Gymnastics Learning Center to hold open house Sunday, Aug. 28
Shrewsbury – Three recent Shrewsbury High School graduates, who are students of the Gymnastics Learning Center (GLC) in Shrewsbury are prime examples that devotion to a sport they love leads to rewards. Sydney Malko, Alexandra Smyrnios and Reilly Peloquin, have received awards on the state, regional, and national levels, but have gained rewards in life as well.
Sydney Malko began her gymnastics career at age 2, and reached Level 10 in the Junior Olympics Program at GLC at age 13. Sydney went on to become two-time Level 10 State Floor Champion, Level 10 Regional Silver Medalist, and winner of the National Medal on beam.
“Gymnastics Learning Center has not only been a huge part of my life because of gymnastics, but because of all the staff. Honestly, if it weren’t for my GLC coaches, Nikki and Robert McElroy, I would not have gotten through the tough times, and I would not have had such good times either… All of the staff supported me and taught me in one way or another,” she said.
Sydney will be attending Wentworth Institute of Technology with a merit scholarship for architecture.
Alexandra Smyrnios walked into the Gymnastics Learning Center for a parent-tot class at the age of 2 and never left. Over the past 17 years, Alex rose to Level 9 in the Junior Olympics Program at GLC, and she qualified for 2015 Eastern U.S. Championships in Florida where she took the Silver Medal on vault. Alex also won a Silver Medal at the prestigious Starlight Invitational in Cambridge in March.
“I was lucky that my coaches and parents always saw the best in me and continued to support and push me over any obstacles that I faced,” Alex said. “I am grateful to the sport of gymnastics because it taught me not only the value of goal setting and perseverance, but also shaped the person I became. I know that if I had not been placed in a gymnastics class 17 years ago, I would not be the person that I am today.”
Alex will be attending Boston University (BU) in the fall, studying business with a concentration in law, with the hope of eventually attending law school. While at BU, Alex plans on competing on their intercollegiate gymnastics club.
Reilly Peloquin started her gymnastics journey at age 3, and began competing on the GLC Team at age 7, rising quickly to Level 7 in the Junior Olympics Program. In her sophomore year, Reilly chose to simultaneously pursue both cheerleading and gymnastics, so she switched to GLC’s XCEL Team, which had less time commitment. Reilly competed at the state level where she took the Gold Medal on beam in XCEL Platinum and the Silver Medal on beam in XCEL Diamond.
“Gymnastics was always something I could turn to if I wasn’t having a great day. Just being in the gym was a stress reliever,” she said. “Throughout my journey, my family, teammates, and coaches have always been so supportive. Along the way, there were some ups and downs, but that’s the fun of it; I loved every second of it.”
Reilly plans on continuing gymnastics on the club team at the University of Rhode Island in the fall.
The public is invited to a free Family Fun Day and Open House at GLC, 574 Lake St., Sunday, Aug. 28, from 12 to 3 p.m. to celebrate its newly renovated facility. Visitors will meet the coach and former Olympian Tania Filipova and enjoy gymnastics team exhibitions, open gym play time, face painting, a balloon artist, food, giveaways, character meet-and-greets, raffle drawings and more.
For more information, visit www.gymnasticslearningcenter.org.
