For Emily Studebaker, gymnastics has always been a lifelong passion.

Studebaker, a senior family and consumer sciences major, said she hasn’t competed in gymnastics since junior high school, but that hasn’t stopped her from passing down her love of the sport to a younger generation.

Studebaker became the non-competitive gymnastics and recreational tumbling coach at the Sun Elite Athletic Club in Charleston during the summer.

Studebaker said she was initially daunted by the challenge of training students who had little to no prior background in gymnastics.

She said this was not her first time teaching gymnastics.

Previously, Studebaker had instructed younger gymnasts while she was a junior in high school and carried over many teaching techniques to her job at Sun Elite.

“At first, I would plan three activities: warm up, conditioning, and stretching,” she said. “I used to plan a lot, now its gotten easier.”

Studebaker said she credits the skills she learned in her family and consumer sciences classes with helping her learn to be a more effective communicator with her youngest students.

“They’re still developing and learning,” Studebaker said. “You can’t ask them to do something, you have to tell them.”

Zac Lawson, owner of the Sun Elite Gymnastics Club, said Studebaker has become popular with both the parents and the students at the gym.

“She is very personable with everyone,” Lawson said. “She can relate to the students well.”

Studebaker said the commitment gymnastics requires becomes too burdensome for many of her students and most will choose to opt out of the program before advancing to a competitive level.

“Sometimes it gets too serious,” she said. “It takes a lot of time and that can take away from social time.”

Former gymnastics students still have several activities and programs they can turn their talents towards, Studebaker said.

“Usually their goal is to move up,” she said. “If they can’t move up they quit or move to tumbling or cheerleading.”

Lawson said many of Studebaker’s students have been showing signs of progress from when they first come to the gym.

“She either gets them (students) brand new or from the beginners class,” Lawson said. “One of her youngsters just moved up to the competitive level.”

Studebaker said she herself is thrilled when her students have developed and are ready to take gymnastics to a higher level.

Andrew Crivilare can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].