The chalk dust is settling at the Von Braun Center after a weekend of high-flying flips and championship-level competition. “Elevate the Stage” returned to the Rocket City for its sixth year, giving more than 1,200 youth gymnasts a rare opportunity to compete like the pros.
What sets this event apart from a standard gymnastics meet is the “podium.” While most competitions take place on mats placed directly on the arena floor, “Elevate the Stage” builds an elevated platform for all equipment—a setup typically reserved for the Olympics or NCAA National Championships.
“The college gymnasts are competing on podium, which is elevating the stage,” said Katie Evers, Director of Events for Knight Eady. “It’s something that traditionally feeds National Championships or Olympics. In addition to the college meet, we have over 1,200 youth gymnasts that have competed throughout the weekend on the podium as well.”
The event drew an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 fans to downtown Huntsville, including coaches, families, and supporters from across the region. The youth athletes, ranging from Level 1 to Level 10, shared the same equipment and stage as their collegiate idols.
The weekend concludes Sunday afternoon with a high-profile NCAA Quad Meet. Powerhouse programs from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, and Pitt facing off in the Propst Arena. For many of the young athletes who competed earlier in the weekend, staying to watch the collegiate stars is the ultimate inspiration.
“We love being in Huntsville and Elevate has had a great run here,” Evers said. “We just love being here in the community and the support that we’ve had is outstanding. The Huntsville Sports Commission is great.”