Ben Prescott

Assistant Director 2013 - Present

Assistant Coach 2008 - PRESENT

Gymkana Member 2004 - 2008

President 2006 - 2008

Historian 2005 - 2006

Best Trouper Award 2006

Ben Prescott was born and raised overseas in Seoul, Korea on U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan. He moved to Maryland the summer prior to his high school senior year, graduating from Glen Burnie High School. Although he would not describe himself as a star athlete in any one sport, he credits his parents in encouraging him to be a highly versatile athlete. He graduated high school with varsity experience in soccer, baseball, football and wrestling, along with competitive experience in Taekwondo, basketball, and golf.

One sport that Ben had limited experience with was gymnastics. Freshly inspired by the recent summer olympic games, Ben sought out an opportunity to learn gymnastics when he arrived for his first year at the University of Maryland in 2004.

“I came across a flyer posted in the stairwell of an academic building with a picture of athletes doing handstands on chairs. It asked ‘Want to learn gymnastics?’ and listed the location and practice times for Gymkana. I remember vividly that first practice I attended… Everyone was so incredibly welcoming and eager to share all the exciting things they were working on. I was immediately hooked! An example of how much Gymkana would become such a large part of my life - It just so happened that flyer was designed by Angie Zavaglia, who is now my wife.”

- Ben Prescott

In his first year, Ben immediately got involved to learn as much as possible and even volunteered to fill a vacant staging committee chair position. Unable to perform in most acts that spring season due to a fractured hand, he picked up a camera and assisted Warren Balogh in taking photos and video for the troupe.

Ben was elected to the officer body as Historian for his second year of membership. He helped in the effort to create Gymkana’s inaugural Flip-A-Thon fundraiser and 60th anniversary Home Show. He was recognized for his contributions with the Best Trouper Award at the end of the season. He then served two consecutive seasons as the troupe’s president before graduating in 2008.

During his time as a performer, Ben performed in vaulting, DMT, tumbling, parallel bars, rings, ladders, chairs, pyramids, mixed doubles, men’s doubles and comedy balancing. His favorite acts to perform were chairs and balancing. He was the recipient of three Best Act Awards, including 2005 Chairs, 2006 Ladders, and 2007 Chairs. He missed out on the distinction of being the only trouper to ever go 4 for 4 in Best Act Awards, since he gave up his position in the 2008 Ladders act to allow another trouper the opportunity to perform.

Ben was offered a position as an assistant coach with Gymkana after graduating in 2008. He also utilized his degree in kinesiology and additional certifications to start a personal training and sports conditioning business. He continued his work while also completing a master of science degree in exercise science in 2012. He was promoted to the position of Gymkana assistant director, first part-time in 2013 and later to full-time in 2017. To assist Gymkana financially and the School of Public Health with a vacated position during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben split his time with Gymkana to serve as the interim facilities manager of the School of Public Health from June 2020 - February 2022.

Beyond his work as an assistant coach for the troupe, Ben has contributed considerably in the management and growth of Gymkana classes and summer camps during his tenure. He has also managed most of Gymkana communications and development work, including this history website.