The Miracles Gymnastics Team

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The Miracles:

The Miracles are a Gymnastics Team made up of 7, 8 and 9 year olds who are based out of All American Gymnastics in Oceanside, NY with Coaches John Wolkiewicz and his son Dylan Wolkiewicz. The girls are from Long Beach, Island Park, Oceanside and Rockville Center. They began practicing as a team together before Sandy and were all personally impacted by Sandy to various degrees, either their own homes or homes of the immediate families were extremely damaged, their schools were damaged and/or closed for periods of time, life in their towns was disrupted and even their gym were impacted. However, these girls persevered and overcame every obstacle thrown at them. They began competing in September and just competed this past weekend in the Manhattan Classic in New York City. They have already won many medals and trophys and are the happiest most hard working children I know. Below is what one of the mothers wrote about the team after our last meet which was very tough and very competitive.

I am proud. I am proud of my daughter. I am proud of her friends, her teammates.

I watched a group of young girls put everything they had into a competition and get judged very harshly. But they did not back down. They continued. They persevered. And they supported and encouraged one another. I watched Delia greet every teammate after every event with a hug or a high five. It made me proud. Our girls understand empathy. They understand compassion. Delia told me she felt bad ...for a teammate who was getting low scores, said she didn't understand the scores. It is hard sometimes to understand a subjective sport. It is hard for us, as adults, to understand. It is harder still when you are only 7 years old. It is hard, too, to stand by and not be able to take away a child's pain and disappointment. But our girls continued, in the face of adversity, and banded together til the end. I watched 3 of the girls refuse to leave the floor during awards, hoping for the elusive "sportsmanship" award. In my book our girls won yesterday. They may have not won all the medals they had hoped for. But they won a personal victory. They took their lumps and walked away with the knowledge that they tried their best. They walked away knowing they had the love and support of their parents, their families, their friends, their teammates, their coaches. They are good girls our little Miracles. They make me proud.

At the Manhattan meet they had the opportunity to meet Steven Legendre who is on the USA Olympic Team and was also a student for many years of their Coach John Wolkiewicz. The girls practice at All American 3 days a week for 3 hours each time and compete about once a month. They are very young but their dedication is impressive and all from within:

My daughter Sophia who is nine writes:

Life as a gymnast!

When some of my meets are at 8:00 in the morning. It is a struggle getting out the door. Sometimes we get there at 9:15 it depends.

I go to gymnastics Tuesdays , Thursdays , and Saturdays.3 hours every time or more. ...

If my mom drives me we would get there on time or 10 mins. late. If my dad drives me it would be the same thing.

2 home!

I practically go to gymnastics 24/7. My coaches John and Dylan they are like my parents.

Ashley, who is seven, writes:

I had an adventure today. I found out meets are hard when you do bad but when you do good it goes good. I did so so. I am happy that I hit all the events. I can't wait to be BETTER. Thank you John and Dylan for helping me and my teammates at gymnastics. Thank you SO much. I love my team and my coaches.

I was hoping you might do a story on them. I think they are an inspiration to many. Their next meet is the PopStar Invitational at Farmingdale Gymnastic's Academy the weekend of Feb 21 however you can find them practicing at All American GymnasticsTues and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. I am including some recent pictures!

Thanks you.

One proud Mom

Priscilla Cipollini Mistretta