Door County YMCA Striver’s Gymnastics Team awarded the Eighth Annual Ellie Helm “Spirit” Award
The YMCA Striver’s Gymnastics Team awarded the Eighth Annual Ellie Helm “Spirit” Award at their team banquet on Wednesday, October 1st. The Ellie Helm Spirit Award stands for Sportsmanship, Positivity, Inspiration, Respect and Teamwork. Six characteristics that describe Ellie Helm.
Ellie was a long-time Striver Gymnast who won numerous individual, State, and National Medals for the Striver Team. Ellie was a Gibraltar graduate; she attended the North Dakota State University. Ellie participated on the UND cheerleading squad. On September 29, 2017 Ellie lost her life suddenly and tragically in an ATV accident. At that moment, the world lost a loving, kind, compassionate young woman.
The Ellie Helm “SPIRIT” Award is awarded to a Striver Gymnast who exemplifies and encapsulates Ellie’s kind spirit, her compassion for the sport of gymnastics, and most importantly exhibits the characteristics that define the Spirit Award.
The 2024-2025 Ellie Helm “SPIRIT” Award recipient is our Excel Gold gymnast Greta Virgin. Greta is the daughter of Merit and Jim Virgin. Greta has been on the Striver’s Gymnastic Team for 3 seasons, Greta will compete in the Gold level this season. Greta embellishes herself with being kind and respectful to her teammates, she has an inviting spirit, is goal-oriented, hard-working and a supportive friend to all gymnasts in the gym. Greta gives 100 percent to every Team practice, she is an absolute joy to have in the gym
Congratulations to Greta!
Past recipients of the “SPIRIT” Award:
2017 – 2018 Desiree Guilette
2018 - 2019 Abi Tooley
2019 - 2020 Amira Anschutz
2020 – 2021 Miya Eliyha
2021 - 2022 Alexa Jimenes-Seyfer
2022 - 2023 Shaylyn Asher
2023 - 2024 Estelle Duerst
2024 – 2025 Greta Virgin