Nika Prather teaches two gymnastics classes at the North Webster Community Center including one with a focus for ninja warrior. Photo by Nathan Pace.

By Nathan Pace
InkFreeNews

Gymnastics has been prominent in Nika Prather’s life and seeing her passion enjoyed by area youth is something she still strives for. Prather teaches a ninja warrior class at the North Webster Community Center. When a young boy with cerebral palsy enjoyed the class and said “This is the best day of my life,” all the emotions hit Prather.

“That’s what blesses me, when kids love it and our excited. It just brings me joy to see them,” Prather said. “As long as kids are happy and gaining confidence. Building self esteem.”

Prather coached at Wawasee High School for 33 years. She retired in 2020 where the COVID-19 pandemic took away spectators from her final meet.

Prather attended Indiana State University and thought about trying out for the team.

“I thought I would try out there,” Prather said. “Well they happened to be eighth in the nation that year and I could see the level they were. I was a cheerleader at Indiana State instead but I still knew I wanted to coach.”

She studied physical education at Indiana State but had a concentration on coaching gymnastics.

“I had done tumbling and dance but I loved the sport. I was fascinated with the sport. The athleticism of the sport,” Prather said.

Prather coached in private gymnastics clubs before she moved to the Wawasee area in North Webster in 1987. She became assistant to Wawasee state champion Tracy Rinker that year and became head coach in 1994. During this time she also coached at the club level and programs for young children.

The idea of establishing a gymnastics club with Rinker came to fruition shortly after when Prather became head coach.

“There all ready was a wrestling club at Wawasee High School. There was a swimming club at Wawasee High School. We had a middle school team but there was no close gymnastics facility where kids can take lessons,” Prather said. “Through a lot of road blocks we got it started in 1995.”

Prather wanted to make the gymnastics club non-profit so that area families would not be priced out.

“I wanted it to be convenient and affordable because gymnastics clubs are expensive,” Prather said. “I wanted kids to have the opportunity to try it and participate in it.”

Currently at the North Webster Community Center, Prather teaches a ninja warrior class she began in 2015. She says a parent of a student in her romp and roll class said they enrolled because their son wanted to be on the television show, “American Ninja Warrior.” The comment set in motion the new class for Prather. Prather also wishes she could have done the show.

“I so would have been a ninja warrior. If I had a chance I would have loved to do that,” Prather said.

Prather just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary to her husband Michael. They have two kids in Tierny and Brodie, both are Wawasee alumni.

“God knew exactly what kind of husband I needed,” Prather said. “I’m not joking. He’s so good at letting me do my thing and supporting me in it. He has set equipment up and hauled it. He knew going in I was a gymnastics coach and was going to be gone in the evenings.”