Sports Department
Coach Kira Vercruyssen, Program Head 2011 Sport Events Schedule 2012 Sport Events Schedule
"Welcome to the Sports Department! It is my job to oversee the competitive sport team programs at the Academy. We have had a rich history of unique levels of participation with players age 2-97 years and abilities ranging from remedial to world champion performers. Our players have competed all over the world and have involved local residents with no previous experience in our friendly competitions that often include international visitors. I think you will enjoy your experience in this small but involved unit of our school. With about 40 players we represent three percent (3%) of the total enrollment of the Academy. However, some of our players train six days per week about five hours per day. Because the booster organizations supporting our players run our competitions and fundraisers for equipment maintenance our activities are felt by everyone in the school. Thank you in advance for all that you do to help our sport programs and the department in which they exist to thrive and grow.'
Currently we have four gymnastics sport disciplines each with a program head and each divided into several teams with a head coach and volunteer manager for each team:
TRAMPOLINE GYMNASTICS (Program Head: Coach Kira Vercruyssen) -- Individual & Synchronized Tramp, Dbl Mini-Tramp, Power Tumb
Compulsory (State) Teams (USAG Level 1-7; Coach Shane Doi & Manager Summer Johnston)
Optional (Traveling) Teams (USAG Levels 8-10; Coach Kira Vercruyssen & Manager Dr Shari Fong)
Adult & College Teams (All Abilities; Coach Dr Donna Mah & Manager TBN)
Kupuna (Elder) Teams (All Abilities; Coach Tutu Joan Kufferath + Tutu Jeanne Ajitomi & Manager Jean Morrison)
Elite Teams (FIG & USAG Levels 11-12; Coach Dr Max Vercruyssen & Manager David Paul)
WOMEN'S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS (Program Head: Coach Kira Vercruyssen) -- Vault, Uneven Bars, Balance Beam, Floor Exercise
Compulsory Teams (USAG Levels 4-6; Coach Kira Vercruyssen & Manager TBN)
Optional Teams (USAG Levels 7-10; Coach Kira Vercruyssen & Manager Shelly Miyasato)
MIXED GYMNASTICS (Program Head: Coach Scott Ryan) -- Players who compete in Tramp & Artistic Gymnastic (plus other disciplines)
USAG Athlete Members of Both Disciplines (Coach Kira Vercruyssen & Coach Zach Giano & Manager TBN)
CIRQUE GYMNASTICS (Program Head: Coach Shane Doi) -- Exhibition teams that become talented in delivering 1-7 min performances
Following our mission statement, HA sport teams promote lifetime fitness for members of ALL ages and abilities! Our teams emphasize LIFE LESSONS more than winning championships!
Reorganization Planned for 2012: The HA Sports Department will be closing in 2012 and the sport teams will be administered as rental contracts through the Special Events and Programs Department. By the end of 2011 the trampoline teams will compete under the name Hawaii Trampoline and Tumbling (except the teams overseen by Dr Max Vercruyssen: elite/international teams and the adult/kupuna teams who will remain under the name Hawaii Academy; the collegiate teams will compete under the name Hawaii as an all-stars assembly of all collegiate institutions in Hawaii and elsewhere). The artistic gymnastics teams will compete under the name Zero Gravity (levels 3-10 overseen by Coach Kira Vercruyssen with Coaches Zach Giano and Scott Ryan) and Artistik Gymnastics Hawaii (levels 3-8 overseen by Coach David Wilson). Each of the teams competing under separate names will have their own USA-Gymnastics club membership and general liability insurance. They will collect tuition to pay their coaches and rental of space, time, and equipment at HA. The Academy eagerly anticipates this transition because it opens opportunities for a variety of groups to rent the facility, compete under their own banners, and co-operate synergistically. Cheer, martial arts, cirque, and other gymnastics teams/groups are welcome to train at HA. Contact Dr Max for additional information. [All team members will continue as HA members (but will pay tuition to their team management), participate in HA fitness testing, and be welcome at all HA functions, but when competing they represent their own banner and not HA.]
Please go to the Sport Teams horizontal tab above and read about each team program. The most celebrated gymnast in the history of the sport in Hawaii has been Nani Vercruyssen. The link to her website appears at the bottom of the sport programs menu.