Among them was 80-year-old Bill Worley, who was attending his 14th Turnfest, and started doing gymnastics when he was 5 years old.

“Every year is different,” he said. “And every year I’m four years older, so so far I’ve enjoyed it. From 1967-1973, I taught at the tournament. When I first came here, they didn’t do a lot of traveling.”

Worley does a lot of work in between Turnfests in order to stay in shape.

“I run Monday, Wednesday, Friday,” Worley said. “Seven miles to 10 every day. I lift weights Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for an hour, and Sundays I go for a five-mile walk.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Brandon Smith of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, competes on the still rings during the Turnfest men’s gymnastics event Friday at the Turner Gymnastics Academy Facility inside the New Ulm Rec Center.

There were plenty of newer faces at the competition as well, such as Brandon Smith from the Milwaukee Turners, who was attending his first Turnfest.

“I actually enjoy it,” Smith said. “I really appreciate the opportunity to come out and do some of the gymnastics stuff in a competitive and regional level, so I really do enjoy the aspect of this, being able to test myself and see where I’m at, because I started gymnastics two years ago.”

While the senior group wasn’t able to do the same flips and stunts that the younger competitors were, they still found a way to compete, with some choosing to dance or do pushups on the tumbling mat, much to the amusement of the audience.

Turnfest continues Saturday, with the awards ceremony being held 6 p.m. at Turner Hall.