Gym stimulates minds, friendships

A physically fit student is a mentally sharp student who performs better in the classroom. That is the motive behind Arizona Virtual Academy's weekly visits to the Jump Up Gym.

Yet the aim for gym outings is not only fitness but fellowship, says teacher Jena Kugel.

Kugel, who teaches at the online public school, is a strong advocate for maintaining a rigorous physical routine.  

"If a student is sluggish and does not exercise, he or she will more than likely have a hard time being motivated to study," she said. "But the converse is also true. Active students are easier to engage in lessons."

AZVA is a Tucson-based online charter school. There are 120 teachers for 4,000 students in the state. Kugel teaches 72 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, with 55 of those students in Yuma County.

Jump Up is a "power tumbling" gym that has different equipment than a traditional gym but is based on similar skills aimed to increase agility, said Delmer Wentzel, owner and director.

But instead of the traditional parallel bars, pommel horse, balance beam and gym rings, the gym mainly relies upon a "pit-set" trampoline and a "double-mini" trampoline.

"They're not like a backyard trampoline," Wentzel said. "It's sunken into the floor and the advantage is it's a lot safer and makes kids feel secure because you're not three feet in the air and there's nothing to fear when you look below."

Also, rod-floors with high-strength plastic rods beneath thick foam mats provide additional cushioning. Other equipment such as cheese wedges, doughnuts and rodeo barrels - all padded apparatus - is intended to help with back hand springs and back flips and increase an athlete's flexibility.

Rob Spiewak, one of four Jump Up coaches, said once students get through basic skills such as the seat drop, doggie drop, pike and tuck, he looks forward to promoting them through their intermediate and advanced exercises.

"I started gymnastics late in high school and I love the upper body strength it gives you," Spiewak said. "When I see a kid perform a skill properly, it gives you a good feeling as a coach because then you can take a kid up to the next level."

Isabella Wentzel, 13, is one of the AZVA students who performs competitively and assists Spiewak with the other students.

"The tricks I do are totally fun. I focus on my routine, a lot of flips without breaks," Isabella said.  

John McLaren, 13, one the AZVA beginning students, says he likes learning back flips on the trampoline.

"It's fun, very energetic and it keeps me more alert in class," John said.