After a storied gymnastics career with the Perham Yellowjackets, Jenna Kupferschmid took the reins as head coach of her alma mater. That chapter of Yellowjacket Gymnastics has now ended. Kupferschmid has announced her resignation as head coach of the Yellowjackets after 12 years at the helm.

“It seems so weird that it was my 12th year last year, because I was pretty young when I started at 21,” Kupferschmid said. “I have learned a lot about who I am as a coach and had to change some of my coaching ways throughout the years. I really enjoyed being around so many different types of young ladies and watching them grow from seventh graders to 12th graders and seeing the type of gymnasts and people that they have become and what they have done with their life after, is full circle.”

After capturing a state championship on the bars in 2009, Kupferschmid captured an all-around state championship and an individual title on bars.

Kupferschmid said it was a hard transition going from competing for the Yellowjackets to coaching the Yellowjackets. Kupferschmid was a part of a dynamic Yellowjacket program that routinely competed at the Class A Tournaments.

“Gymnastics has evolved so much which was a challenge. I tried to adapt my coaching from being a gymnast to a coach,” Kupferschmid said. “It really taught me a lot about myself in so many ways. Overall, it is not about the best gymnast they would be, it is about who they are as a person and an athlete as well. That was a fun lesson to learn.”

Perham Activities Director Erin Anderson was very appreciative of the time and effort Kupferschmid put in for the Yellowjacket gymnastics program during her 12-year coaching career.

“Jenna has been an outstanding leader in our gymnastics program. Her consistency and ability to coach in a way that challenges the girls, holds them to high standards, and shows genuine care for who they are as young women has been a real gift to our school and community. Her deep commitment to Perham Yellowjacket gymnastics has been evident throughout her entire coaching career,” Anderson said. “I am incredibly thankful that Jenna stepped into this role when she did, and I am proud of how she has represented the program. I will truly miss her leadership and hope she will continue to be a valuable resource in the future.”

Along with the community, she was grateful for the support from her administration. Anderson and Kupferschmid both started their tenures at Perham Public Schools during the same year.

“He has always been easy to work with. Also, Mike Peterson, he was there from the beginning.

They both had to talk me into it, and I am glad they did,” Kupferschmid said. “I am glad that Mike was there to do all the back work on it. I know he likes to do it, and I like to joke with him that he is a control freak, but I am so glad that he is. Kayla Keil coming in and helping me, she has been there with me for a long ride. Even when she was not an assistant, she came along on the rides. I must thank my husband as well. There is a lengthy list of people that I could thank. I also must thank Charlie Fleck too for teaching me everything I know about gymnastics.”

During her tenure as head coach, Kupferschmid led the Yellowjackets to two Class A Appearances in 2020 and 2021 and coached a pair of multi-time state champions in Jada Olsen and Avery McAllister.

Olsen captured the bars title in 2017 and followed it up by winning the All-Around title in 2020, along with the vault. In 2021, Olsen captured the All-Around title, vault, and bars championships at the Class A Tournament. McAllister won the individual title on the beam in 2023 and followed that up by winning the vault in 2024.

Kupferschmid said her coaching style changed during her 12 years with the Yellowjackets.

“That was one of the biggest transitions I had to make was figuring out how to coach girls and learning how their attitudes are and what they respond to if I coach this way, versus the other way,” Kupferschmid said. “Along the way, Kayla Keil was my assistant coach, and it was nice to have another woman there to coach with me. It was nice that we could give ideas to each other.

Having Mike Peterson there from Day one to do all the behind the scenes work and he let me coach. I do not think I could have done it without either of those two.”

When asked about her favorite memories, Kupferschmid could not produce just one but did say the bus trips are something she will always remember.

“The buses are always fun and watching the girls from the beginning of the year, not being in the best shape they needed to be for a season and then fast forward to the end of the season, they grew so much,” Kupferschmid said. “I enjoyed watching seventh graders transition in their first year in having confidence in themselves. Also, the families that you meet along the way. It is a good program that I have been a part of for a long time. I am going to miss a lot of it.”

While Kupferschmid is stepping down as head coach, gymnastics will always remain in her blood. She said she expects to be around the new facility to help when she can.

Kupferschmid is grateful for all the support she has received from the families of the gymnastics program as well as the Perham community.

“In my coaching career, the parents have been so great and haven’t had any issues with them,” Kupferschmid said. “That is something not a lot of coaches can say. We do have a smaller group of girls, but they are always willing to help behind the scenes and make the girls feel special. With people just stepping in and doing that and not having to give that much direction to do that is nice to see. I was lucky to watch a new gym being built and being able to practice in that as well. I hope to continue to see it grow as well.”