Dec. 5, 2011

STANFORD, Calif. - The Stanford women's gymnastics team offers a great opportunity for kids to enjoy an afternoon at the team's 15,000-square foot training facility, and for parents to get a break for some holiday shopping.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Cardinal will host `Meet the Team' and `Parents' Day Out,' which is a free event at the team's Ford Center training facility, beginning at 2 p.m.

This is an annual event for the program. It begins with a half-hour structured intrasquad demonstration from members of the Stanford team and is followed by an autograph session.

Afterward, kids (ages 5-17) can play in the gym and enjoy games and movies until 5 p.m.

It is a free event. Parents can drop off their children at 2 (a waiver signature is required), and return to pick them up at 5.

This is a great opportunity for young fans and aspiring gymnasts to meet and interact with members of this year's team - a group of amazing young women who embody what Stanford student-athletes are all about.

The event also provides an opportunity to meet Stanford's talented freshman class, as well as seniors and returning all-conference performers Alyssa Brown and Nicole Pechanec.

Stanford has one of the nation's elite gymnastics programs and the Cardinal is annually a contender for a national championship. Stanford opens its season Jan. 15 by hosting Sacramento State, San Jose State, and UC Davis, in the NorCal Quad Meet at Burnham Pavilion.