The Jewish Gymnastic League was started two years ago to bring girls in Jewish gymnastics programs throughout the country together in competitions twice yearly. To date, participants have hailed from Miami, Cleveland, Monsey, Far Rockaway and both Northern and Southern New Jersey.
As founder and director of Northern New Jersey’s Flipping Forward Gymnastics Program, Devra Markowitz of Clifton is justifiably extremely proud of the continued success of “her” girls. Last winter, the team earned 31 medals and 10 trophies at the Jewish Gymnastic League’s Snowflake Invitational Meet in Orangeburg, New York. These honors earned them first place overall for the team in a remarkable first showing. In the spring competition on June 4, in Staten Island, the Flipping Forward team competed on level 3 and was awarded the all-around award once again, as well as many individual awards. On January 28, this year’s winter competition was held in Fort Lauderdale, hosted by the Miami team. Many families arranged their winter break vacations around the meet, which was an all-day event. For the first time, the Flipping Forward team competed on two levels: 3 and 4. Representing Passaic/Clifton, Teaneck and West Orange, five girls competed on level 3 and seven on level 4.
Despite the elevated rigor of the competitions, once again the girls displayed their excellence and placed first in the all-around award for both levels; the girls won individual awards as well. In total, they were awarded 30 medals and 11 trophies. To date, they have emerged from every competition as the number one team.
In 2010, Devra Markowitz, mother of five and a long-time passionate gymnast, had the idea of opening a program that would provide an option for girls ages 4-12 attending yeshiva day schools to participate in a serious gymnastics program that would accommodate their school schedules. The recreational program, named Flipping Forward, immediately attracted girls from Teaneck, Bergenfield, Fair Lawn, Passaic/Clifton, Livingston,West Orange and Springfield. These Northern New Jersey youngsters and their families were delighted to join the Sunday classes, and fall Saturday night after-Shabbat classes, which meshed well with their school schedules. To date, there are beginners, intermediate and advanced gymnastics classes instructing students in basic to sophisticated gymnastics skills. Currently, four classes are held on Sunday evenings in Leonia for Teaneck, Bergenfield, Passaic/Clifton and West Orange students. In addition, six classes are held on Sunday mornings in Clifton with participants from Passaic/Clifton as well as Fair Lawn, Elizabeth and Springfield.
In further promoting her love of gymnastics, Markowitz put together the competitive team of Flipping Forward for girls who were motivated to put their gymnastic talents to the test. Currently, 17 girls are on the team and 12 girls competed in the Jewish Gymnastics League under the rubric of Flipping Forward. The contestants hail from Livingston, West Orange, Teaneck and Passaic. Professional meets are held twice a year, one in the winter and one in the spring, and they are tailored to the schedules of the girls in the Jewish community. The coaches and judges are highly trained professional women who train the girls to compete on floor, beam and bars.
During these exciting weeks when the world is following the Winter Olympics in South Korea, the competitive world of sports is very much venerated. According to Markowitz, “Gymnastics is not just about competing. Gymnastics and other extracurricular activities give children that extra self-confidence that they may not be finding in academics. Mothers have come to me thanking me profusely for engendering new feelings of self-confidence in their daughters.”
For further information about the recreational and competitive programs, contact Devra Markowitz at [email protected].
By Pearl Markovitz
