry’s gymnastics career evolved accordingly. Passionate about working with youth, Henry divided her time between teaching in schools and teaching in gyms. Her initial teaching career took her back to Blue Springs, teaching ESL at Blue Springs High School. She later worked within Detroit’s inner city for over 17 years. Roles in the classroom and at the gym proved complementary.
It was only natural then that Henry’s passion for gymnastics and working with youth would bleed into her personal life. For her three daughters, the gym was their home away from home—her youngest even found herself comfortably toted in a carrier as a baby while her mom simultaneously coached. It was only a matter of time before the young girls desired to try gymnastics for themselves. When the family relocated back to Blue Springs from Detroit during the pandemic, the Henrys found themselves not only closer to family but also to the gym that started it all for Melissa: GAGE. Her older two, Sophia, 15, and Isabella, 13, trained competitively, while the youngest, Ava, 9, opted to pursue recreational classes. Over time, all three girls began pursuing the sport with intensity. They now all have an esteemed spot within GAGE’s team.
Henry has an up-close-and-personal view of her daughters’ training. While the older two are coached by others, she still coaches Ava. When asked what gymnastics has done for her family, she is quick to tout the long-term merits, noting, “Gymnastics is about being a part of something bigger than yourself. At GAGE, in particular, there is a high culture of respect within the organization. You’re learning perseverance, grit and tenacity.”
As a mom, though, Henry notes there’s a sweet fringe benefit to coaching the same sport at the same institution that started it all for her: “I’m not just an observer of my daughters’ growth and progress. I know personally how hard it is to do what they do here, and those small victories are shared experiences.”
Lauren Greenlee is an Olathe boy-mom of four. Her early stint in gymnastics as a child didn’t stick, but she spent years cheering her younger sister throughout her gymnastics career. Now she enjoys writing about others that kept with it!