Posted on 12/17/2004 10:07:41 AM PST by Lost Highway
Gymnastics is a sport of strength and flexibility. It’s also a sport that's only offered to girls in area high schools. However, a young man from Stevens Point is fighting to change that.
The WIAA has rules in place that prohibit boys and girls from competing on the same team.
One aspiring gymnast in our area is fighting to become an exception to that rule. SPASH junior Keith Bukowski has been studying gymnastics for five years. His school doesn't have a boy’s gymnastics team, so he practices with the girl’s gymnastics team every day, but when they head to meets this season, Keith won't be allowed to compete.
"Based on the number of teams, girls are an under represented gender, so until the numbers get closer, we do not want boys to displace girls from a competitive environment," says Doug Chickering, Executive Director, WIAA.
Keith's coach says she knows how much he wants to compete, but her hands are tied.
"I went to the athletic director who went to WIAA and that’s the answer we were given. We relayed the info, it’s not my call or the athletic director's call," says Jill Suchowski, SPASH gymnastics head coach.
Keith's mom says barring him from competition is unlawful under Title Nine. That's a federal act that says no one should be excluded based on sex from any educational program.
She's already contacted the Federal Youth Department of Instruction and says she'll take it all the way the Supreme Court if she has to.
"If my son graduated and went off to college, I’m not gonna stop this fight," Janine Olszewski says.
"I just think its absolutely unfair that girls can do guys’ sports and guys can't do girls’, my ability may not be up to compete, but I at least want the chance to try," adds Keith Bukowski, male gymnast.
For now, Keith says he'll keep practicing with the girls' team, and even if he can't change the WIAA’s mind, the experience will prepare him to join a men's team when he goes off to college in a couple of years.
Poofter.
Call me when they have coed showers....
::coughcoughqueerbaitcoughcough::
LOL!
Funny. I'll use that in the future! Cracked me up.
He just wants to go to the practices.
What is next? Co ed Wrestling???!!!
If girls can play on boys' teams, why not?
Gymnastic events are different for men and women.
I dont think you'd want coed wrestling. Those would be some BIG GIRLS. Of course, there's always the petite league.
I'm ALL for that, as long as she don't weigh over 130 lbs!
A word of advice, son: Stay off the balance beam.
Sauce for the Goose Bump.
Ok, so Constitution Day can't cough on you than. :P
Title IX has ended men's gymnastic programs all across the country.
LOL!
Any woman I wrestle has to be HOT and under 130 lbs! HAHA!
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