by David F.P.
Danielson, CT- The UConn Club Gymnastics team hosted the entire New England region of NAIGC club teams on Saturday, February 12, 2011. Defending national champions the University of Rhode Island won the meet with a team high score. Also at UConn’s home venue of Deary’s Gymnastics were Boston University, MIT, the University of New England, Vermont, and Sacred Heart. I unfortunately was unable to stay for the meet itself due to other gymnastics commitments. But the fact that it happened at all is a big deal.

The UConn Club team was the byproduct of several years as a non-competing club which transitioned into club competition last season and was sanctioned as an official club sport this year. Their facebook page can be found here.

The University of Rhode Island club team rose from the ashes of the team being cut as a varsity sport, and consisted of former varsity gymnasts including current Club President Erika Sloan, and joined with newcomers, rose to the top of the NAIGC winning nationals last year in their second year of existence. In addition to participating in club meets, they have appeared at varsity meets hosted by Brown University. Their facebook page is over here.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology club team was also a result of sports cuts though in that case MIT cut 10 different programs amidst budgetary woes. The team was formed of former varsity gymnasts and newcomers as well. Like their counterparts at URI, MIT also appears at varsity meets including at Brown and Springfield. Their club website is here.

Boston University has been a club sport for quite awhile and made annual appearances at MIT when that team was a varsity sport. The Terriers have their own facebook page as well here.

Vermont has also has had an established club team for quite awhile. UVM used to have a varsity team as well that was cut.

Sacred Heart’s Gymnastics club is relatively new and took on the University of Connecticut last season in a meet in Tolland. They have a portion of the SHU club sports website.

The University of New England has also had a NAIGC club team for several years.