By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
From toddlers taking their first tumbles to competitive gymnasts working toward the national stage, a new facility in Hays is giving children another place to move, learn and build confidence.
Twisterz Gymnastics Academy opened its second location Tuesday at Big Creek Crossing, bringing gymnastics, tumbling, Ninja classes and competitive opportunities to children across the Hays area.
The facility serves children from crawling through 18, with programs. Marissa Dreiling, Twisterz Gymnastics Academy owner, said the goal reaches beyond teaching children how to tumble, balance or swing from the bars.
“The mission is to create confident, strong kiddos,” Dreiling said. “Just kind of instill a love of fitness and exercise to kids. I think gymnastics is for everyone. Anyone can come in and start learning gymnastics.”
Inside the new facility, blue mats stretch across much of the floor, with balance beams, uneven bars, training bars, padded landing areas and other equipment giving children space to develop their skills. Cubbies were also installed for children ahead of opening day.
For the youngest participants, Parent and Tot classes are available for children from crawling to 4, with parents participating alongside their children. Tumblebugs classes are offered for children ages 2½ to 4 and allow children to participate independently.
Recreational gymnastics begins at age 5, while Twisterz also offers tumbling-only classes for children who may not want to participate in every gymnastics event. Dreiling said the classes can also benefit dancers and cheerleaders who want to focus on developing their tumbling skills.
Boys Ninja and Tumbling combines gymnastics with American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle courses.
“We do kind of like an American Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course, along with learning all the backflips and handstands and roundoffs,” Dreiling said. “It’s super fun for them. Very energetic. They burn lots of energy. They’re sweating by the end of it.”
Twisterz also offers competitive gymnastics and birthday parties. Dreiling said an adult gymnastics program could eventually be added after receiving interest from adults.
For elementary, middle and high school-age recreational gymnasts, progression through the program is based on ability. Rather than simply choosing which level to enter, athletes work through charts containing skills they must master across the different gymnastics events.
Once a gymnast completes all of the required skills at a level, Dreiling said they receive a trophy and certificate before moving to the next level.
Although Twisterz is new to Hays, Dreiling is not new to operating a gymnastics program.
She has owned the Twisterz location in Russell for 10 years and a dance studio there for almost three years. The Russell gym remains open as Dreiling begins operating the new Hays location.
The Twisterz competition team has competed at nationals for the last five years, with national qualifiers each year. The program has also produced Junior Olympic qualifiers in each of the last three years, including a Junior Olympic winner this year.
Dreiling’s own path into gymnastics started differently than the athletes she now coaches.
A Lucas native, Dreiling began dancing at age 7. Gymnastics was something she wanted to try growing up, but the closest gym was about an hour away.
“I begged them every year, but they said no,” Dreiling said of asking her parents to participate in gymnastics.
She began tumbling during her junior year of high school and later joined the cheer and dance team at Colby Community College. While attending Colby, Dreiling began taking tumbling classes at a local gymnastics gym.
The owner, Katrina, asked Dreiling if she wanted to begin coaching gymnastics.
“I told her I really didn’t know a whole lot except for tumbling, and she’s like, ‘That’s OK, we’ll teach you,’” Dreiling said.
Dreiling said Katrina took her under her wing and helped provide the foundation for what would eventually become her career.
“If it was not for her, I would not be doing what I’m doing today,” Dreiling said.
Dreiling continued attending coaching trainings and developing her knowledge of the sport before eventually opening Twisterz in Russell.
Of all the events she now teaches, Dreiling said the uneven bars remain her favorite to coach.
After a decade of operating Twisterz in Russell and watching the program grow, Dreiling said bringing a facility to Hays had long been one of her goals.
“I have always dreamt of having a facility in Hays, and I’ve just prayed about it for many years,” she said. “Something opened up, and the doors all opened up. So here we are, and we’re just excited to be here and excited to get going.”
The Hays Twisterz is inside Big Creek Crossing, with its entrance behind Harbor Freight. A banner currently marks the entrance, with Dreiling hoping to eventually install permanent metal signage.
