Katy Kips - Strong Kids for the Future
Donation protected
Katy KIPS ("Kids in Perfect Shape") Gymnastics Club has been a staple of the Katy Area for 42 years. Coached by the highly experienced, and decorated, Louis Morales the club has trained 164 state champions and an undefeated national champion. Having started in 1978, some of the Katy KIPS former gymnasts bring their grandchildren to the club to train while reminiscing about their days as a KIPSter. Unbelievably, Coach Morales has directly impacted as many as three generations of some families.
In the spring of 2019 the gym suffered an unexpected exodus of competitive and recreational gymnasts. Coach Morales began rebuilding his competition team, and recreational classes, entering the summer of 2019. The Bronze team was comprised of all new gymnasts, training less than a year, that never competed prior to this season. Through hard work and excellent coaching, Katy Kips competed during winter 2019 through 2020 with the Bronze team finishing undefeated, 7 Katy Kips gymnasts earning top national scores, and the Bronze team scoring the highest score among all teams at the Simone Biles Invitational.
Katy Kips works with more than just competitive athletes. The Club trains all levels from as as young as 18 months through adulthood to develop strength, fitness, and flexibility. In fact, the competitive adult team (with one grandmother competing) won first place at the Texas Star Adult Senior Division in 2020 for All-Around and Routine. Katy KIPS is able to successfully train such a wide range of athlete because of the focus on positive reinforcement, character development, and self-confidence. Coach Morales believes these attributes carry far beyond gymnastics and follow the children through other sports and, ultimately, life.
Coach Morales and Katy KIPS are at a crossroads. With COVID-19 hitting the public in March and gyms being forced to close, the good work at Katy KIPS is in jeopardy. Mounting bills, along with a relentless dedication to keeping his students and athletes safe, caused the Club to close down temporarily out of an abundance of caution. The club refused to try and push the envelope or find loopholes to flaunt the rules, and has not held a single class since March 9, 2020. All resources have been drained, both business and personal, and Coach Morales is reaching out to the community he has served for over half his life for support. He already has the full support of the parents but the club needs additional finances to survive. If you are a former KIPSter, or simply committed to helping the positive development of our youth, this is a call to action to help save a pillar of the Katy community and ensure our children have access to a positive, loving, and enriching environment in the Katy KIPS Gymnastics Club in the future.
We need confident and caring children in the future, and with KIPS, we know that will continue. Take it, make it better, and pass it on.
In the spring of 2019 the gym suffered an unexpected exodus of competitive and recreational gymnasts. Coach Morales began rebuilding his competition team, and recreational classes, entering the summer of 2019. The Bronze team was comprised of all new gymnasts, training less than a year, that never competed prior to this season. Through hard work and excellent coaching, Katy Kips competed during winter 2019 through 2020 with the Bronze team finishing undefeated, 7 Katy Kips gymnasts earning top national scores, and the Bronze team scoring the highest score among all teams at the Simone Biles Invitational.
Katy Kips works with more than just competitive athletes. The Club trains all levels from as as young as 18 months through adulthood to develop strength, fitness, and flexibility. In fact, the competitive adult team (with one grandmother competing) won first place at the Texas Star Adult Senior Division in 2020 for All-Around and Routine. Katy KIPS is able to successfully train such a wide range of athlete because of the focus on positive reinforcement, character development, and self-confidence. Coach Morales believes these attributes carry far beyond gymnastics and follow the children through other sports and, ultimately, life.
Coach Morales and Katy KIPS are at a crossroads. With COVID-19 hitting the public in March and gyms being forced to close, the good work at Katy KIPS is in jeopardy. Mounting bills, along with a relentless dedication to keeping his students and athletes safe, caused the Club to close down temporarily out of an abundance of caution. The club refused to try and push the envelope or find loopholes to flaunt the rules, and has not held a single class since March 9, 2020. All resources have been drained, both business and personal, and Coach Morales is reaching out to the community he has served for over half his life for support. He already has the full support of the parents but the club needs additional finances to survive. If you are a former KIPSter, or simply committed to helping the positive development of our youth, this is a call to action to help save a pillar of the Katy community and ensure our children have access to a positive, loving, and enriching environment in the Katy KIPS Gymnastics Club in the future.
We need confident and caring children in the future, and with KIPS, we know that will continue. Take it, make it better, and pass it on.
Organizer
Patrick Gilpin
Organizer
Katy, TX