The YMCA of Greater Brandywine will welcome more than 200 gymnasts from across the state to the 2022 YMCA Pennsylvania State Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3. This meet will be the first one held in the new Donna Watters Training Center located at the Oscar Lasko YMCA in downtown West Chester.  

“We are honored to host this competition and it is especially meaningful as it is our first meet in our new training center,” says Donna Watters, the coach for which the center is named. 

The Oscar Lasko YMCA gymnastics’ team, the GYMCATs, will have nearly fifty athletes between the ages of 11 – 18 represented in the competition. The GYMCATS is a competitive gymnastics team where members can develop their skills and abilities while competing in meets. Recreational and preschool programs are also available.  

“These competitions allow our gymnasts to challenge themselves and compete against some of the most talented athletes in the state,” said Watters. “We have seven graduating seniors this year, so hosting the meet at our new training facility is so much more meaningful. They’re a strong and dedicated group of young athletes and we’re thrilled to help them end their GYMCATs career with a sense of normalcy. They deserve it.”  

Watters, who founded the GYMCATs program and has dedicate more than thirty-five years to its growth, retired as the program director in 2018. The new training center was dedicated in her name in early 2022. She remains connected to the team as a coach.  

For more information about the YMCA Gymnastics program visit ymcagbw.org/gymnastics or contact Megan Hartman, gymnastics director at mhartman@ymcagbw.org.