Kelly Roeder does a side split on the balance beam.

The little body clad in red w7as going through all sorts of gyrations while attempting to somersault to the satisfaction of her teacher.

In her attempt, she bumped her knee, jabbed an onlooker with a flagrant elbow and downed three of her fellow classmates with a whirling wild foot.

But she was beaming. “Did ya see that-huh? I did a good one.”

THE SCENE is typical of some 503-to-5 year-olds in the gym program at Turner Hall.

Dave Chapman, coordinator of the physical programs at Turner,stresses the importance of physical activity for children of this age.

“It’s very helpful for children of this age to learn to work with one another,” he says. “They work on balance beams, the trampoline,and we have relay races and dancing. All of these activities are group functions and enable the children to learn to cooperate.”

TURNER’s impact on the high school gymnastics program is tremendous.

Chapman indicated every one of the girls now competing at New Ulm High School on the gymnastics team was at one time a Turner gymnast.

Because of a lack of facilities in the winter, the public school system is unable to offer any gymnastic program to elementary children and only limited programs to junior high school students.

HEAD GYMNASTICS coach at New Ulm High School, Cindy Theophilus, praised the work Turner is doing in providing basic skills to younger children.

“Because Turner has facilities, they can start children on a gymnastics program at a younger age than can the public school system,” she commented.

“We do lose some kids to the Turner program,” Theophilus continued, “but by and large we have a very cooperative relationship with Turner.

CHAPMAN was quick to add that Turner has turned out top rate male gymnasts also.

“In the past years, Turner has been involved with the Lowinski and Marti brothers. All of these athletes experienced state competition and they all started at Turner,” Chapman said.

Turner is able to offer its charges a chance to compete in meets where the gymnasts can qualify to compete in state and national Gymnastic Federation meets, which is the first step in qualifying for Pan-Am meets and the Olympics.

CHAPMAN a 1973 graduate of the University of Minnesota, oversees all athletic programs at Turner. Programs include the girls and boys competitive gymnastics teams, the tiny tots, women’s slimnastics classes, and men’s free exercise time.

Turner is a member of the Central Gymnastics Association,which has Continued 16 members all over the state. The competitive gymnastics teams from Turner compete with these teams throughout the year.

Last year the girls gymnastics team, under Chapman’s direction, brought home a third place trophy from the state meet.

TURNER’S GYMNASTICS program is funded by the United Way. It was the recipient of the single largest amount of pledges in the United Fund last year.

Turner received approximately $9,500 from the United Way and this fund is matched by the Turner organization itself, which pays for equipment, utilities, traveling expenses and gymnastic uniforms.

“The United Way contributes to Turner because this program is giving people in New Ulm something to work at and learn from,” Chapman said.

“That’s the basic principle behind the Turner idea – to work and compete with peers in the same gym in an effort to learn more about oneself.”

THE TURNER idea and basic philosophy developed over many years.

In November of 1856, a tiny village was struggling for survival. The village later became New Ulm. In order to provide unity and a oneness of purpose for the people, a Turnverein (Turner Society) was established.

Turner was to prove to be a vitally alive organization that affected the development of the whole community.

It was the Turnverein that established the first fire department in New Ulm, the first choir, and sponsored the first Boy Scout troop.

TURNER QUICKLY became the center of social and political life in New Ulm.

Turner facilities (designed by Julius Berndt, architect of the Hermann Monument) were used for school instruction, public meetings, law sessions and, above all, for athletic purposes.

In 1866 a school for gymnastics was established. It has remained at Turner to this day.

The Turner motto is: “A sound mind and a sound body.”

THE MOTTO and the implications behind it seem to be of great importance to parents who send their children to the Turner programs.

“I feel this is an excellent program,” said Gretchen Lorett, mother of 5-year-old Jacques.”It helps the children develop dexterity,coordination and cooperation. My husband and I are also avid supporters of the United Way and Turner is of course funded through the United Fund.”

Dark-haired Jacques conveyed his feelings by saying, “It’s really fun here but I work hard, too.”

JENNIFER KILLIBARDA, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Killibarda, said she comes to Turner “cuz this is my class.” Her favorite activities are jumping on the trampoline, and running on the balance beam, although she adds, “I can’t run real fast on it, ‘cuz I’m kinda little.”

Many of the parents indicated the importance of the program is primarily that it helps their children learn to cooperate with other children.

One mother simply said,”My daughter is so full of energy, it is imperative she find a release for it somewhere, and this is the perfect place.”

BASHFUL, PETITE Stacy Gustad, 3-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merton Gustad, is very precise as to why she attends classes at Turner.

“I like to do somersaults and I really like my teacher.”

The athletic program at Turner is a year long activity for children. It runs the nine months of the school year and is in session for six weeks of the summer.

New Ulm Daily Journal

Oct. 12, 1975