Woodridge Gymnastics Academy Suddenly Closes Without Explanation

WOODRIDGE, IL — A Woodridge gymnastics school recently shut its doors without notice Sunday, leaving customers dismayed and confused. Infinity Gymnastics Academy announced the closure via Facebook Monday morning, saying simply, "We regret to inform you that IGA has suddenly and permanently closed."

According to court records, the gymnastics academy was recently involved in legal proceedings with Colliers International, a real estate company that manages Woodridge Commerce Center, where the academy leased a space.

The Facebook post about Infinity Gymnastics Academy's closure stirred up a wave of concern and confusion among social media users and patrons of the gymnastics academy, which had been open since 2013. Some wrote, "Does anybody know what happened?" Others seemed stunned, noting that the gym's owner and head coach Julie Stepanchenko had "put her heart and [soul] into the gym."

Just days earlier, Stepanchenko had shared images of some of its students competing in a regional gymnastics competition.

If that timing made the announcement seem abrupt, it was made more surprising by the fact that many parents had just paid their tuition for upcoming classes, NBC 5 reports. The announcement of the closure was shared just hours before the spring recreation class schedule was set to begin.

According to the Infinity Gymnastics Academy's website, there's a non-refundable $25 fee per child/per year to register for classes.

Early Tuesday, the post about the gym's closure was followed up with a post prompting concerned residents to contact Stepanchenko via email with any questions or concerns.

Stepanchenko told Patch via email Wednesday that there was "more to the story" and that she had been advised by her lawyer not to speak to the media.

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