Evanston first-year boys gymnastics coach Frank Erwin said high school students are no different than they were when he last coached in the late 1970s and early 80s.
“Kids are the same, they haven’t changed a bit, except the circumstances and the environment in which they live, exist and go to school has changed,” he said. “There is a lot more going on, there is a lot more they are juggling and a lot more things they have to decide on, and they have greater pressures.
“But in terms of how they act … high school students are high school students.”
Erwin was speaking just after the Palatine Sectional on Saturday, May 7, which brought an end to his first year in charge of the Wildkits.
Evanston (94.500) finished last at the nine-team event, which was not surprising given the team was missing several gymnasts because of injury or religious observance. The Wildkits only had four gymnasts in their lineup.
But it was always going to a be a bit of a transition year in the program after Erwin replaced Chester Jones, who retired after 23 years coaching the boys and girls teams at the school.
“It was very much a building year,” said Erwin, who previously was the head coach at Naperville Central from 1977-83. “I’m sure our styles (Jones’ and Erwin’s) are very different, and it was hard on the kids dealing with a different type of coach. Next year, we’ll have stronger expectations. It’s a challenge coming in after someone who has coached for so long. It’s a different program (than it was).”
Evanston sophomore Owen Meyer, who competed at the sectional in just his second varsity appearance, said he enjoyed working under both Jones and Erwin, though they do have different coaching styles.
“I would say the main difference is that coach Jones was a tough coach, but in a good way,” Meyer said. “Coach Erwin is really big on positive reinforcement and pushing us in that regard. They use different tactics, but both push us just as hard.”
As a high school gymnast at Hinsdale Central, Erwin was part of three straight state championship teams from 1970-72. He then competed at Illinois, and served as captain of the team for three of his four seasons.
The first chapter of his high school head coaching career ended in 1983 when Erwin began focusing on a business career. Today, he has a health care consulting practice.
Erwin said he remained close to gymnastics as a judge and through his younger brother Tim Erwin, a Texas-based coach. Tim Erwin was in attendance at the sectional meet after driving in from the Men’s Junior Olympic National Championships in Battle Creek, Mich.
Evanston athletic director Chris Livatino said Frank Erwin’s time away from coaching was a concern before the two met to discuss the position. But he said Frank Erwin managed to show he was the right man for the job.
“It was clear Frank had a strong background from his earlier days, but the big question was, ‘Did he still have the passion and had he stayed current with the sport?’ ” Livatino said. “It was obvious from our interview that he still loved the sport and was able to stay connected through his brother’s long-term involvement with gymnastics. He also demonstrated that he cared as much about the development of the person as the gymnast.”
Meet notes
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* Junior Mackkeal Mason was the top performer for Evanston at the sectional. His evening included finishing 19th in the all-around (34.7000), 23rd on vault (8.3000) and 24th on high bar (5.4000).
* Senior Griffin Murray was 20th in the all-around (30.45000) and 24th on still rings (6.5000).
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press