Behind the Daredevil Flips, It’s a Family Affair

Backflipping over a vault, tumbling through a ring of fire or balancing on a pyramid of people are all classic acrobatic feats of the University of Maryland’s Gymkana troupe. Most members first learn about them from fellow students and alums; Joey Murray ’27 got advice going back a lot further: from his parents and grandparents.  

Murray is the third generation of his family to perform with the popular gymnastics club, which will present its 80th Anniversary Home Show this Friday and Saturday.

There’s something special about the family-like bonds formed in the troupe. It goes a step further for him and for other multigenerational families; he transferred to UMD his sophomore year to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandmother and grandfather, all troupe members before him. 

Joey’s grandfather, Joe “Doc” Murray ’66 joined in 1963 and returned as head coach from 1981 until he retired two decades later. You’ll still see him at Wednesday evening practice helping students with drills. 

“My best experience at Maryland was the Gymkana troupe,” said Doc. “It took the place of sororities and fraternities. It changed my entire life.” He became close friends with George Kramer, who directed the program starting in 1953, succeeding founder David A. Field, a physical education instructor. 

Among its longtime pillars: There are no tryouts or rejections. It welcomes people of all ability levels, said Ben Prescott ‘08, Gymkana assistant director, former troupe member and SPH kinesiology alumnus. “But you really have to be all in—it’s hard to participate in Gymkana in a passive or limited way.” 

Members also commit to modeling alcohol- and drug-free living and share that message while hosting a summer camp and performing in Maryland schools every year. 

“Students join us at such a formative time in their lives,” Prescott said. “And while we are known for promoting healthy choices and putting on performances, internally we spend a lot of time fostering a culture that is inclusive and safe.”

Joey’s grandmother, Gail Lee ‘72, who taught physical education and then science for four decades in Maryland middle and high schools , also remembers Gymkana fondly: “I loved the camaraderie. When you are in a really big [university] like this, it was a place to go, to make friends.” 

Joey’s father, Bryan Murray ‘98, says he was born into the troupe. 

“My mom was doing forward rolls on the balance beam with me inside her—so for me there was no start and no end to Gymkana, and I’m still in it!” he said recently at the Gymkana gym as he prepared to train students in juggling. 

As a young troupe member, Bryan Murray tore a tendon that took him out of every act he was in. On crutches and devastated to miss performing the acts he had worked so hard on, he took up juggling at the suggestion of his roommate, a juggler in the troupe, and hasn’t looked back since. 

Kramer, a mentor to Bryan, taught that Gymkana was about doing the absolute best you can do and if you fail, you try again. “That is the mentality we teach to the kids here today. And it works for every aspect of life—whether it’s a friendship, your marriage, your job. You can achieve things you never thought possible,” said Bryan.

Unlike many sports, the competition in Gymkana is with yourself, said Joey Murray. “We want to improve ourselves. There’s no overbearing need to be better than everyone else—it’s never one person doing something, it takes everyone to put these acts together.” 

For Doc, seeing his grandson transform and grow in Gymkana is the proof in the pudding. 

“It’s one of the proudest things I’ve experienced. I always hoped Joey would join Gymkana but I never expected it,” he said. “Joey was shy, but he’s come 1,000 miles. He is so happy and has so many friends. This is why I just want to see [Gymkana] keep on going and going.”