Kids activities in county take vault forward

In an area that prides itself on catering to retirees, an impressive business just tumbled on the scene that caters, mostly, to kids.

That could be another important step to giving families choices when they choose to visit Manatee County. Last year, a study showed the average age of tourists to Manatee County was 52. 

With a possible water park in the planning stage, and attractions such as Treeumph Adventure Course already in place, it looks like more fun for more families in the future.

EVO Athletics, located at 7188 East 15th St., is hosting its grand opening on Aug. 6 and anyone who ventures to see the new gymnastics, cheerleading and Ninja Warrior business will come away with the same impression.

Massive.

The 32,000 square foot athletic center is $4 million worth of beautiful. Owners Kyle and Lydia Lawton and Jason Collins designed certain aspects of the facility to cater to all ages, but it’s really a kids’ paradise. So much so you can expect gymnastics and cheerleading types from all over the country to beg Mom, Dad or Coach, to schedule a trip as soon as possible.

“I’ve been in every elite (gymnastics) gym in the country and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Collins, who has been in the gymnastics coaching business for more than 25 years and was selected as the 2015 Florida Coach of the Year by USA Gymnastics.

To say that Collins and the Lawtons were hardcore when they designed the building would be an understatement. Eight pits in the gym are filled with foam cubes that could make a fall from a four-story building feel like a roll on a Tempurpedic mattress.

Unfortunately for the owners, they had to dig the pits about eight feet deep, which put them under the water table. Now I’m not a construction expert, but I know it had to be a problem since they paid $500,000 for the pits alone.

Obviously, they paid great attention to detail.

“Our vault table is the one used in the Olympic Games,” Collins said. “We have 20-centimeter mats.”

Why? Well, consider that a sports psychologist helped design the place.

“Most of our kids are very bright,” Collins said. “If you are on the high bar and you are told to let go, do two flips, then catch it again, your brain is saying ‘No you’re not.’ We have to make them feel safe.”

Coaches and sports psychologists aside, much of the genius of the place has to do with the Lawtons, who as kids competed in most sports with the exception of gymnastics. They will not be on the floor of their facility demonstrating an Arabesque.

That’s OK, though, because they will be quite comfortable watching. Their building is complete with air conditioned spectator rooms, a parents’ workout room, a business center and a healthy cafe, among other amenities.

It seems that the Lawtons, who won their gold medal by selling their radiology software business, peerVue, four years ago, didn’t completely enjoy their tour de force as gymnastics parents of now 12-year-old Ellie and 9-year-old Kody.

“We had the experience of watching our kids and they had good coaches and good equipment,” Kyle Lawton said. “But we were sitting on uncomfortable, dirty chairs and it was hot. It didn’t make sense.”

So they made sure their facility was comfortable for everyone, not just the participants.

“A lot of parents are traveling more than an hour to be here,” Kyle Lawton said. “They need a comfortable place to hang out.”

While EVO Athletics is sure to draw athletes, coaches and parents from outside the area, it will pack locals into the facility as well. The local kids can join the gymnastics teams or can participate in programs designed just for those who want to enjoy recreational tumbling. Cheerleading instruction is open for everyone and the Ninja Warrior obstacle course will be designed to entertain all ages, whether local or not.

Those who would like to check out the facility can do so on Aug. 6 starting at 10 a.m. World champion gymnast Maggie Nichols will be in attendance along with the University of Kentucky cheerleading squad.