When you want the Ultimate Experience for your child, come to Ultimate Gymnastics!
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Article in the -Trib Live - Westmoreland Plus Sunday Paper Februray 19, 2023
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/coach-shares-love-of-gymnastics/
Delmont coach shares her love of gymnastics
By: Ray Fisher
Monday, February 20, 2023 | 10:11 AM
Renee Ruggeri has coached gymnastics for nearly 40 years.
Renee Ruggeri, the original and sole owner of Ultimate Gymnastics in Delmont, has devoted almost her entire life to the sport she loves.
She went from a hall-of-fame gymnastics career to a hall-of-fame coaching career.
“The success I have had in my almost 40 years of coaching has been aided by the countless friends and families that have helped me, supported me and put up with me for all this time,” Ruggeri said. “No one can do this alone, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people and touched so many lives.
“I cannot imagine gymnastics not being part of my life. I think I have tried to make decisions throughout my career that benefit the kids.”
The former WPIAL and state individual champion began participating in gymnastics at age 4 and went on to compete in high-level USGF, WPIAL and state competitions.
Ruggeri was a decorated gymnast at Baldwin from 1979-83, where she was a two-time state champion on the uneven bars, two-time WPIAL winner on the balance beam and bars, and earned a WPIAL title on the floor in her junior season.
Ruggeri, whose maiden name is Baumann, suffered a back injury as a senior but still qualified for the state finals in two events.
After a successful stint as at Division I gymnast at Clarion, where she majored in math and specialized in the bars and beam events, Ruggeri returned to Baldwin as an assistant under her high school coach, Bill Erdos.
At Clarion, she also was involved in musicals and the show choir and volunteered as an English tutor and gymnastics coach.
Ruggeri took over as head coach at Baldwin from 1988-96, guiding the Highlanders to a state championship in 1994 and to three consecutive WPIAL team titles from 1994-96.
She was inducted into the Baldwin High School Sports Hall of Fame as a gymnast and as a coach.
“My son was born in 1995,” Ruggeri said, “and I judged high school gymnastics for a few years after that. I stopped coaching for a few years, (then) moved to Lower Burrell in 2004 when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, who is now a senior at Burrell. I coached at the YMCA and was head coach of the team from 2005 until 2007.”
The tireless and dedicated Ruggeri, who recently celebrated her 58th birthday and works for BNY Mellon as a senior systems support engineer, opened Ultimate Gymnastics in October 2007 and observed a 15th anniversary as owner in the fall.
“I decided it was time to do it or quit thinking about it,” Ruggeri said. “I had a good core group of girls and parents at the YMCA who were ready to move on and make it happen. Some of them are still around today coaching and supporting me. I have had a lot of good and bad advice and people thought I was crazy for opening a gym.
“I have several coaches and many junior class coaches. Team coaches include Leanne Kardos, a former gymnast and a friend for more 40 years; Cheyenne Rothholz; Andy Cox, a friend for more than 30 years; Gina Batiz, a former gymnast and original team member; Abby Mossing, another former gymnast; Jacki Kmetz; and Staci Kmetz.”
One of the top gymnasts at Ultimate is 14-year-old freshman Olivia Kovach, an independent competitor for Mt. Pleasant who has attained USAG Level 9 status. She competes all-around, participating on the balance beam, floor exercise, parallel bars and vault, and has been an annual USAG state competitor.
“Renee is a great coach, and I love being able to be one of her competitors,” Kovach said. “She makes practice fun even if I have a rough day. She pushes me to always do my best. I have only been a competitor with Ultimate and want to finish my senior year with her.”
Ultimate offers USAG competitive gymnastics for levels 2 to 10 and XCEL levels, recreation gymnastics for all levels, gymnastics classes, tumbling classes, preschool programs, mommy and me programs and instruction for WPIAL high school independents.
“We’re looking to expand, actually,” Ruggeri said.
Ruggeri also has coached the Burrell gymnastics program for four years.
“We have a small team, but they enjoy the high school competition,” their coach said. “The girls enjoy getting the recognition at school for their sport.”
Ruggeri’s family includes a son, Brandon, 27, who played hockey in college, and two daughters, Raquel, 20, and Sophia, 18. Raquel, a sophomore at West Virginia, was a Burrell gymnast who won USAG state and regional championships. Sophia, also a gymnast, returned to competing this year for Ultimate.
Brandon played junior hockey in Wooster, Ohio for the Wooster Oilers, and served as team captain. He then went to Stevenson University in Maryland and played for four years. He also served as team captain there.
Brandon now is in a chiropractic masters program at Parker University in Dallas.
Ruggeri’s coaching philosophy for gymnastics entertains the concept of “giving back.”
“I want the girls to enjoy the sport, have fun but work hard, do well but also enjoy their childhood and teen years,” she said. “I’ve been successful with keeping young athletes involved and wanting to give back to the sport. Many of them return to coach or own a gym or support the younger kids.
“We’ve had senior athletes every year that we’ve been open since 2007. I think that is a huge accomplishment for a relatively small gym.”
Ruggeri’s favorite gymnast, by the way, is Nastia Liukin, a Russian-born American who is a five-time Olympic medalist and the 2008 Olympic all-around champion. Liukin also was a four-time all-around U.S. national champion, winning twice as a junior and twice as a senior.
