Competitive Teams

Our DP (Developmental Program) Team is for young girls between the ages of 6 and 18 years old with a high level of dedication to the sport, positive attitude, exceptional athletic ability and demonstrated desire to learn and succeed in gymnastics. We hope our talented young ladies enjoy the years of rigorous training, and feel a great pride for Mini-Hops each time they compete with us.

The Mini-Hops Team Program is dedicated to providing the coaching excellence required to develop an array of individual and group characteristics among its team gymnasts. In teaching and conditioning our young people to execute great athletic skills, we strive also to:

• Create a powerful sense of pride and self-confidence
• Develop a strong sense of team and a genuine, open support for others to do well
• Develop the ability to challenge one’s self and focus on achieving one’s personal best
• Develop happy, healthy, athletes with strong gymnastics technique and skill
• Cultivate a good-sport attitude including personal grace in the face of disappointment and gratitude when accepting awards for great success
• Recognize, enjoy and celebrate successes big and small
• Respect organized gymnastics and the traditions of the institution
• Teach respect for teammates, coaches, Mini-Hops staff and families
• Build life-long friendships and family connections
• Learn life skills such as time management, self discipline, and healthy living
• Create mentally and physically well prepared gymnasts

To be considered, athletes must be enrolled in a MHG recreational class or coming from another competitive program.

If you would like more information regarding our Girl’s Developmental Program, please contact Co-Directors Paula Rawlings or Kristin Wemm at: paula.rawlings@mini-hops.com or kristin.wemm@mini-hops.com.

The Mini-Hops Boys (DP) Developmental Program Team is for boys between the ages of 6 and 18 years old with a high level of dedication to the sport of gymnastics and their team. The majority of the Boys Competitive Team comes from the Mini-Hops Pre-Team Program, but we also welcome any gymnast to try out for our program.

The Mini-Hops Boys Team staff is dedicated to teaching safe, progression-based gymnastics where a Boy’s Team member can:

• • Develop strong gymnastic technique and skill
  • Develop dedication to not only a sport, but to a team
  • Strive for mastery and understanding of progression in skills
  • Recognize challenges and work towards overcoming them, whether it is fear based or achieving a hard to reach skill
  • Develop life skills such as time management, work ethic, healthy eating, self-discipline, and teamwork
  • Build life long friendships with teammates and coaches
  • Create a sense of self worth and self-confidence
  • Create a sense of pride for a team and support for team members
  • Teach respect for the sport, teammates, and coaches
  • Encourage a graceful reaction to disappointment and humble acceptance of success
  • Create mentally and physically well prepared gymnasts that compete well

If you have any questions, please contact Kostya Kolesnikov, Boys Team Head Coach at kostya.kolesnikov@mini-hops.com.

Our newest competitive program, this team is a year-round, co-ed team for those kids that want to fly high. We are a newer gymnastic discipline, and of our four events, currently only Individual Trampoline is an Olympic event. (The others are Synchronized Trampoline, Double-Mini Trampoline, and Tumbling.) Although a Develpment Program (DP) team that could lead to national and international competition, training hours are similar to our Xcel program, allowing our athletes to more easily participate in other sports and activities if they wish.

If you would like more information about our Trampoline & Tumbling Development Program Team, please contact Aaron Vanderwall at: Aaron.Vanderwall@Mini-Hops.com

The Xcel program is a year-round, invitation-only competitive team that follows USA Gymnastics rules, and  provides athletes of varying abilities and commitment levels the opportunity to compete. This program is geared towards athletes who participate in other sports/activities, as the training hours are less than that of the DP Team and offer more individual flexibility to its athletes. The Xcel program is mostly comprised of athletes from the MHG Pre-Competitive team. In addition, the Xcel team can be a stepping stone into the DP program for those who want to dedicate more time to the sport. There are six different levels of Xcel: Bronze being the novice, then progressing upward in skill level to Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire.

If you would like more information regarding our Xcel Program, please contact Keyla Hughes at Keyla.hughes@mini-hops.com

Special Olympics Gymnastics Competitive Team (SOMN)

The MHG Special Olympics Gymnastics Competitive Team provides athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete through Special Olympics Minnesota in a structured and supportive gymnastics environment. Participation is open to individuals eight years of age and older who are registered with Special Olympics Minnesota. There is no maximum age limit for participation.

