Barrington High gymnastics pioneer dies
As Barrington High School hosted the IHSA boys gymnastics state championships from 2004-2008, the coach who started the program at BHS always had a front-row seat.
Andy Kostick was a physical education teacher at Barrington High from 1960 to 1992. He started the gymnastics program that same year, only two years after the IHSA had officially sanctioned it.
Mr. Kostick passed away on Thursday at his Barrington home. He was 81.
“Andy was a fixture at the state championships, he was like an honorary chairman at the front scorer's table,” says Mike Obsuszt, Barrington High School athletic director.
“Even though he had retired, he was still actively supporting the sport throughout the state.”
A plaque recognizing Mr. Kostick's contribution hangs in the main gym lobby at Barrington High School, honoring him as a member of the Barrington High School Coaches' Hall of Fame.
He drew statewide recognition in 2008 when he was inducted into the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association Hall of Fame, an organization which he helped to shape. His photo hangs on display with the rest of the inductees at the Gary Morava Recreation Center in Prospect Heights.
Mr. Kostick was a championship diver with the U.S. swimming and diving team, while serving with the Army in Germany during the Korean War.
When he returned to the States, he got an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois before earning his master's at Southern Illinois University.
His long tenure at Barrington High School included a stint as the freshman football coach. He also was the longtime official timer up in the press box at varsity football games, a job he did until 2006.
Mr. Kostick's name lives on at the annual Andy Kostick Mid Suburban League Invitational gymnastics meet. Held every year at the beginning of the season at Barrington High School, it features a variety of “fun” events and serves as an icebreaker for the conference teams.
At the 20th annual meet held in March, Boys Head Coach Rob DeFano said the event continues to reflect Mr. Kostick's congenial disposition and love of the sport.
“The best thing about this meet is that when all the gymnasts go to dual meets during the season, they already know each other during warmups,” DeFano said, “from seeing everyone at this meet. No other sport gets along that way.”
Mr. Kostick is survived by his wife, Diane, and children Yuri Kostick and Julie Kostick, and three grandsons.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Nov. 6 at the Community Church of Barrington, 407 S. Grove Ave. in Barrington.