After 47 1/2 years as Columbus East gymnastics coach, Nancy Kirshman has stepped down.
Kirshman came to the decision following Saturday’s tri-meet loss to Bloomington North and Roncalli. She met with athletics director Pete Huse and principal Mark Newell on Monday and informed them that she was retiring immediately.
“It was short and sweet,” Huse said. “She just let us know that she decided to retire immediately for personal reasons.”
Kirshman is the only gymnastics coach in school history at East. She led the Olympians to 15 sectional and 13 regional title, along with a state championship in 1990 and state runner-up finish in 1991.
Assistant coaches Katie Menifee and Melissa Dishinger will act as co-coaches through end of the season. Menifee is in her second year with the program, and Dishinger, a former East gymnast, is in her first year.
“We’ll meet with them at the end of the year, and we’ll evaluate everything and see what we want to do,” Huse said.
The Olympians have been hit hard this season by injuries to a couple of their top gymnasts. They are scheduled to compete in the Bloomington South Invitational on Saturday.
