Battle for the Rock

  • Battle for the rock - This year will mark the 12th year we continue our tradition in Rockwall ISD gymnastics. In appreciation for Coach Stout and all of his contributions to our gymnastics programs, this meet is dedicated to him.

     

    THE MEET:

    This is a meet for all male gymnasts in Rockwall ISD. RHS in addition with all middle school athletes that will eventually attend RHS to make one team to represent the "North" team. All athletes that will go to Heath, and those who are already attending Heath will make up the "South" team.

    The intent of this meet is to celebrate the history of our Rockwall ISD program. This will be an optional level meet for our level 6 athletes.  Middle school athletes will still compete as exhibition gymnasts under different rules (still optional level rules).

     

    THE PRIZE:

    The "Battle for the Rock" trophy has a rock at its top from the original rock wall in our city. The front of the trophy has historical information over the gymnastics career of Coach Stout. On the sides, there is a column for "North" on one side, and column for "South" on the other side. The same trophy will stay with the winning team until the next "Battle for the rock." Each year, the winning team will have their year of victory engraved onto their side of the trophy.

     

    COACH STOUT:

    Coach Stout is the reason why there is a gymnastics program in Rockwall ISD. In his 28 years of coaching, he built a program that grew to the size we know today (3 middle schools, 2 high schools). Every school in our district has a gymnastics gym on campus. The following text will be presented on our trophy:

     

    COACH STOUT’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

    - STARTED THE ROCKWALL HS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM IN 1981
    - STARTED THE ROCKWALL MS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM IN 1982
         ** CONTINUED INTO J.W. WILLAMS MS IN 1989**
    - “TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS COACHES ASSOCIATION” VICE PRESIDENT
         1986 – 1992, PRESIDENT 1992 – 1995
    - TEXAS STATE LIAISON TO NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 1988 – 1995
    - TEAM LEADER FOR THE TEXAS STATE TEAM TO THE “NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
         GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIP” 1988 – 1995 - REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
         1988, 2003, 2007 - NATIONALLY RATED MEN’S GYMNASTICS JUDGE 1983 – 1992
    - RHS WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM HEAD COACH 1981 – 1987
    - RHS MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM HEAD COACH 1981 – 2008
    - RISD MS GYMNASTICS TEAMS HEAD COACH 1982 – 1998
    - RHHS MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAM HEAD COACH 2005 – 2006
         **COACH STOUT COACHED BOTH HIGH SCHOOL MEN’S GYMNASTICS TEAMS FOR
         THE 05-06 SEASON**
    - RHS COMPULSORY TEAM RECORD: 175.35 (3/31/05)
    - RHS OPTIONAL TEAM RECORD: 164.9 (3/21/03)
    - 19 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS
    - 12 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
    - 20 TIME STATE QUALIFYING TEAM
    - STATE QUALIFYING TEAM FROM 1993 – 2008
         **THIS STREAK HAS EXTENDED PAST HIS TIME AS HEAD COACH AT RHS**
    - 12 TIME STATE FINALIST TEAM - ELITE ALL AMERICAN TEAM FROM 1983 – 2008
         **THIS STREAK HAS EXTENDED PAST HIS TIME AS HEAD COACH AT RHS**
    - 3 INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS: 1986
         KIRK WINDHAL – VAULT HORSE 1986
         CHRIS GARTELL – PARALLEL BARS 1995
         MICHALE WIDLUND – VAULT HORSE
    - 337 TOTAL WINS

     

    TRADITIONS AND PROGRAMS STARTED BY COACH STOUT:

    - THE TRADITIONAL “THANKSGIVING FEAST” BEGAN IN 1982 **THIS TRADITION
         STILL EXISTS TODAY AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS** - THE UTLEY MS GYMNASTICS
         PROGRAM IN 1997 & 2009
    - THE CAIN MS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM IN 1999
    - THE UTLEY FRESHMAN CENTER GYMNASTICS PROGRAM IN 2001 UNTIL 2005
    - THE ROCKWALL-HEATH HS GYMNASTICS PROGRAM IN 2005 IN ALL, THERE ARE
         NOW THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TWO HIGH SCHOOLS IN ROCKWALL ISD THAT
         OFFER GYMNASTICS AS A VARSITY SPORT, WITH A FULL TIME COACH.

     

    Past battle for the rock champions:

    2021 - North

    2020 - *Covid Pandemic*

    2019 - North

    2018 - North

    2017 - North

    2016 - North

    2015 - North

    2014 - North

    2013 - North

    2012 - North

    2011 - North