University of Virginia Library

Gym Team Expands

By Bill Nachman
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Sporting a festive air and proud
owners of a new name, the Virginia
Circus Troupe (formerly the
Gymnastics Club) has been keeping
itself active throughout the winter.

Instigator of these changes was
coach Tom Trimble, a student in
graduate education. Being a star
gymnast at Springfield (Mass.)
College and earning a spot as
alternate on the 1964 Olympic
squad, helped provide experience
for the revival of gymnastics and
related sports at the University.

This past winter Mr. Trimble
entered a squad in five gymnastics
meets. Victories included whipping
College of William & Mary and
Montgomery College (Rockville,
Md.), while the team tasted defeat
at the hands of UNC, W&M, and
VPI. Co-captains were Rich Lutz,
who specialized in tumbling and
parallel bars, and Tom Riley, who
performed on the rings and atop
the horizontal bar.

"In gymnastic competition this
was the best showing Virginia had
in many years," said Mr. Trimble,"
and two victories sure is better than
none. But in the area of
competition we could use some
more manpower."

Circus acts have been added to
provide a balanced effect to the
troupe (thus the name change).
Unicycles, high bars, juggling, and
trampoline all have been
inaugurated. "We even have a vector
board (where contestants go about
20 feet in the air and do backward
somersaults) for those who want to
fly without other detrimental
help," Mr. Trimble said.

Recently a group of Troupe
members performed at several
elementary schools in the
Charlottesville area. Tomorrow
night a full exhibition will be put
on for the entertainment of the
students at St. Anne's, local girls'
boarding school.

Next Sunday the local cable
television station (Channel 10) has
invited Mr. Trimble to bring a
group of his acrobats to appear
before their cameras for the
enjoyment of Central Virginia
viewers. "There is a chance," said
Mr. Trimble, "that the Troupe will
be on the air regularly to give basic
instruction in how to do the
different gymnastic and acrobatic
events."

"Home Show"

Later in the semester the Troupe
will sponsor a 'Home Show' at the
Memorial Gymnasium, site of their
home meets and practices. This
'Show' will indeed be a true circus
with unicycles, high bar, juggling,
and other acts one would expect to
see billed under Barnum and
Bailey's banner. The May 7
performance is open both to the
University community and to the
residents of Charlottesville and
adjoining Albemarle County.