When the GymTrix Level 4 TeamGym athletes stood waiting for the final results at the USA Gymnastics for All GymFest National Championships in Charleston, West Virginia, they knew they had given everything they had.
Then the second-place team was announced — and GymTrix had not been called.
That was the moment the Alpine athletes realized they had become national champions.
“The moment we were announced as the national champions was unforgettable,” said Haley Mathews, TeamGym director at GymTrix. “Everyone erupted with excitement and cheers from all teams. The athletes were cheering, screaming, and some even had tears of joy because all of their hard work had finally paid off.”
The Level 4 team, made up of seven athletes ages 8 to 11, earned the national title among nine total Level 4 teams from across the country, including competitors: 3 teams from Massachusetts, 2 from Texas, 2 from California (including GymTrix), 1 from Arizona, 1 from Indiana.
The championship was the result of months of preparation, dedication and teamwork.
“Our Level 4 team spent their entire season preparing for nationals through months of consistent practice, dedication, and teamwork,” Mathews said. “We trained twice a week, focusing on perfecting routines, building strength, and improving our skills.”
TeamGym differs from traditional gymnastics because athletes compete together as a team. Events include floor, tumbling, vault and mini tramp, with success depending on synchronization, trust and cooperation.
“Many people have never heard of TeamGym, but it’s one of the fastest-growing disciplines of gymnastics,” said Karen Smith, owner of GymTrix. “Success depends on teamwork, synchronization, and supporting one another just as much as individual skill.”
For 9-year-old Allison Martin, who has been doing gymnastics since she was 2 and has competed in TeamGym for three years, winning nationals was a moment she will never forget.
“I felt sooooo excited when they called the other team for second place!” Martin said. “It was the best thing ever for my teammates and me.”
Her favorite memories from the trip included winning the championship and catching fireflies in West Virginia.
Eight-year-old Maddie Kohl, who has been doing gymnastics at GymTrix for five years and joined TeamGym this season, said the victory felt unreal.
“I couldn’t breathe; it felt like I was in a dream,” Kohl said. “My team and I were so excited.”
Charlotte Berg, 8, said she knew the team had won when second place was announced.
“I was super duper duper duper duper excited when they called our team,” she said. “I looked in the stands and could see all of our parents screaming in excitement.” For
11-year-old Charlotte Welch, the championship represented the reward for the team’s hard work.
“Winning a national championship is like a dream coming true,” she said. “For our team, it means that we can be an inspiration to others.”
The national championship was part of a successful showing for all of GymTrix’s teams at the competition. Level 2 received a Gold score, Level 3 placed fourth, Level 5 placed second, and GymTrix’s “Willy Wonka”-themed group routine featuring gymnasts from Levels 3-5 also earned a Gold score.
The achievement comes as GymTrix celebrates its 30th anniversary in Alpine.
“For the past 30 years, Gym- Trix has been more than just a gymnastics gym,” Smith said. “It has been a place where children build confidence, character, and lifelong friendships.”
Smith said many athletes begin at GymTrix as toddlers and continue through high school, creating a community that includes generations of local families.
“Watching thousands of children discover their strengths, overcome challenges, and achieve goals they never thought possible has been the greatest reward,” she said.
For the young athletes who represented Alpine on the national stage, the championship is a reminder of what can happen when dedication, coaching, and teamwork come together.
And for GymTrix, the victory marks another milestone in a 30-year legacy of helping young athletes grow both inside and outside the gym.
