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NEWS | April 2, 2007

Former Olympians lead Air Force gymnasts

By Devon Sorlie Military Newspapers of Virginia

Editor's note: The following story and photos were reprinted with permission from The Langley Fighter.

Move over football. Beware basketball. The Air Force Academy's men's gymnastics team may soon garner a bit more of the spotlight. 

Now being coached by two former Olympic gymnasts, the future of men's gymnastics at the Air Force Academy has never looked brighter. 

This is Kip Simons' second season as head coach of the Falcons. A 1996 Olympic gymnast, he recruited 2004 Olympian Brett McClure as the assistant coach, who conveniently already lived in Colorado Springs. 

"I was at the end of my career and this is a nice transition out of the sport and still be involved with the competition as a coach," McClure said. 

The program is already improving under Simons' tutelage. The Falcons placed 3rd in the United States of America Gymnastics, or USAG, championships held March 24 at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. 

"It's been an unbelievable season," McClure said. "We've had a streak of five meets where we've earned four new season-high scores of improvement over last year. I can't wait until the next class to come in and we keep climbing that ladder." 

Although Simons was a little disappointed by the Falcons' flat performance during the team competition March 24, there were still plenty of highlights, including junior Greg Stine winning the All-Around on the strength of two national USAG titles with the floor exercise and still rings and the team's lone senior, Kurt Antonio, earning the coveted Top Varsity Senior award as the highest finishing senior. He also placed fifth in the All Around.

Antonio, 21, who started competing at age 7, remembers following Simons' career and watching him compete. 

"This is the best I've ever seen the team in all aspects," Antonio said. "We cheer everyone on and get excited about every meet. From two years ago, we've really improved." 

The sport is constantly evolving, allowing gymnasts to specialize within the six events (floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bar, horizontal bar), unlike the mandatory requirements when Simons was still competing. 

"Ten years ago, you had to do everything, even if you were terrible on the pommel horse," Simons recalled. "Now people specialize and compete in one, two or three events. You really can't have a bad event." 

One of those specialists is sophomore Jacob Schonig, who only competes in the still rings. What makes Schonig especially unique is he never competed in gymnastics until he walked into the gym his freshman year at the Academy. 

"Most gymnasts start competing when they are six or seven years old," Simons said. "This guy walks in at age 17 and wants to start competing after never having done the sport." 

Within three weeks, Schonig, a state wrestler from Los Gatos, Calif., had a four-year plan on what he wanted to accomplish in the sport. 

"He's just so likeable, and his work ethic is amazing," Simons said. "He had no bad habits and an incredible willingness to soak it up and take correction." 

Schnoig explained he was tired of making weight in wrestling, "so I was looking for a sport to have fun." He had watched gymnastics in intramurals, and those who had seen Schonig's powerful upper body strength suggested he look into the sport. 

"I started messing around with it, and just kept coming back," Schonig said. 

He placed third in the still rings at the USAG championship, an incredible journey for someone who didn't know anything about the sport just a year before. Although he would be well-suited for the high bar, Schonig is content to stay where he is for now. 

"I want to master one event at a time," he explained. "There's a real mental side to this sport, where you have to stay focused to keep getting better and better. You have to find that edge." 

Razzing from both his coaches and teammates help. Schonig's motivation often comes from trying to prove them wrong when they say he can't do something. 

"You have to keep an open mind," Schonig said. "I walked in and never thought I couldn't do it. That is characteristic of the Air Force, which provides great and fun opportunities for your life."