“But in the beginning, of course, when I started it was the infamous Nadia Comaneci and her perfect 10s at the (1976 and 1980) Olympics,” Ruggeri said.
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2023 Class Registration is now open!
Sign up on line for your class!
Sign up early to get your child registered in the class!
REGISTER ONLINE OR CALL US TODAY FOR THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE! 724-468-3845
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NEW...........................DONT MISS OUT!
Advanced Tumble With Renee Mondays 8pm - 9pm 2023!!!!
Looking for a class to get ready for cheer tryouts? Or just get some new skills for the gymnastics season.
Available to all, Register online or call for more information.
$60 / month or $20 Drop in fee.
If you are registered for intermediate you might consider moving to Mondays, please try this class!!!
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WE ARE CELEBRATING! ULTIMATE GYMNASTICS 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION IN 2022!
15 YEARS IN DELMONT AND 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE - COACHING, STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL GYMNASTICS.
CHAMPIONS HAVE COME FROM OUR GYM. WE ARE SO PROUD TO CONTINUE OUR LEGACY!
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Follow the links below to Newspaper Articles recognizing our gymnasts and their accomplishments
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trio-from-ultimate.../
https://triblive.com/sports/gymnasts-from-ultimate-gymnastics-win-state-regional-medals/
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/trio-from-ultimate-gymnastics-compete-in-regionals/
https://archive.triblive.com/news/batiz-wins-silver-at-gymnastics-championship/
The Ultimate Experience is 40 years of knowledge in the sport and coaching skills.
Ultimate offers Experience the rest can not touch!
Come to the gym and experience the Ultimate way to enhance your skills, Build Core Strength, Balance, Tone Muscles, Learn New Skills, Enhances Focus, Flexibility, Team Work, Positive Coaching, and Have Fun!
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Ultimate gymnastics is open and welcomes all new members, to come and visit our gym, or try a class or team practice for FREE!
Please call to confirm a class and time.
If your gym is closing or you just need a change come and experience the
Ultimate Gym!
We are looking forward to seeing you!
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CLASS REGISTRATION OPEN NOW for 2023!
Team Schedule 2023 Schedule is now on our website see below!
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SPRING 2023 RECREATIONAL CLASS SCHEDULE
Please go to Classes on our website for registration online.
MONDAY
Monday 4:15PM to 5:00PM - Preschool Fun Class
Monday 5:00PM to 6:00PM - Boys Gymnastics & More class
NEW Monday 8:00PM to 9:00PM - Advanced Tumbling Class
TUESDAY
Tuesday 5:00PM to 6:00PM - Beginner Gymnastics Class
Tuesday 5:00PM to 6:00PM - Intermediate Tumbling Class
Tuesday 5:00PM to 7:00PM - Beginner Gymnastics/Tumble Combo Class
Tuesday 6:00PM to 7:00PM - Intermediate Gymnastics/Tumbling Combo Class
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday 5:00PM to 7:00PM - Intermediate Gymnastics/Tumble Combo Class
Wednesday 9:15AM to 10:00AM - Preschool Fun Class (Morning Class)
Wednesday 9:15AM to 10AM - Mommy/Daddy and me and Preschool Fun (Morning Class)
Wednesday 6:00PM to 7:00PM - Intermediate Gymnastics Class
Wednesday 5:00PM to 6:00PM - Beginner Gymnastics Class
Wednesday 4:15PM to 5:00PM - Mommy/Daddy and me (Late Afternoon Class)
Wednesday 5:00PM - 6:00PM - Intermediate Tumbling Class
SATURDAY
Saturday 10:00AM to 12 -Noon - Beginner Gymnastics/Tumble Combo Class
Saturday 10:00AM to12 - Noon - Intermediate Gymnastics/Tumble Combo Class
Saturday 9:00AM - 10:00AM - Beginner Gymnastics
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Register online for classes or Call the Gym with questions! 724-468-3845
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SPRING 2023 TEAM SCHEDULE
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All Level 8, 9, Diamond, and other levels in Grades 9th – 12th
**12 to 15 hours of practice**
Monday 4:00PM – 8:00PM
Tuesday 2:00PM -6:00 PM or 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Wednesday 10:00AM to 1:30PM
Thursday 3:00PM – 7:00PM
Optional Levels - All 5, 6, 7
**12 to 15 hours of practice**
Monday 4:00PM – 8:00PM
Wednesday 10:00AM – 1:30PM OR Tuesday 6:00PM – 9:00PM (only if coming 15 hours)
Thursday 4:30PM – 8:30PM
Sunday 3:30PM– 7:30PM
XCEL, Gold, Platinum
**9 to 12 hours of practice**
Monday 4:00PM – 8:00PM (Platinum)
Monday 5:00PM – 8:00PM (Gold)
Thursday 5:00PM – 8:00PM
Saturday 9:00AM – 12:00AM (Gold, Platinum)
Level 4 - 12 hours
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 4:30PM - 8:30PM
Level 3 – 9 hours
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 5:00PM – 8:00PM
New Level 2, Bronze
Wednesday 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Sunday 3:00PM – 5:00PM
PRETEAM (Ultimites)
Tuesdays 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Any level 2 or bronze who cannot make Wednesdays may come Tuesday with the Preteam
Special Note for Team
If you are grades 9th - 12th then any level is welcome to do the first schedule.
If you cannot make those times then follow the other optional schedule
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SILKS - Call for more info - Clinics coming soon!
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