Female athletes may compete in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Artistic Gymnastics, or both, while male athletes compete in Artistic Gymnastics.

Our SOMN Team Program is designed for athletes who demonstrate dedication, a positive attitude, and a desire to learn and grow in the sport of gymnastics. Athletes train in a positive team environment where they build confidence, develop gymnastics skills, and form meaningful friendships with teammates and coaches.

The program is offered free of charge thanks to the support of MHG’s Polar Plunge fundraising efforts. It is coached and managed by a dedicated team of community volunteers who are committed to helping athletes reach their personal best while promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and lifelong skills.

For more information about the SOMN Program, please contact:
Michaela Chelberg
michaela.chelberg@mini-hops.com

HUGS Competitive Team Program

The MHG HUGS Competitive Team Program provides athletes with all classes of special needs (intellectual, physical, visual, etc) the opportunity to train and compete alongside typical gymnasts in an official USA Gymnastics setting. Athletes learn and perform the fundamental skills of gymnastics while being evaluated using technical gymnastics standards within a supportive and inclusive team environment. 

Our trained coaches make appropriate adaptations to meet the unique needs of each athlete.

The MHG HUGS Program includes the following competitive disciplines:
• Artistic Gymnastics (Men & Women)
• Rhythmic Gymnastics (Women)
• Trampoline & Tumbling (Co-ed)
• Gymnastics for All (Co-ed)

For more information and tuition pricing, please contact:
Michaela Chelberg
michaela.chelberg@mini-hops.com

The Performance Team is a co-ed group of athletes who perform exciting and dazzling routines at local and private events.  The goal of this team is to develop and progress skills in dance and rhythm, acrobatic/tumbling, theater and various stage performances while learning life lessons along the way.  We will use these skills to learn routines to perform for different occasions throughout the year.  This may include recitals, sporting events, community gatherings, and other fun and exciting venues.  The doors and windows of opportunity are wide open due to the eclectic genres we explore.  It is a great opportunity to gain experience in performance, team bonding/building, gain confidence and strength inside and outside of oneself.

If you would like more information regarding our Performance Team auditions, visit our Performing Arts page or please contact Raye Kennedy at: raye.kennedy@mini-hops.com

Mini-Hops Gymnastics Pre-Competitive (Pre-Comp) Program is an invitation only, accelerated learning program offered to selected students from our recreational program(s) that have shown special aptitude or ability in the sport of gymnastics and have a desire to invest further in their gymnastics training. The objective is to provide a more wide-ranging exposure to gymnastics skill building and knowledge, build confidence in each athlete and prepare each of them for a place in a Mini-Hops Pre-Comp Competitive Team program.

There are two levels of participation in the Pre-Comp program. Athletes starting in the program will practice twice per week for two hours each practice (4 hours per week) then move to three times per week for two hours each practice (6 hours per week) as they progress through the program.

If you would like more information regarding our Girl’s Pre-Comp Program, please contact Ricia Weber at: ricia.oswald@mini-hops.com

This is a two-level program for young boys with a higher level of athletic ability, concentration, dedication, and a fearless personality. These young boys want to learn gymnastics at a fast pace while starting to condition their bodies with strength and flexibility training. The two levels are Boys Elite (Ages 4-5) and Boys Training Team (Ages 5-7). These boys are chosen from either Mini-Hops pre-school programs or recreational programs with the expectation to compete for the Mini-Hops Boys Team after training appropriately.

For more information please contact Kostya Kolesnikov, Boys Team Head Coach  at kostya.kolesnikov@mini-hops.com.

Mini Hops Gymnastics offers “Open Training” for athletes who have big gym experience and would like extra time to work on skills mostly independent, but can request assistance from the instructor, if needed.  This is a 90-minute invite only training time to be used by the more serious athletes with specific objectives and skills to train. Open Training is only offered to skill-focused approved athletes in upper-level classes, adult classes and the following teams; Special Olympics, Xcel/DP, Boys, and Tramp & Tumbling team. Upon entering the gym, approved and registered, athletes should check-in with the instructor to review the rules and the apparatus available, as it varies from week to week. Athletes must be able to follow safety protocols set by coaches independently.