John Geddert transfers Twistars management to wife
Eric LacyLANSING -- The former U.S. Olympic coach who worked with Larry Nassar has transferred management of his USA Gymnastics member club to his wife.
Documents filed with the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Thursday Jan. 25 Kathryn Geddert, wife of John Geddert, is now Twistars' president and resident agent.
Twistars' website lists Kathryn Geddert as its owner and appears wiped clean of any references to her husband.
An email obtained by the Lansing State Journal sent Friday afternoon by Kathryn Geddert to parents of Twistars gymnasts also refers to her as owner of the facility at 9410 Davis Hwy. in Dimondale.
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John Geddert was suspended by USA Gymnastics Jan. 22.
In a statement Monday night, USA Gymnastics said John Geddert remains suspended and is prohibited from contact with members clubs and coaching at sanctioned events.
The statement added the USA Gymnastics member club status of Twistars' Dimondale facility is "under review due to his suspension" and that Twistars gymnasts are eligible to compete in sanctioned events during the review.
Hours after USA Gymnastics suspended John Geddert, he wrote an email addressed to "Twistars families" that said he plans to retire.
USA Gymnastics' bylaws state that any suspension of an individual member who "has any ownership interest — direct or indirect —of a private gymnastics facility" will result in a suspension of member club status.
John Geddert was listed as the sole president and resident agent of Twistars for 10 years before management was transferred to his wife last week, according to LARA filings.
USA Gymnastics' bylaws also state a member who is suspended is prohibited from any association or participation with activities conducted by a member club for the suspension's duration.
Twistars is one of 93 USA Gymnastics member clubs in Michigan, according to USAG's website. The Gedderts also have a non-member club facility in DeWitt Township.
Kelly Shaw, parent of a Twistars gymnast, said she hasn't seen John Geddert at the Dimondale facility since his suspension was made public by USAG.
Shaw's daughter, 13-year-old Tasha Senterfit, practices at Twistars 29 hours a week, Shaw said.
“She’s having a hard time with it," Shaw said of John Geddert's suspension and transfer of ownership. "She's cried. She's looked up to him. She still looks up to him.
"I can honestly say we’ve never had any bad experiences with him."
John Geddert has been accused by several former Twistars gymnasts of being an abusive coach who required them to be treated by Nassar.
Nassar, 54, formerly of Holt, was sentenced last week to 40 to 175 years in prison for multiple sexual assault charges in Ingham County, most related to assaults on his patients.
Nassar is scheduled to be sentenced this week on additional charges in Eaton County, related to his work at the Twistars in Dimondale.
Former Twistars gymnast Lindsey Lemke said Jan. 24 on her Twitter page that John Geddert threatened her after she spoke last week during Nassar's sentencing hearing.
"I was threatened way too many times by him growing up," Lemke said of Geddert, "and I have learned that he does not have that control over me."
John Geddert coached the gold medal winning 2012 U.S. Olympic women's gymnastics team in the London games.
He also worked closely with Nassar, a former MSU physician who was allowed to treat patients in a backroom at Twistars' Dimondale facility.
Contact Eric Lacy at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.