Title IX Spotlight: Kristie Helfrich
7/11/2022 1:30:00 PM | Gymnastics, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
Gymnastics alumna helped set foundation for program's success
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, this is the latest entry in a GWsports.com series highlighting exemplary alumnae who remain connected to the Buff and Blue reflecting on the past, present and future of their programs.
Surrounded by dozens of fellow GW gymnastics alumnae spanning the program's three-plus decades under Head Coach Margie Foster-Cunningham, Kristie (Gackenheimer) Helfrich rode a familiar roller coaster on March 19 during the EAGL Championship at the Charles E. Smith Center.
"There's something so special about walking back into the Smith Center for a meet," said Helfrich, who represented the Buff and Blue from 1993-97. "I still have the same emotion and butterflies and excitement that I did when I was competing."
When it was over and the Buff and Blue had secured the title in thrilling fashion while competing on podium in their home arena, Helfrich and the rest of the alums joined the celebration to cap one of most memorable days in program history.
"For us, it was nothing but pride," Helfrich said. "I think I can speak for everyone: When we come back and watch, we're so happy to see the success of the program. I think a piece of all of us is out there competing with those girls."
A member of the GW Athletics Advisory Council, Helfrich values that continued connection to her alma mater as much as ever, and she's been pleased to see the gymnastics program continue to make strides under Foster-Cunningham, who remains a trusted mentor as she navigates a busy schedule as a mother of four and Chief Operating Officer of a beauty and personal care consumer research firm, The Benchmarking Company.
"I think it really prepared me for life," Helfrich said. "It sounds kind of cliché, but what Margie is doing with her program is building up the tools in your tool kit that you need to be a great professional, a great partner in a marriage, a great parent. I feel like it helped me to become the person that I am today."
Looking back, Helfrich feels fortunate to have found her way to the Buff and Blue.
The Massachusetts native fell in love with gymnastics while watching Olympic champions like Mary Lou Retton and Nadia Comăneci, but midway through high school, she wasn't sure that she wanted to continue her career in college.
Ultimately, she joined Foster-Cunningham's program as a walk-on, sold on the combination of high-level academics and the coach's vision for a championship program.
Over four years, Helfrich grew along with the program, rising to become a captain as a senior in 1996-97.
Working hard alongside talented teammates like Lori Chaitman, Tracey Ackerman, Lisa Gruber, Shari Doulman, Siobhan Haney, Meena Lakdawala and Alexis Hrynko, she helped lay the foundation for a run of five straight A-10 titles from 1998-2002 while forging friendships that remain strong.
"I feel like they're teammates for life," Helfrich said. "Even if we don't talk to each other because life is super busy, when we get together, it's like no time has passed. We're always talking about road trips or that time we had to do the fitness test and reminiscing about all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it."
The lessons learned from Foster-Cunningham remain fresh, too.
Helfrich can still hear her coach's voice inside her head when times get tough with the reminder that when you think you've got nothing left in the tank there's still have 10 percent there in reserve, and there are countless other Buff and Blue axioms still prove useful on a daily basis in business and beyond, she said.
"As a walk-on, I was never a star of the team, but you're only as good as your weakest link," said Helfrich, a former A-10 All-Academic honoree who earned her Accounting degree through the GW School of Business. "The better I got and the more I was able to contribute to the team, that made our whole program better.
"I think that's true in every instance – in the workplace, in a relationship, in a family. Everyone needs to step up their game and contribute in order for any of those units to be successful."
Helfrich hopes to bring some of those values to the current generation through her work with the Positive Coaching Alliance.
She serves on the Mid-Atlantic Board for the national organization devoted to cultivating a positive culture in youth sports through education for coaches, parents and young athletes. In May, the GW women's soccer team lent a hand by volunteering at a soccer clinic for 500 D.C. children at Audi Field as part of a PCA event Helfrich helped organize.
"Your kids spend a lot of time with their coaches, and they have such an impact on their life, for better or for worse," said Helfrich, who stays busy traveling the globe to go to the games of her children Kaitlyn, Matthew, Carrie and Tommy. "I really do feel like rooting all of that in some kind of positivity in building these kids up is only going to make them more successful."
The difference that a coach can make was certainly on display that unforgettable day back in March at the EAGL Championship.
Helfrich and the assembled group of Foster-Cunningham's former gymnasts shared laughs about the good times at a pre-meet social and then came together to cheer on the Buff and Blue as they put on a show in the Smith Center to claim the program's eighth conference title.
The festivities provided a fine reminder of all that's changed and all that hasn't for the program that they love.
"I feel like the foundations are the same: the grittiness and the commitment to excellence and dedication that the team shows," Helfrich said. "I think the difference between when I was there and now is that they're given the resources necessary to compete at the highest level.
"Everything's up a notch. That's kudos to Margie and to the administration and the school for recognizing that the gymnastics team is a good investment."
