Exhibition Leotards — The exhibition leotards are in. If you have not picked yours up, please do so this week. We will use them for the upcoming show on Saturday, July 26, and gymnasts will use them at the AAU Junior Olympic Games later this month. Your child will not be issued her exhibition leotard if it has not yet been paid for.

Bethany Calvary Show — We have a show on Saturday, July 26 at Bethany Calvary United Methodist Church (7265 W. Center St., Milwaukee) during its Share Fair. Our show times are 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., both of which are a half hour each. For the first show, all Gold Bugs, Level 2 and Level 3 should attend. For the second show all boys, Level 4, Level 5, Level 6, Level 8 and Xcel should attend. This is a nice event as they have a lot going on, including a rock wall, face painting, a dunk tank, food and other festivities. Girls’ gymnasts should wear exhibition leotards, boys should wear a Wildcard t-shirt and black shorts.

As a result of this, girls’ Level 2 and 3 team gymnasts that come on Saturday will only stay until 10:30 a.m. and then head to the show. Xcel gymnasts will practice 9-11 a.m. on Saturday morning due to the afternoon show.

Costumes for AAU Junior Olympics Team Performances — For all Level 6-up gymnasts who are participating in the team performance, please bring in a set of old clothes that your gymnast can tumble in so we can “Zombify” them before we head for Des Moines. The clothes should be tones of black, gray, brown (not too colorful) if possible and something that will not impede their tumbling (i.e. – sweatpants, leggings, a long-sleeve t-shirt, etc). We will add holes, paint, and add dirt to them for our performance in Des Moines. Please be sure to bring something your child is OK with turning into a costume, as the “zombifying” effect will be permanent. Please bring these in on Monday, July 21 if possible, so we may prepare the Zombification. Also, Level 6-up gymnasts should arrive a bit early for the performance in Des Moines so we can apply the Zombie face paint.

Gymnasts in Level 2-4 will get a tie-dyed t-shirt (which we will provide) and should wear black leggings/shorts for the performance. Both sets of gymnasts should wear their exhibition leotard underneath their costumes. Gymnasts should also have their warm-ups for awards following the competition.

We will have our last rehearsal for these shows on Wednesday (for Levels 2-4) and Thursday (for Levels 6-up) during morning practice. Please have your gymnast at practice that morning if you are participating in the team performance.

AAU Junior Olympics Updated Schedule — Please click here for the most updated Junior Olympics Schedule. Times have only shifted by a few minutes. No other major changes were made.

Also, we have one gymnast, Chasity, who is wishing to stay through the end of the meet to stay for the team performance, but her mother can’t stay beyond Monday. If there is a family she can stay with to participate in the team performance, please connect with her or connect with someone at the gym to help make the arrangements.

Team Schedule Changes — With the show and AAU Junior Olympics coming up, we will have a few changes to the practice schedules. Those are:

Saturday, July 26 — Girls’ Level 2-3 and Fast Track will practice only until 10:30 a.m. and will then head to the show. Xcel practice from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. so they may be able to participate in the show. Boys’ practice will be unaffected as they will participate in the later show.

Monday, July 28 and Tuesday, July 29 — There will be no changes to practice, just note that some groups may be combined due to size since many kids will be in Des Moines. Level 8-up gymnasts, this will be a very small practice. Please let us know if you will not be in attendance as we will cancel if no one is going to show up.

Wednesday, July 30 — There will be no morning practice for any level and Level 3, 3/4 and 4 will not practice that evening as well because most of the gymnasts and all of the coaches will be at AAU Junior Olympics.  Xcel WILL have practice on July 30 at its regular time.

U.S. Classic — This is the LAAAAAAST call for U.S. Classic Tickets. If you want to go, please let us know by Monday. The cost for tickets is $25 per person. The meet is Saturday, August 2 in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Tosa’s Night Out — Wildcard Gymnastics’ next show is Tosa’s Night Out at Charles Hart Park in Wauwatosa (5.8 mi., 11 min. | MAP) on Tuesday, August 5. Please mark your calendars.