You wouldn't know it by its exterior, but one of the buildings in Roswell Area Park is the home of champions.

Inside the Physical Activity Center at the Woodstock Road park hangs over 70 banners proving the success of the program it houses.

It's the home of Roswell Gymnastics, one of the best gymnastics teams in the state, if not the country.

Since 1974 Roswell Gymnastics has been coaching everything from  two- and three-year-olds learning the basics of gymnastics to highly competitive and skilled forms of the sport through age 18.

Led by Cindy Furman, the program and facility coordinator, Roswell Gymnastics has over 30 instructors who are continually trained on techniques and safety. Their training and teaching approach is based in positivity, teaching their kids to see mistakes and disappointments through an affirmative perspective.

"We're promoting a healthy, happy environment," Kim Woods, the girls competitive team supervisor, said. "We're raising a child, not necessarily an athlete."

The program also stresses a healthy gym-school-life balance through the hours their gymnasts maintain. Unlike the 16-18 hours of training per week many teams require, the Roswell team's competitive groups practice 12 hours each week.

It all adds up to a program that is churning out top-3 and championship finishes in meets all over the state of Georgia. Furman and the staff pride themselves in remaining competitive while creating a nurturing environment that challenges young gymnasts to be their best.

"We demand a lot from the kids, but we do it with love," Woods said.

Their loving demands produce results, results that have recently added a few new banners in the state-of-the-art, 40,000 square foot gym facility.

In November the program's Level 6 girls team won the Georgia state championship for the second year in a row. Wood said it's a turning point in the program's success. They've had numerous top-five finishes at the state level, but had never won until last year. The Level 5 girls team placed second in the state.

The competitive teams have had numerous individual champions in everything from beam events to floor routines. This year's Level 6 team took home 17 individual titles and a total of 41 medals

They feel a special sense of accomplishment in those finishes considering the emphasis they place on limiting gym time for the kids.

One of the emerging young stars at the Roswell program is ten-year-old Patrick Kramer.

Kramer placed fifth in the nation at the Future Stars National Gymnastics Championships in Colorado Springs, Co. in November. His finish puts him on the Future Stars Development Team, a squad that recognizes the top 18 gymnasts in the division. Because he placed in the top nine he is also invited to attend the prestigious week-long Future Stars camp next summer.

His dedication and commitment to the sport have impressed his coaches.

"He's probably the most focused ten-year-old I've ever been around," Steve Brauckman, one of the boys team coaches, said.

Brauckman wasn't surprised by Kramer's success at nationals, saying his young gymnast has put in the time and work to be one of the best in the nation. His love for the sport is infectious, Brauckman said, and it rubs off on everyone.

Two of Kramer's teammates, Ethan Esval and Jared Zimmerman, qualified to attend the national competition last month on behalf of Roswell Gymnastics as well.

Woods was quick to point out that while they're proud of everything kids like Kramer and the girls competitive teams have accomplished, they take just as much pride and fulfillment in encouraging a love for gymnastics and a developed sense of self-confidence in all their age groups.

Roswell Gymnastics programs begin with Gymtots for ages 2-3 and Kindergym for ages 3-4 progressing up to the competitive teams. Many of the team's current athletes began learning about the sport in the early programs at Roswell. For more information visit the program website.