About Us
Midwest Twisters
"We make learning fun! "
OUR NEW 27,000 SQ FT MEGA-GYM and 118 car parking
lot spans 3 acres and is the largest and best-equipped gym of its kind in all of
Missouri & Illinois. The all new Midwest Twisters features three separate and
unique gymnasia for the ultimate Gymnastics, Tumbling, Cheerleading & Birthday
Party experiences. From the moment you enter the building you will see why
Midwest Twisters is THE PLACE TO BE!
With 3 GYMS UNDER ONE ROOF Midwest Twisters offers a variety of non-competitive and competitive programs for girls and boys in gymnastics, tumbling, and cheerleading from 12 months to 18 years.
NON-COMPETITIVE
COMPETITIVE
OPEN GYM (FOR MEMBERS & NON MEMBERS)
PRIVATE LESSONS (FOR MEMBERS ONLY)
VISIT OUR PRO-SHOP FEATURING
"TWISTERS GEAR" 4 ACTIVE KIDS
FACILITY RENTAL
Recreational (Non-competitive) Gymnastics
We have classes for Preschool aged children thru high school age beginning with Playful Parenting (15 months - 3 years). With parent in tow, your toddler will hop, jump, bounce, roll, and swing in a loosely structured class designed to available for gymnastics
Artistic Women's Gymnastics
Midwest Twisters has established a tradition of competitive excellence and distinction in USA Gymnastics. In 2004 Twisters produced National Champions at Levels 9, 10, & Elite while winning State SuperTeam Titles at Levels 4, 5, 6, & 7. Also in 2004, Owner and Head Coach Mickey Orr was named "Coach of the Year" for Region 5 (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, & Kentucky). Midwest Twisters is the only area gym to be named an official USAG "National Training Center."
While we have been able to manage great things in our humble facility, we are pleased to announce our plans for expansion. In the fall of 2005 we will open our new 30,000 sq ft custom-designed facility for the absolute ultimate in artistic gymnastics training. The new Midwest Twisters will be located near the intersection of East Hwy 50 and North Main Street (Shiloh Road).
Mickey Orr, M.S. Head Coach
Mickey Orr, Owner and Head Coach of Midwest Twisters, moved to O'Fallon in 1986 from Greeley, Colorado where he had attended the University of Northern Colorado on a doctoral assistantship. While at UNC he completed the required coursework for an Ed. D. in Physical Education with a dual emphasis in Biomechanics and Motor Learning and was the Head Coach of the Lady Bear's Gymnastics Team. As UNC's Head Coach he produced 17 All-Americans and in 1986 coached the Lady Bears to a team Bronze at the NCAA II National Championship. He opted to forgo his dissertation and degree completion in favor of accepting a Head Coaching position as co-founder of World Class Gymnastics Center in Fairview Heights, Illinois.
In his 9 year tenure at World Class, Mickey produced Southern Illinois' then most successful women's competitive program, producing more than 300 state, regional, and national individual and team champions. In its heyday, World Class was a perennial powerhouse under Orr, producing the area's only elite level athletes and setting multiple scoring records at state and national levels. In 1992 he was voted the Region 5 (Illinois Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio) "Coach of the Year". Under Orr, Missy Sheroky of Belleville set the all-time Class I/Level 10 Compulsory Uneven Bars record of 9.85 at the 1990 Junior Olympics National Championship in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Orr separated from World Class in 1995. In 1996 he happened upon a dilapidated old factory which inspired visions of grandeur. On a shoestring budget and over 18 months he, nearly single handedly, transformed a turn-of-the-century building and its' add-ons into a truly unique gymnastics school. From the neglected and run-down old factory a dream was born.............Midwest Twisters opened in September of 1997.
Says Orr, "As gym owner I am committed to maintaining the area's top USA Gymnastics competitive women's program and gymnastics school in the Metro East area and of all Southern Illinois. I will continue to dedicate my time, energy, and financial resources to that end".