Coaches plan to 'make some noise' about possible end of North Dakota high school gymnastics

BISMARCK — North Dakota high school gymnasts and their coaches enter the 2026-2027 competitive season in mid-November with more uncertainty than ever. It will be the third season since their sport was labeled in 2024 as at-risk due to a declining number of participating teams. But several coaches expressed shock when they said their newly designated sport liaison from the North Dakota High School Activities Association, Kevin Morast, began a Sept. 10 advisory meeting apologetically, saying this is the final season for state-sanctioned high school gymnastics. They said up until then no one, including their previous liaison a few months earlier, had put the situation in those terms. Grace Brandt, head coach of the co-op Breckenridge-Wahpeton high school gymnastics team, said coaches felt blindsided because they believed they had more time to grow their programs. We were all just shocked there was a moment of sincere silence on that call, she said.