Spring-R-Roo Gymnastics showcase highlights young athletes in Bates Township

The Bates Center gym in Bates Township turned into a proving ground for Iron County’s youngest athletes on April 23, as Spring-R-Roo Gymnastics gave families a look at what the season had built. For some children, it was the first time they had performed in front of a crowd. For others, it was a chance to compete in a structured setting and earn awards on floor, uneven parallel bars, balance beam and vaulting.

That mix of celebration and instruction mattered in a small county where opportunities for youth sports can be limited and where local programs often shape the path from beginner to school-age athlete. Spring-R-Roo’s lineup stretches from Tots, ages 2 and 3, to Pre-K and Hot Shots for ages 4 and 5, then into Intro to Gymnastics for grade-school beginners and Pre-Team for grade-school Junior Olympic Level 1 athletes. The showcase reflected that progression, with the Intro Team getting its first real taste of public performance and the Pre and Prep Teams completing routines before receiving awards at the end of their competition segment.

Jeanie Rabitoy, the owner of Spring-R-Roo Gymnastics, handled the scoring so the athletes could get a realistic competition experience. The Competition Team was divided into gold, silver and bronze levels, and that format gave the evening the feel of a local meet while still keeping the emphasis on learning. The Intro Team was not judged, a choice that let younger gymnasts build comfort in front of an audience without the pressure of formal scoring.

Several athletes stood out in the gym. Tessa Fales performed a floor routine for family and friends, while Ella Orchard was identified as a gold-level gymnast. On the bronze side, Rosalie Salo, Daphne Papatriantafyllou and Daria Dudiak were recognized with awards, each saluting with pride after their event. Instructor Shelby Lambert and Competition Team coach Vivian Tass were pictured with the athletes, underscoring the coaching structure behind the program.

The showcase showed how a local gymnastics class can become more than a Saturday activity. In Bates Township, next to Iron River in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Spring-R-Roo is giving young children a place to learn discipline, coordination, flexibility and balance long before they step into school sports. That kind of early access can shape confidence as much as athletic skill, and in Iron County, that pipeline begins with programs like this one.