First and foremost, thank you all for being here tonight. This isn’t an easy message to deliver, and it’s certainly not one we ever imagined we’d have to share with our gymnastics family.
We have spent the past several weeks exploring every possible avenue to rebuild. We pushed, we planned, we hoped. But after many long conversations with the insurance company, reviewing zoning regulations, and researching county and city building requirements, we’ve come to a very hard conclusion that rebuilding is simply not an option.
Due to the property being zoned residential with a special commercial permit, and the extensive new requirements—including a commercial-grade sprinkler system, new well and septic specifications, and building codes that have drastically changed since our gym was originally constructed 37 years ago.
As many of you know, our beloved gym—our second home, the place where our athletes laughed, learned, fell, got back up, and grew stronger—was tragically lost in a fire. The building may be gone, but what it stood for, the memories made within those walls, and the spirit of this team—that cannot be taken from us.
This has been devastating to process. Our gym wasn’t just a business—it was a family, a community, a dream built over years of love, sacrifice, and hard work. And we know it has meant just as much to all of you.
That’s why we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your outpouring of support, your fundraisers, your time, your hearts—it all mattered. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we were able to continue this season by leasing space from partner gyms, covering costs for our coaches and allowing our Excel girls to finish strong. That commitment—your commitment—ensured our athletes didn't lose the opportunity to do what they love, and for that, we are forever thankful.
We do have a small amount of funding remaining, and we’ve decided to create something meaningful with it—a legacy that will carry forward the spirit of our gym. We will be launching a GIM Strong scholarship that will be available for one team member to apply for. This scholarship will help cover the cost of training and being a part of a new team at one of our partner host gyms. Details on how to apply will be available on our website by July 1, 2025. We hope that this investment will continue for many years to come.
We know this transition won’t be easy. Change rarely is. But please know that what we built together doesn’t end here. The friendships, the skills, the confidence, the strength in our community—it all lives on in our gymnasts, in our families, and in the way we continue to support each other.
Thank you for believing in us, standing by us, and for being the heart of this team!
With all our love and appreciation,
Shawna and Shawn Hill & Family