The 2021-2022 school year will be the inaugural season for gymnastics within the Thomasville City School System and Carson Singletary has been tabbed to lead the Gym Dogs. It was not surprising to see Singletary follow in the footsteps of her mother, Teresa, a retired educator and her father, Mike, a retired South Georgia football coach. Singletary became involved in gymnastics at a very early age in her youth. Throughout her formative years, she competed in gymnastics and began coaching the sport she loved in 2011.
Singletary said, “I have always loved it (gymnastics) for as long I’ve been a part of it.” Singletary accepted a teaching position within the Thomasville City School System at Scott Elementary last spring. She then began thinking of asking the athletic department to consider starting a gymnastics program. She approached Athletic Director Chris Merritt about the idea and shared her vision with him. Singletary said her vision for the Gym Dogs included “helping student-athletes who are passionate about gymnastics be able to reach their goals.”
Singletary feels that with the Thomasville City School System starting a program, “it will give students who are already involved in gymnastics outside of the school an opportunity to grow and develop their skills in a different aspect.” Singletary continued, “it (gymnastics) gives students that may have been interested in gymnastics a chance to see if they are passionate about it and willing to work hard to be successful.”
Singletary has been coaching gymnastics for over ten years. She said, like the classroom, she enjoys “building relationships with the students and helping them grow is near and dear to my heart.” When asked about her time within the City Schools, Singletary said, “I have felt nothing but at home since becoming a Bulldog; the Bulldog family is full of support and kindness and I’m so appreciative."
Athletic Director Chris Merritt added, “as a district and a school, we are excited to welcome yet another competitive sport to our athletic department.” Thomasville added competitive dance in 2019-2020 and the Lady Bulldogs also referred to as the Red Hots, were crowned the 2020-2021 Georgia High School Association A/AA State Champions. Merritt added, “gymnastics will be offered to our middle and high school students who are interested in competing within the program.” Merritt also said, “the Thomasville High School Gym Dogs and the MacIntyre Park Middle School Gym Pups would not be possible without the support of our strong YMCA program who is allowing us to use their facilities; we are very thankful for Greer Cox and her team for making this happen.”
Singletary concluded by saying, “I am so excited for the opportunity to start this program and cannot wait to watch the Gym Dogs family come to life and grow into a program the Thomasville City School System can be proud of.”