Past Title IX Spotlights
Denise Dombay ('88) - Women's Swimming & Diving
Surrounded by dozens of fellow GW gymnastics alumnae spanning the program's three-plus decades under Head Coach Margie Foster-Cunningham, Kristie (Gackenheimer) Helfrich rode a familiar roller coaster on March 19 during the EAGL Championship at the Charles E. Smith Center.
"There's something so special about walking back into the Smith Center for a meet," said Helfrich, who represented the Buff and Blue from 1993-97. "I still have the same emotion and butterflies and excitement that I did when I was competing."
When it was over and the Buff and Blue had secured the title in thrilling fashion while competing on podium in their home arena, Helfrich and the rest of the alums joined the celebration to cap one of most memorable days in program history.
"For us, it was nothing but pride," Helfrich said. "I think I can speak for everyone: When we come back and watch, we're so happy to see the success of the program. I think a piece of all of us is out there competing with those girls."
A member of the GW Athletics Advisory Council, Helfrich values that continued connection to her alma mater as much as ever, and she's been pleased to see the gymnastics program continue to make strides under Foster-Cunningham, who remains a trusted mentor as she navigates a busy schedule as a mother of four and Chief Operating Officer of a beauty and personal care consumer research firm, The Benchmarking Company.
"I think it really prepared me for life," Helfrich said. "It sounds kind of cliché, but what Margie is doing with her program is building up the tools in your tool kit that you need to be a great professional, a great partner in a marriage, a great parent. I feel like it helped me to become the person that I am today."
The Massachusetts native fell in love with gymnastics while watching Olympic champions like Mary Lou Retton and Nadia Comăneci, but midway through high school, she wasn't sure that she wanted to continue her career in college.
Ultimately, she joined Foster-Cunningham's program as a walk-on, sold on the combination of high-level academics and the coach's vision for a championship program.
Over four years, Helfrich grew along with the program, rising to become a captain as a senior in 1996-97.
Working hard alongside talented teammates like Lori Chaitman, Tracey Ackerman, Lisa Gruber, Shari Doulman, Siobhan Haney, Meena Lakdawala and Alexis Hrynko, she helped lay the foundation for a run of five straight A-10 titles from 1998-2002 while forging friendships that remain strong.
"I feel like they're teammates for life," Helfrich said. "Even if we don't talk to each other because life is super busy, when we get together, it's like no time has passed. We're always talking about road trips or that time we had to do the fitness test and reminiscing about all the blood, sweat and tears that went into it."
Helfrich can still hear her coach's voice inside her head when times get tough with the reminder that when you think you've got nothing left in the tank there's still have 10 percent there in reserve, and there are countless other Buff and Blue axioms still prove useful on a daily basis in business and beyond, she said.
"As a walk-on, I was never a star of the team, but you're only as good as your weakest link," said Helfrich, a former A-10 All-Academic honoree who earned her Accounting degree through the GW School of Business. "The better I got and the more I was able to contribute to the team, that made our whole program better.
"I think that's true in every instance – in the workplace, in a relationship, in a family. Everyone needs to step up their game and contribute in order for any of those units to be successful."
Helfrich hopes to bring some of those values to the current generation through her work with the Positive Coaching Alliance.
She serves on the Mid-Atlantic Board for the national organization devoted to cultivating a positive culture in youth sports through education for coaches, parents and young athletes. In May, the GW women's soccer team lent a hand by volunteering at a soccer clinic for 500 D.C. children at Audi Field as part of a PCA event Helfrich helped organize.
"Your kids spend a lot of time with their coaches, and they have such an impact on their life, for better or for worse," said Helfrich, who stays busy traveling the globe to go to the games of her children Kaitlyn, Matthew, Carrie and Tommy. "I really do feel like rooting all of that in some kind of positivity in building these kids up is only going to make them more successful."
Helfrich and the assembled group of Foster-Cunningham's former gymnasts shared laughs about the good times at a pre-meet social and then came together to cheer on the Buff and Blue as they put on a show in the Smith Center to claim the program's eighth conference title.
The festivities provided a fine reminder of all that's changed and all that hasn't for the program that they love.
"I feel like the foundations are the same: the grittiness and the commitment to excellence and dedication that the team shows," Helfrich said. "I think the difference between when I was there and now is that they're given the resources necessary to compete at the highest level.
"Everything's up a notch. That's kudos to Margie and to the administration and the school for recognizing that the gymnastics team is a good investment."
Past Title IX Spotlights
Denise Dombay ('88) - Women's Swimming & Diving
GW Gymnastics Senior Meet
Sunday, February 27
Pink Meet
Sunday, February 06
GW Gymnastics Lindsey Ferris Meet
Sunday, January 16
Buff & Blue Forever: Anna Warhol
Friday, May 07