(WBBM NEWSRADIO) --High school boys gymnastics teams are rallying as they wait to hear about the future of their sport with the Illinois High School Association.
IHSA members are expected to decide on June 12 whether boys gymnastics will continue despite not having the required number of teams participating.
CJ Patton, the new president of the IL High School Gymnastics Coaches Association and an assistant coach at Fremd, said they’re hopeful about the future.
"We've got a lot of verbal support from different athletic directors and principals that say, regardless of the decision, they are willing to keep their gymnastics program, so that has been super encouraging to hear."
He said the state finals earlier this month - a tournament that would go away without IHSA support - were very positive.
"Even though the situation feels dire, having the community kind of rally and come together was really inspiring."
Patton believes among the options are IHSA could give them more time to recruit or move gymnastics from spring to the fall so it doesn’t conflict with club season.
Several administrators have committed to keeping their programs regardless of what the association does, he said.
Ahead of the IHSA meeting, Patton and other coaches plan to share more than 200 letters from athletes talking about how important the sport is to them.
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