June & George Szypula
George and June Szypula meet at Temple University were they both competed as gymnasts. George won four consecutive AAU National Tumbling Championships from 1940-43. In 1942, he was the NCAA Men’s Tumbling Champion. After time spent in the service during World War II, George returned to East Lansing, in 10947 and became the first gymnastics coach at Michigan State University in 1947. During his 42-year distinguished career at Michigan State, he served as president of the National Association of Gymnastics Coaches and chairman of the selection committee for the Gymnastics Hall of Fame. George has previously been inducted into the Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the Temple University Hall of Fame and the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. He has previously been named as an NCAA Coach of the Year, the Mid-East Region Coach of the year, authored books about gymnastics, helped to create the Helms Hall of Fame, which is now known as the Citizens Savings Hall of Fame.
From 1947 to 1989, George coached 18 individual NCAA Champions and 47 Big Ten Champions. He served in this position until his retirement in 1989 before he started to coach gymnastics at East Lansing High School.
George coached gymnastics for an additional 22 years at East Lansing. As he coached the Boys’ Gymnastics team, the community support was slim and most of the team expenses were covered by George and June. George continues to volunteer to do commentary for the East Lansing Girls’ Gymnastics team.
In January 2002, George Szypula was chosen for an honor of a lifetime, as he carried the Olympic flame for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, through Michigan as it made its way across the country.
June taught physical education at Pattengill Elementary School for three years before taking time off to have a family. While being a stay at home mother, June found time to work part time, as a coach, at the YWCA for ten years. June eventually began teaching again and worked at the junior high in East Lansing. While at home, the Szypula’s taught their children the art of gymnastics and they had been tumbling since the time they could walk. June coached both of their daughters, Cheryl and Susan, as high school student-athletes. Susan won a state championship as a freshman. Their son, Carl, won a state championship in his senior year as a gymnast at East Lansing.
June Szypula was the East Lansing High School Girls’ Gymnastics coach from 1968-1987. In a span of twenty years, June lead her teams to 216 wins and only 60 losses. Her knowledge of gymnastics lead her teams obtain state championships in 1969 and 1971. June’s teams placed as State runner up in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1979. June’s passion for the sport helped her teams obtain regional championships in 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1981 and the team earned Capital Area Conference Championships in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. June was honored the Coach of the Year Award in 1976.
George and June have been honored by the East Lansing Public Schools for their lifetime dedication to their community. For years, they have been social service providers for organizations such as Meals on Wheels and senior social clubs. June use to providing tutoring services at the Tower Alternative Education building. Today the Szypulas living in East Lansing and remain active members of their church. They have four grown children, Cheryl, Susan, Carl and George, Jr, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
ELHS Hall of Fame 2012 - Jane & George Szypula video highlight on YouTube
From 1947 to 1989, George coached 18 individual NCAA Champions and 47 Big Ten Champions. He served in this position until his retirement in 1989 before he started to coach gymnastics at East Lansing High School.
George coached gymnastics for an additional 22 years at East Lansing. As he coached the Boys’ Gymnastics team, the community support was slim and most of the team expenses were covered by George and June. George continues to volunteer to do commentary for the East Lansing Girls’ Gymnastics team.
In January 2002, George Szypula was chosen for an honor of a lifetime, as he carried the Olympic flame for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, through Michigan as it made its way across the country.
June taught physical education at Pattengill Elementary School for three years before taking time off to have a family. While being a stay at home mother, June found time to work part time, as a coach, at the YWCA for ten years. June eventually began teaching again and worked at the junior high in East Lansing. While at home, the Szypula’s taught their children the art of gymnastics and they had been tumbling since the time they could walk. June coached both of their daughters, Cheryl and Susan, as high school student-athletes. Susan won a state championship as a freshman. Their son, Carl, won a state championship in his senior year as a gymnast at East Lansing.
June Szypula was the East Lansing High School Girls’ Gymnastics coach from 1968-1987. In a span of twenty years, June lead her teams to 216 wins and only 60 losses. Her knowledge of gymnastics lead her teams obtain state championships in 1969 and 1971. June’s teams placed as State runner up in 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977 and 1979. June’s passion for the sport helped her teams obtain regional championships in 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1981 and the team earned Capital Area Conference Championships in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. June was honored the Coach of the Year Award in 1976.
George and June have been honored by the East Lansing Public Schools for their lifetime dedication to their community. For years, they have been social service providers for organizations such as Meals on Wheels and senior social clubs. June use to providing tutoring services at the Tower Alternative Education building. Today the Szypulas living in East Lansing and remain active members of their church. They have four grown children, Cheryl, Susan, Carl and George, Jr, as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
ELHS Hall of Fame 2012 - Jane & George Szypula video highlight on YouTube