LEWISTON — As an exchange student from Germany in 1992-1993, Katja Lenhart made strong bonds at Lewiston High School and in the community.

For the next 10 years after graduation, she would visit Lewiston and stay in shape at Andy Valley School of Gymnastics, where she trained when she was a student.

“I wasn’t very good and did gymnastics more for exercise and discipline than competition,” she said during her current visit to Lewiston. “Don White was a great mentor and has become a lifelong friend,” she said of the owner at that time.

When she returned to Lewiston, Lenhart would run into Rod Gendron, an accomplished college gymnast who would train there as well, and eventually earned a national championship title with Ohio State.

Both sat together Wednesday afternoon in the same gym where they trained for all those summers, only she was a spectator and Gendron is now the owner.

As they watched Katja’s son, Luis, and daughter, Nelly, go through stretching and warming up, they laughed and joked, spoke seriously and marveled at all the other young students gathering for an afternoon class. Nellie would join the class while Luis worked out on the parallel bars and rings, already a national junior champion with his sights set on the Olympics.

As Gendron made his way out to begin the class, Katja found a spot on the sidelines with some parents who came to watch their young gymnasts. Others were there to visit with Katja and watch her children, while reminiscing and creating more lasting memories.

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