Britton Native Recognized

    Britton native Michelle (Johnson) Haaland has been honored by the South Dakota Gymnastics Coaches Association (SDGCA) with the Judges Leadership Award.
    Haaland served as a judge at the state gymnastics meet held in Pierre last weekend and was recognized at the event.  She currently lives in Aberdeen with her husband, Kyle, and two children – Gauge and Reese – and works as an outpatienmt physical therapist at The Avera Therapy Center.
    Since 2003 the SDGCA has honored a gymnastics judge.  The award honors a person who is highly respected by athletes, fans, and coaches and who communicates well with athletes and coaches, providing input that will help to improve routines throughout the season.  The recipient also shows leadership by being a mentor to veteran as well as new officials and is willing to do whatever us necessary to better the sport of gymnastics.
    Haaland grew up in Britton and that is where her love for gymnastics began.  In elementary school she attended many summer gymnastics camps and clinics held at Britton High School.  While in high school she was part of the Braves’ varsity team for five years and placed individually at three state meets, also helping her school win multiple Northeast Conference and regional team championships including three state runner-up titles.
    During her college years Haaland spent many hours helping coach the Britton gymnastics team during her Christmas breaks and traveling with her sister and other Britton gymnasts to Watertown to attend club gymnastics training in the summer.
    After college, Haaland returned to South Dakota and began judging.  She just completed her 18th year of judging and has judged multiple state meets.  The Britton native was selected as the state meet referee in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons and also received the Judges Leadership Award in 2015 and the NFAO Active Officials Award in 2016.
    Haaland is very honored and humbled to be receiving this award and proud to be part of an amazing gymnastics family including judges, coaches, gymnasts, and fans that keep the sport of gymnastics alive in South Dakota.  She has met a lot of great people through the sport and is excited each year to see the progression of the gymnasts and the sport.  The 2024 honoree loves staying as active as she can in the sport to help ensure a long future for gymnastics in the state of South Dakota.