2022-2023

Director & Head Coach: Josh Montfort

Assistant Director: Ben Prescott

Assistant Coaches: Todd Supple, Angie Prescott, Faith Kung, Kevin Merrick, Emma Oroxom, Megan Miller

Officer Body

• President: Eli Wilcox

• Vice President: Aggie Baum

• Secretary: Javier Lorenzo

• Treasurer: Sophia Marchionini

• Historian: Edan Miller

Award Recipients

• Best Act: Pyramids— every single trouper

• Best Female Trouper: Aggie Baum

• Best Male Troupers: Eli Wilcox

The Little Troupe that Could

This year, the troupe had some recruiting difficulties, as a clause in Gymkana’s constitution restricted its participation in the University’s involvement fair, First Look Fair. This oversight, combined with the loss of the senior graduating class, left the team with a majority of inexperienced troupe members, as this was only the second year returning to the road after the pandemic. Troupers who had only been on the team for one year stepped up into leadership roles and became the senior members of the group. Four of the five officers were only sophomores. This was the smallest travelling troupe since 1961. 

Although assistant coach Sami Ahmed left his position to pursue other career opportunities, three new assistant coaches joined the team: Kevin Merrick, Emma Oroxom, and Megan Miller, each an alum of the troupe from recent years. This was the largest coaching staff Gymkana had ever seen, and the first time that the coaching staff was split evenly among genders. At Mock Show that year, due to injuries and unexpected absences within the coaching staff, an all-female staff spotted the show for the first time. Of course, it went off without a hitch.

By the time show season came around, it was obvious this year would be a difficult one. With less members comes less experience and less depth of skills. Coaches questioned whether a travelling show season this year was even logistically possible. Would they have enough troupers available Thursday evenings to load the truck? Would the team be able to scrape together enough acts for a full show?

In order to succeed, every single trouper needed to step up— and they did. Although coaches allotted more time than normal to load and unload the truck, they found that this small team was just as efficient, if not more so, than a larger team. Everyone carried their weight. If anybody slacked off, the entire season could be jeopardized. The troupers dedicated themselves, successfully performing five road shows in the spring.

Despite the small team, Home Show was still a success, and many audience members commented that despite the lower skill level, they were even more impressed with a group of just over 30 troupers pulling off such an exciting and cohesive show. The teamwork demonstrated by troupers was more impressive than any skill performed that year. Director Josh Montfort referred to the team as “the little troupe that could.”

Fittingly, Pyramids won best act that year for the first and only time. Although the act itself wasn’t particularly outstanding or unique compared to previous Pyramids acts, the award was a symbol of the hard work and dedication that every single trouper poured into the team. It was a strong reminder of the power of teamwork and the strength in unity. Gymkana lived to see another season.

Itinerary

10/15/2022 - College Park Day

11/12/2022 - Flip-a-thon

12/9/2022 - Mock Show

2/17/2023 - Shiloh Middle School 

3/3/2023 - Twin Ridge Elementary School 

3/10/2023 - Parr’s Ridge Elementary School 

3/17/2023 - Stevensville Middle School 

4/14/2023 - Windy Hill Middle School 

4/21 - 4/22/2023 - Home Show

4/29/2023 - Maryland Day