High School

I attended Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Illinois and was a member of the gymnastics team from my freshman year (1969/1907) until I graduated in 1973. Hinsdale won the State championship each year.

College

I attended Southern Illinois University on a full athletic scholarship from 1973 – 1977 and graduated in 1978.

This picture was taken during a dual meet at the Arenda in Carbondale in 1977 (photographer unknown)

1975 NCAA Gymnastics Championships – Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana

I qualified for the 1975 championship by winning the Eastern Qualifying Meet (SIU was a member of the Missouri Valley conference which did not hold a conference championship for gymnastics). I placed 7th overall: These videos show my performance in the Team finals and in the individual event finals.

1977 NCAA Gymnastics Championships – Arizona State University, Tempe Arizona

I qualified for the 1977 championship by winning the Western Qualifying Meet (SIU was a member of the Missouri Valley conference which did not hold a conference championship for gymnastics). I placed 7th overall again this year.

  • Individual Final (recording courtesy of Doug Kieso)
  • I was up last: apparently the the photographer ran out of film.
  • I was in first place going into the finals but had a break in the finals. My high-school teammate Chuck Walters was the champion.
  • My full routine:
    • Jump into a back-Moore downhill
    • Loop
    • Hop
    • Back-Moore-Uphill – Moore- Back travel – Durham – Loop – Flair
    • Scissor travel , Leg cut, Three forward Scissors, leg cut, back scissors
    • Circles, Baily (that was where I came off in the finals 🙁 )
    • Stockli out
    • Hop
    • Loop dismount

Doug Kieso Video

Doug created a nice tribute documenting the dominance of Illinois High-School pommel horse gymnasts in the 1960’s through the1980’s. View it on Facebook.