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Coldwater's Nichols looks to pass the torch for Cardinal Gymnastics

troy tennyson, coldwater daily reporter
·3 min read
The Coldwater coaching duo of Kim Nichols (far left) and Janet Kahler (far right), joined here by All State gymnast Charlotte Calhoun, announced their retirement from Cardinal Gymnastics and now look to pass the torch to the next generation
The Coldwater coaching duo of Kim Nichols (far left) and Janet Kahler (far right), joined here by All State gymnast Charlotte Calhoun, announced their retirement from Cardinal Gymnastics and now look to pass the torch to the next generation

COLDWATER, MI. - The Coldwater Cardinal Gymnastics program will be under new leadership come the 2023-24 winter season as legendary head coach Kim Nichols and longtime assistant coach Janet Kahler tendered their resignations during the school board meeting held May 22, which became effective as of April 30.

The resignation of both Nichols and Kahler will leave behind a huge hole in an up-and-coming gymnastics program, with Nichols herself having coached the sport for 20 years.

“I love the sport and the girls and coaches,” said Nichols. “But it is simply time for me to pass the torch. As I near retirement from education I realize that it is best to make this change now.”

Nichols has seen a great deal of success at the helm of Coldwater gymnastics, being named the 2019 Gymnastics Coach of the Year by the Michigan High School Coaches Association (MHSAA) while also earning the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS) Gymnastics Coach of the Year award.

Nichols kicked off her coaching career with a year as an assistant at Portage High School before taking over at the helm of Coldwater Gymnastics where she has spent 19 years. Over that span Nichols has coached one senior National Showcase Champion on the uneven bars; one MHSAA State Champion in the bars; three regional champions, including one vault and two bars; coached 24 individual event and all-around state finalists; eight All-State Individuals; six individuals to Conference Championships in either a single event or an All-Around title; 22 individual All-Conference Gymnasts; and 19 regional qualifying varsity teams and one junior varsity regional qualifier (one every year of coaching).

Also, at the helm of Coldwater Gymnastics, Nichols has coached three different teams to a new CHS (Coldwater High School) Team Total Points school record and coached one individual, Kylie Dudek, to a record in all five individual events both at Coldwater and in the conference.

Nichols has also spent time coaching the CHS track and field team, spending 10 years as an assistant coach including coaching the first female pole vaulters in Coldwater High School history as well as Coldwater’s first female state finalist.

Coldwater's Kim Nichols, shown here after winning the MHSGCJA Coach of the Year award, recently announced her retirement from coaching the Cardinal Gymnastics program, along with her assistant Janet Kahler.
Coldwater's Kim Nichols, shown here after winning the MHSGCJA Coach of the Year award, recently announced her retirement from coaching the Cardinal Gymnastics program, along with her assistant Janet Kahler.

Statewide Nichols has spent many years as a member of the Michigan High School Gymnastics Coaches and Judges Association (MHSGCJA), having joined in 1994. Nichols has been an MHSGCJA judge for 11 years, a span that saw her officiate five state finals.

One of Nichols most lasting achievements will undoubtedly be her work with the Stick It for a Cure Fundraiser which has spent the last 13 years raising money for local oncology and various cancer treatment centers. Over that span the Stick It for a Cure Fundraiser has raised and donated more than $135,000 for use right here in the local community.

In 2018 the CHS Gymnastics program was honored with Junior Philanthropists Program of the Year for the Coldwater ProMedica Regional Hospital and in 2019 the CHS program was honored with the Junior Philanthropists Program of the Year for the ProMedica Regional Hospital in Toledo, Ohio.

“I am very proud of the legacy I am leaving behind,” added Nichols. “The Coldwater High School (CHS) gymnastics program has transformed over the last two decades and I am proud to have been instrumental in making that happen.”

Nichols and Kahler have indeed been instrumental in making Coldwater Gymnastics what it is today, and a huge hole will now need to be filled for the future generations of Coldwater gymnasts.

With the retirement of both Nichols and Kahler two openings currently exist for the CHS Varsity Gymnastics Coach and Assistant Coaching positions. For information on those positions please visit coldwaterschools.org.

Thank you to both Kim Nichols and Janet Kahler for your dedication to and love for the sport of gymnastics, you have truly transformed Coldwater Gymnastics into something special and you will be sorely missed.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater's Nichols looks to pass the torch for Cardinal Gymnastics