The greatest picture of the night that our guy Bill Moore shot was one of Wendy Hilliard bending over to comfort one of her students who didn’t score well in her program at an evening of gymnastics for the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Team.
Herself? Hilliard keeps on as the “Lady in Charge” at the legendary and historic 369th Armory at 142nd Street and Fifth Avenue in the village of Harlem. Always the underlining factor, there just isn’t enough money to move, introduce, teach, get assistants and afford all the other odds and ends to maintain a program and sport like gymnastics.
Like the kids shooting hoops in the gym that requires sneakers and other things, the young ladies also require the proper shoes, practice outfits and funds to travel to meets.
Hilliard, a former U.S. Olympian, has been at the forefront of creating meaningful programs that also feature numerous educational components. The young ladies in her program have been encouraged by the success of Gabby Douglas, and for sure, it’s time for New York and Harlem to join the ranks and support this wonderful program.