The Butler Gymnastic Club’s first boys team in 15 years — from left, Jack Milne, Crosby Nichols, Callum Stewart, Dylan Dickey, Geovani Santoro and Maxwell Vardy — are joined by coach Jerry Fix after winning the state championship in its inaugural season. Submitted Photo

BUTLER TWP — Call them his Sensational Six.

The Butler Gymnastics Club had not had a boys team for 15 years. When Jerry Fix joined the facility’s coaching staff this year, he fixed that.

A gymnastics coach for more than 30 years — primarily in Wisconsin — Fix relocated to the Butler area from Philadelphia and was looking for a new place to coach.

“I came across this facility and loved it,” he said. “Though I’ve coached girls, I coached boys gymnasts for a number of years. When I discovered they didn't have a boys team in this gym, I asked (the coaches) if they wanted to start one.

“They said to go for it.”

Fix formed his team simply by venturing into the area and meeting the kids.

“I asked a bunch of boys who would be interested in having a lot of fun while winning some trophies and medals,” he said. “Six little guys raised their hands. That was my team.”

Those six boys — Dylan Dickey, Jack Milne, Crosby Nichols, Geovani Santoro, Callum Stewart and Maxwell Vardy — range in age from 6 to 10. They went on to win the Level 3 Pennsylvania state championship this year.

“They are six competitive boys,” Fix said. “Our first two meets, the team took second. In the next three, we took first.

“I’m not surprised at all that we won the state title. I expected it. I would have been disappointed if we didn’t win.”

Fix added that another six boys have already registered for next season, when it will compete at Levels 3 and 4.

“Our numbers should only grow from here,” Fix said. “It was just a matter of getting the team started.”