Flipping across the gymnastics floor, he practices new skills for an upcoming season. DGN senior Layton Filips has been competing with the boys gymnastics team for the past three years, gaining new strengths and talents. Entering the 2025 season, the DGN Trojans and the DGS Mustangs will compete together as the Ninety-Niners.

The Ninety-Niners were formed to preserve the boys gymnastics teams that will compete together for the next two years. One of the DGN coaches Tony Ciezadlo has coached gymnastics for 27 years, helping athletes from District 99 gain new skills.

“I am very much looking forward to this season. We have an amazing group of gymnasts from North and South this year, which will lead us to another state meet appearance and possibly a trophy,” Ciezadlo said.

Filips has been able to make it to state three times while competing at DGN and hopes to make it again for his senior year. Although the team will be different, Filips will be working three events with the Ninety-Niners, floor, vault and pommel horse.

“Sports were never really my thing, but starting [gymnastics] my freshman year and making it to state [my] first year was pretty surreal,” Filips said.

The summer of his freshman year is when Filips started gymnastics and found talents he never knew he had. Filips was able to learn new skills quickly and pick up events easily, proving he is a vital part of the team.

“Layton works three crucial events on our team, he has been clutch on pommel horse in the past and I would expect nothing less. On [the] floor, he has continued to clean up his set and add difficulty. This year is big for Layton and the other seniors on our team,” Ciezadlo said.

Despite having to get used to a new team, Filips is excited for all the things to come from his senior season.

“I feel like I definitely have more of a responsibility being a senior. I have to set the bar for all the younger kids and I also feel like I’m obligated to do the best I can, so I’m excited to see where that’ll take me,” Filips said.

Although the athletes from both DGN and DGS will take time to get used to the new team, most of the athletes are looking forward to the season. DGS junior Dylan Smith has been competing on the Mustang gymnastics team for two years and is ready for the upcoming season.

“Gymnastics is a great time, and it’s a great way to [connect] together as friends. The new team is likely to have an impact on all the team members,” Smith said.

Although the season will be different than previous years, the team still has many big things to look forward to.

“The biggest difference in the season this year is that we at North will have dual meets with West Suburban Gold and Silver conference schools. This is great because we get to see a more variety of teams,” Ciezadlo said.

The Ninety-Niners’ first competitive meet of the 2025 season will be on March 7, at Hinsdale Central.