Competitive gymnastics credits Don Wilderoter as the Father of Long Island, N.Y., Gymnastics for his contributions, particularly at the high school level. As AAU Chairmen for metropolitan New York, Wilderoter took it upon himself to train high school physical education teachers how to instruct the sport and he instructed classes. The resulting ripple effect that followed could be led back to Wilderoter and his efforts to bring women’s gymnastics to Long Island.