Clock is currently counting down to 12:01 a.m. May 19, 2012
Hosted by Gym City Gymnastics and Tumbling!

Sign up for Spring session NOW! Spring session is currently in session!

Gym Closings 2012-2013

About Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC

Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC was founded in 2006 by Jacob Huff and Zeke Cernea with the help of Quincy Businessman Jeff Bunch. After being in the gym from a very young age, followed by years of coaching at Quincy Gymnastics, Jacob and Zeke realized that they had a strong passion for working with children and coaching gymnastics and tumbling. In order for Jacob and Zeke to pursue this passion, Randy Parrish passed down the torch after 23 years of ownership and coaching at Quincy Gymnastics. With hard work and strong motivation Jacob and Zeke plan to further Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC as well as the lives of children in the surrounding communities.

Mission Statement

At Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC our goal is to provide every child with a healthy and positive environment in order for them to achieve their personal goals in gymnastics and tumbling, as well as to meet personal goals in their everyday lives. With a professionally trained staff, we strive to make sure that every child is granted equal opportunities in the sport of gymnastics. Safety is a number one priority at Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC. Our faculty and staff are trained so that every parent can feel one hundred percent at ease when they place their children in one of our programs. We also want to make it our priority to make sure that every child achieves one of their personal goals before they leave one of our programs, whether it is in gymnastics or another activity that they are involved in.

Classes offered at Gem City Gymnastics
Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC offers classes for students ages 18 months and up, in the following categories and skill levels:

Preschool classes

Kinder Tots
This class is designed to help toddlers 18 months to 2 years with hand-eye coordination, social skills, and motor skills.  At least one parent must be present and participate in the class.  Every class period holds its own theme to help make the class more fun.

Kinder Gym
These classes are for children three years to five years of age.  With weekly themes put in place to enable the comprehension of gymnastics skills, this class is focused on the most basic of gymnastics skills. 

Gymnastics Classes

Level 1
No experience required.  Girls age 6-10.  Vault, bars, beam, and floor are the events of focus during this one hour class.  Once a cartwheel, roundoff, and handstand are mastered, you are able advance to level 2.

Level 2
With successful completion of level one, or prior experience, this level focuses on bars, beam, vault, and floor.  This one hour and 15 minute class works the most on pullovers (bars), back bend kickovers, and cartwheels and handstands on balance beam.  Once these are mastered, then you move to level 3.

Level 3
With successful completion on level 2 or with prior experience, this one hour 30 minute class prepares girls for the pre team level.  All four events are practiced.

Pre Team
Successful completion of level 3 and/or by Invitation only

Fast Tracks
By invitation only

Gymnastics Team
Successful completion of Pre Team and/or Invitation only.

Tumbling Classes

Beginning Tumbling
This class is designed for boys and girls age 6-10 that are interested in tumbling.  This 45 minute class focuses on cartwheels, rounoffs, and handstands.  When these skills are mastered, then you can advance to prep tumbling.

Prep Tumbling
This one hour class is designed for boys and girls who have successfully completed beginning tumbling or who have prior experience.  The focus of this class is to master a back handspring.   When one back handspring is completed, then two and three are also practiced.  When a running roundoff with three connected back handsprings are completed, then an invitation to our competitive tumbling team is offered.

Pre Tumbling Team
By invitation only

Tumbling Team
Successful completion of prep tumbling and/or by invitation only.

Beginning/Advanced Cheer Tumbling
This one hour class is designed for the junior high/high school age boys and girls who are interested in tumbling.  Beginning tumbling focuses on back handsprings and you must have a cartwheel, roundoff, and handstand to join the class.  After you have a back handspring without a spot, then you move to the advanced class.

About Our Facility

The Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC facility is the premier gymnastics and tumbling facility in the tri-state region. The Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC gym itself is a 16,000 square foot air-conditioned facility with AAI equipment specific for training of each event and other mats used for drills and exercises to learn specific skills.In addition, Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC offers the area's only in-ground foam training pit - measuring 24 feet x 22 feet!

Inside the gymnastics training area, there is a balcony viewing area for parents, with a seating area below the balcony for those that are unable to climb the steps manageably. Here parents are able to watch their children during classes and can see their children improve and learn.

Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC also has a pro/gift shop in the office of the gymnastics center where parents or students can purchase leotards, apparel, and other gymnastics/tumbling-related merchandise.

About the Staff

Zeke Cernea Owner/ Head Coach Hi, my name is Zeke and I am co-owner and co-head coach at Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC. I have been in the gym since I was eight years old. After many years of training and competing in the sport of tumbling, I decided I wanted to pass on what I had learned by coaching. I have spent a very large amount of time learning to coach through national congresses, my own coach, and other experienced coaches in the fields of gymnastics and tumbling. I have also spent much of my time educating myself in the sport, and will always continue to learn more about working with children as well as coaching gymnastics and tumbling. I am a certified coach through the United States Tumbling and Trampoline Association. I am also certified through the Amateur Athletic Union. On another note, I am also happily married to my wife Katie. I love being in the gym and being around the kids who come to the gym. The adrenaline rush I get from the sport never gets old. I look forward to contributing to both the sport and the lives of children everyday.

Jacob Huff Owner/ Head Coach Hi, my name is Jacob and I am co-owner and co-head coach at Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC. I have been at the gym since I was three years old. I competed and trained in the sport of tumbling, and was excited to become a coach when I got older. I was educated in coaching through my own coach, national congresses, and other coaches in the field of gymnastics. I have spent a lot of time educating myself about gymnastics and tumbling, and am always ready to learn more. I am a certified coach through U.S.A Gymnastics. Being in the gym and working with the kids is always exciting and I love to do it. I have been in the gym my whole life and cannot imagine it being any other way. Working with kids and contributing to the sport of gymnastics is a goal that I strive for everyday.

Gem City Gymnastics FAQ

1. Does Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling have competitive teams?
We offer the chance to compete with one of two competitive teams. We have a competitive gymnastics team and a competitive tumbling team. To be on a team there are required skills that must be met. Whether those skills were acquired at another gym or at our gym does not matter. As long as you have the ability and you are interested in trying out for team, then an appointment is made to determine whether or not you can be on the competitive team. We do compete regularly. Each team competes in more than ten competitions per year.

2. What does my child wear to class?
A t-shirt and shorts are fine. However, we do prefer leotards for girls. You can purchase leotards in our pro shop or in any other retail store. Your child will take off their shoes and socks. No jewelry is allowed. Hair must be pulled back so there are no distractions. Please do not wear jeans or any other kind of “street clothing” to class.

3. Where is Gem City Gymnastics & Tumbling?
Our address is 2010 Jennifer lane. We are located off of north 18th street in Quincy, Illinois. As you go north on 18th street you will go through intersections on Chestnut Street and again on Locust Street. After the intersection of 18th and Locust you will come to a four-way intersection. You can take a right at this intersection (it will be labeled Seminary Road). Go down the short road and you will come to a large building that says “Gymnastics” on the side.

4. What if my child misses a class?
There are only two make-up classes allowed per year. There is one make-up allowed for the fall session and one make-up allowed in the spring session. You must schedule this make-up class by contacting the office.

5. Does your gym offer private lessons?
We do offer private lessons. To schedule a private lesson call our office at (217)224-8491.

6. Do you offer birthday parties?
We do offer birthday parties. To the left you will see a link that says “birthday parties.” All of the information you will need will be under this tab.

7. How do the children advance onto the next level?
For each level there are certain skills that must be mastered in order to advance to the next level. Each coach is focusing their lesson plans around those skills. Your child advances to the next level by mastering those skills needed. We give evaluations the week before registration starts for the next session. This way all parents are aware of which class will best suit their children for the following session.

8. When are your sessions scheduled?
We run three sessions. We have a fall session, a spring session, and a summer session. The fall session is always 16 weeks and runs the middle/end of August to the middle of December. The spring session is always 19 weeks running from the beginning of January to the middle/end of May. The summer session is always ten weeks and runs from the beginning of June to the middle/end of August. Registration for each session usually begins within 30-45 days of the session start date. There are three-eight days that the gym is closed in between each session.