By Cary Shuman
Yellow Jackets Gymnastics is emerging as the hub of the universe for aspiring gymnasts across the North Shore.
Carrie Clarke, business manager at the well-known facilities owned by former U.S. Olympian Peter Kormann, said more than 1,400 girls and boys participate in gymnastics at Yellow Jackets each week. Several high school teams also host their meets at the facility.
One of the Lynn gymnasts training at Yellow Jackets Danvers/Peabody is Makayla Lewis, daughter of Lynn Tech Hall of Fame inductee Sandra Lewis and former Tech star athlete Eddie Lewis.
A student at Lynn Classical High School where she is a member of the track team, Makayla began her involvement in gymnastics as a teenager.
Sandra Lewis said her daughter now enjoys gymnastics as a regular recreational activity.
“Yellow Jackets has shown her that it is never too late to go after your dreams,” said Lewis. “She started gymnastics late in life but she has already learned so much. She has done things at the gym that she could never do and the sport has given her much more confidence.”
Lewis said the staff at Yellow Jackets is highly professional and dedicated to helping each gymnast maximize their skills.
“The staff at Yellow Jackets is extremely caring and will do whatever it takes to help the kids achieve their goal,” said Lewis. “They take the time to help each child develop their skill and motivate them to be the best person they could be.”
Lewis said her daughter is making the athletic Lewis family proud.
“As a mother I could not be more proud of Makayla. She is an amazing young woman and I cannot wait to see where her future takes her.”
Clarke said that Yellow Jackets Gymnastics has been operating for 30 years, with Kormann, a former U.S. Olympic medalist, taking ownership six years ago.
“Peter has coached a couple of Olympic teams and he moved his family to the North Shore,” said Clarke, a former athlete at Marblehead High School.
Clarke said gymnasts at the center range in age from 18 months through high school and college.
“With our new location on Route 1, we’re starting to get more gymnasts from Lynn, Saugus, and Revere,” said Clarke.
One of Clarke’s favorite gymnasts is Lynn’s Makayla’s Lewis.
“Makayla came to Yellow Jackets in 2014 and had never taken gymnastics. That girl has come in and she works so hard on the in-house team. She is such a great role model for the kids. We love having her here.”
Yellow Jackets business manager Carrie Clarke, Makayla Lewis and her mother, Sandra Lewis.