Hidden gem

Tucked behind a sandwich shop and adjacent to a gas station along Route 119 in Greensburg sits Westmoreland Gymnastics, home of the Highlanders.

The main gym inside includes two seemingly never-ending shelves littered with trophies, some of which appear to be bigger than the boys and girls who compete for the Highlanders.

But the nationally-renowned gymnastics team, much like the building that houses it, is virtually invisible, despite a list of team accomplishments and individual accolades.

Bill Altman, owner of Westmoreland Gymnastics and coach of the Highlanders, believes the lack of knowledge can be attributed to the sport's visibility.

"There's not a lot of high-school level gymnastics, and it (the programs) aren't happening through schools," Altman said.

"When things happen through the school, they get more recognition."

Altman's advertising campaign for the Highlanders remains rudimentary: He lets talent do the talking.

"Our best advertiser is word of mouth. People come and like what they see, and then they tell someone else," Altman said. "It's hard to take gymnastics to another area, that is not a gym, and try to demonstrate it."

When the Highlanders travel, they make it worthwhile. The team recently concluded its arduous 48-week season, highlighted by the performance of Taylor Seaman.

The 16-year-old from Greensburg competed in Junior Olympic Nationals on May 14 in Ontario, Calif. In her third trip to the junior nationals, Seaman finished seventh on the floor in the nation in Level 10.

"The feeling was overwhelming," Seaman said. "You get to compete against so many great gymnasts that sometimes you don't find in Pennsylvania. It's intimidating, but you have fun while you're doing this."

After a one-week "offseason," Seaman and the Highlanders resumed training Monday in preparation for their first meet in December. During that five-month span, the team begins work on preparation routines, followed by combination skills, then full routines.

Then, it's practice, practice, practice. A typical week includes between three and five days of practice.

"The hard work is there, but when you love gymnastics, it's not work," Altman said. "It's challenging, but these are the kind of kids that make themselves do things. There is always something new."

Seaman echoes Altman's sentiments

"You just adapt," Seaman said. "It's not work if you like what you do."

The constant learning and fun-first teaching method, Altman says, is what keeps kids motivated and content.

"These kids love to learn skills and look forward to that next level of skills," Altman said.

"We don't look at it as winning and losing. We tell them, "You're competing against yourself."

That mentality alleviates the pressure and usually equates to a more successful routine, better all-around competition and yet another trophy for inside the main gym.

"It's positive all the way around, and produces a team synergy." Altman said. "You tell them what they need, they make choices, and begin the learning process."

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