Gymnastics Coach Performs Double Duty

What began 10 years ago as a co-op boys gymnastics team at Township High School District 113 has now grown into separate varsity teams for Deerfield High School and Highland Park High School.

And leading both teams is Hall of Fame coach Doug Foerch, who told the Chicago Tribune that it's an unusual arrangement, but one that makes sense.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun for the kids and a lot of fun for me," he said. "A part of the reason behind this is that we're trying to expand the sport. We have enough kids where we feel confident we can do that and run two quality programs. To me, that's an accomplishment in itself."

Per the Illinois High School Association, Foerch can coach both schools' teams as long as they don't mingle while practicing.

Foerch told the Tribune that he arranges his teams' scheduled so their dual meets are at the same location, and that the two schools will only compete against each other once, at the end of the season.