History

        Cobb County gymnastics began in April of 1971 largely due to Peg Adams, a former coach with Cobb County Parks and Recreation Departments. The original facility was located at the Cobb County Fairgrounds. This unorthodox gym was started with 9 tufted mats, 1 set of parallel bars and a vaulting buck. In one year the gym was able to enter a 9 girl team of 8 to 10 year olds in Junior Olympic competition.

        In the fall of 1973 Osborne Jr. High School acquired gymnastic equipment which the county used. Coupled with better equipment and the interest generated by the 1972 Olympics, enrollment in the county program leaped to 130 beginners and 40 intermediates. Also in 1973 Griffin Middle School became the site of Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department Gymnastics. In 1974 Floyd Middle School became another site for Cobb County Gymnastics.

        In the summer of 1975, money became available for 2 full-time employees, one of whom who was to be in charge of competitive teams. From there, the program grew from 300 students and 3 competitive teams to 1500 students and 10 competitive in 1978.

        In July of 1977 the Cobb Gymnastics Center was built at 542 Fairgrounds Street in Marietta. This facility is a Butler building containing an open area of 8000 square feet with a tile floor, 40 square feet of carpeted spring floor, concession stand, viewing area, offices, and rest rooms. Gymnastics equipment now includes uneven parallel bars, balance beams, vaulting horses, high bar, rings, safety and landing mats and trampolines. In 1985 we added a 3600 square foot room for instructional programs handled by the Cobb County Parks and Recreational Department, as well as facilities to train our gymnast on the harder and riskier tricks necessary to further their levels of competition. As June 2006 the Cobb County Board of Commissioners has appropriated $1.2 million to the Parks & Recreations Dept to increase the gym space to over 17000 sq/feet of Gymnastics space. Construction should start in September.

        The Cobb Challengers have been the competitive branch of the Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department. Effective August 1st 1985, the Cobb Gymnastics Center Parents Club assumed the responsibility for the competitive programs in cooperation with Cobb County Parks and Recreation, which handles the instructional level. Team competition is offered at Cobb Gymnastics Center at all competitive levels from beginners on the training team to the more advanced levels.

        The club, which is the competitive program, is run by the Board of Directors. The teams and coaching staff are supervised by the Program Director, Christophe Voisin.