I've been associated with YGC since it began in the early 70's - first as a gymnast (not coached by Greg however) and as a coach with Greg thru the early 90's. While I never personally witnessed Greg doing anything illegal with the girls I can attest to this - MANY team girls fought VALIANTLY for Greg's attention and affection. Also, to say that he didn't have any opportunity to do any of this ("there were 50-100 people in the gym all the time") is NOT true. Depending on the night, as coaches, we were the last ones to leave the gym. We all were there late and frequently, there were kids left waiting for their parents. Also, in about 88 or 89, tanning beds were introduced to the gym and as staff, we were allowed to use them. One evening, I put my bathing suit on, locked the door and got into the tanning bed. Soon, I was surprised when Greg came into the room and proceeded to grope me under my suit. I *immediately* pushed the top canopy of the bed up and shoved him out of the way, asking "what the HELL are you doing?" He left and as far as I know, never spoke of the incident to anyone. Nor have I until today. I had never done anything to encourage or give Greg the impression that I wanted this to happen. When this occurred, we were both adults, I believe he was engaged and I was married. It was an unwelcome invasion of my privacy, initiated by Greg. Unfortunately, I never told anyone about it NOR did I let it "ruin" me for life. YGC was like my 2nd home. Although there have been a few bad apples associated with YGC, there have been THOUSANDS of us who have grown up to live productive, professional lives. Bottom line is - I feel for the victims in this case. I coached both the girls and have known Shannon since she was born. No one deserves to be violated and those who do it, deserve the consequences come as a result of their actions.
I'm saying that ALOT of things should've been done differently, mostly on Greg's part. However, the fault should lie where it needs to - not all kids act innocently or should be considered innocent because they haven't reached the magical age of 18. If you don't believe that, just watch tv, spend some time sitting on a bench at the mall or check out MySpace. Also, I know that Greg is capable of unprofessional conduct, based on what he did to me, which happened in 1988 or 1989. We were both adults, I believe he was engaged at the time and I was married. I did NOT consent to the intrusion NOR encourage it in any way. HE made the decision to invade my privacy. Unfortunately, I chose to not say anything else about it at the time, but in hindsight, maybe I should've. Who knows if it would've stopped any further actions, but I doubt it.
I began attending YGC as a gymnast when it opened in 1973 and then continued as a coach during Greg's time at the gym. He was never my coach. Yes, there was constant traffic - MOST of the time, BUT as a competitive coach, we (the coaches) were often the last ones out of the gym. There were kids left waiting by parents frequently, so to say the abuse is not plausible due to the high traffic, is not true. Also, while I was there, 2 tanning beds were installed and we were allowed to use them after working. I read the account of the hot tub incident where he allegedly slipped his hand under a bathing suit, and it hit home. One evening, he walked into the tanning bed room where I was and did exactly that to me. I was an adult at the time and had a bathing suit on. Obviously, I was not a student of his. I reacted to this intrusion immediately by telling him to LEAVE and pushing him away. In 20 years, I have never spoken of this but the allegation was too similar to not say something. While I never saw him do anything inappropriate with any of the girls, it doesn't surprise me that he is accused of this. HOWEVER, while I understand the first incidents were with underage girls AND he was the adult and should've had more restraint, some of the girls' behavior was exactly how he described - they pursued him.
Posted on April 10 at 9:31 p.m.
I've been associated with YGC since it began in the early 70's - first as a gymnast (not coached by Greg however) and as a coach with Greg thru the early 90's. While I never personally witnessed Greg doing anything illegal with the girls I can attest to this - MANY team girls fought VALIANTLY for Greg's attention and affection. Also, to say that he didn't have any opportunity to do any of this ("there were 50-100 people in the gym all the time") is NOT true. Depending on the night, as coaches, we were the last ones to leave the gym. We all were there late and frequently, there were kids left waiting for their parents. Also, in about 88 or 89, tanning beds were introduced to the gym and as staff, we were allowed to use them. One evening, I put my bathing suit on, locked the door and got into the tanning bed. Soon, I was surprised when Greg came into the room and proceeded to grope me under my suit. I *immediately* pushed the top canopy of the bed up and shoved him out of the way, asking "what the HELL are you doing?" He left and as far as I know, never spoke of the incident to anyone. Nor have I until today. I had never done anything to encourage or give Greg the impression that I wanted this to happen. When this occurred, we were both adults, I believe he was engaged and I was married. It was an unwelcome invasion of my privacy, initiated by Greg. Unfortunately, I never told anyone about it NOR did I let it "ruin" me for life.
YGC was like my 2nd home. Although there have been a few bad apples associated with YGC, there have been THOUSANDS of us who have grown up to live productive, professional lives. Bottom line is - I feel for the victims in this case. I coached both the girls and have known Shannon since she was born. No one deserves to be violated and those who do it, deserve the consequences come as a result of their actions.
Posted on April 10 at 2:30 p.m.
I'm saying that ALOT of things should've been done differently, mostly on Greg's part. However, the fault should lie where it needs to - not all kids act innocently or should be considered innocent because they haven't reached the magical age of 18. If you don't believe that, just watch tv, spend some time sitting on a bench at the mall or check out MySpace.
Also, I know that Greg is capable of unprofessional conduct, based on what he did to me, which happened in 1988 or 1989. We were both adults, I believe he was engaged at the time and I was married. I did NOT consent to the intrusion NOR encourage it in any way. HE made the decision to invade my privacy. Unfortunately, I chose to not say anything else about it at the time, but in hindsight, maybe I should've. Who knows if it would've stopped any further actions, but I doubt it.
Posted on April 10 at 12:18 p.m.
I began attending YGC as a gymnast when it opened in 1973 and then continued as a coach during Greg's time at the gym. He was never my coach.
Yes, there was constant traffic - MOST of the time, BUT as a competitive coach, we (the coaches) were often the last ones out of the gym. There were kids left waiting by parents frequently, so to say the abuse is not plausible due to the high traffic, is not true. Also, while I was there, 2 tanning beds were installed and we were allowed to use them after working. I read the account of the hot tub incident where he allegedly slipped his hand under a bathing suit, and it hit home. One evening, he walked into the tanning bed room where I was and did exactly that to me. I was an adult at the time and had a bathing suit on. Obviously, I was not a student of his. I reacted to this intrusion immediately by telling him to LEAVE and pushing him away. In 20 years, I have never spoken of this but the allegation was too similar to not say something.
While I never saw him do anything inappropriate with any of the girls, it doesn't surprise me that he is accused of this. HOWEVER, while I understand the first incidents were with underage girls AND he was the adult and should've had more restraint, some of the girls' behavior was exactly how he described - they pursued him.