From Club to the Collegiate Level: Casimiro Suarez’s Coaching Leaves an Impact
2/17/2026 2:38:00 PM | Men's Gymnastics
Two Buckeye gymnasts trained with Ohio State associate head coach Casimiro Suarez when they were younger.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After retiring from competition, Ohio State associate head coach Casimiro Suarez has coached gymnasts at all levels – club, collegiate, international. He has a knack for developing gymnasts and has done so with two current Buckeyes in particular, Peyton Contini and Conlan Simpkins.
Contini and Simpkins were able to train with Suarez when they were youth gymnasts looking forward to the next level and chose to continue training with him by attending Ohio State.
"I'm a little biased, obviously. I think [Cas] is one of the best coaches in the world," Contini said. "He has a wide variety of experiences and things he's learned over the years. We have a strong relationship, so I wanted to stay with him and continue to be coached by him."
"There's that immediate connection with Cas that is lasting and means a lot to me," Simpkins said. "He's a great coach and a well-classed coach so I wanted to continue [training with him]. Being here, you get to meet the guys on the team and get to know them and what they do for fun. It's a great team atmosphere."
Suarez saw something in Contini and Simpkins and knew that they'd be able to compete at the collegiate level. Fast forward to the present, both have broken into the team lineup despite only four gymnasts competing for the team on each event.
"For Conlan, I always saw that he was going to be good on pommel horse because he has the talent. When I talked to his family, I always said that he'll be able to do that in college. Exactly the same thing with Peyton. To Peyton's mother, I said that he's going to be able to be able to do it in college. He's going to be good gymnast – good on rings and he's fast so he'll be good on floor and vault."
Suarez is dedicated to the gymnastics world and even more dedicated to teaching young people the most important traits and qualities to possess.
"I think it's the discipline – the basic thing for anything you want to get in your life," Saurez explained.
"A big lesson I learned is how important the small details are," Contini said. "Doing enough conditioning and doing therapy to get your body healthy."
Suarez continues to work with the younger generation to help them develop into great gymnasts and great people. It's why he keeps doing it – he loves the work he does.
"You see [the past] and you see guys that started training here [at a super young age]. For me, it's happiness and a mission accomplished. For those guys to be here at Ohio State, for me, is amazing. This has been what has made me continue working with the younger generation."
#GoBucks
Contini and Simpkins were able to train with Suarez when they were youth gymnasts looking forward to the next level and chose to continue training with him by attending Ohio State.
"I'm a little biased, obviously. I think [Cas] is one of the best coaches in the world," Contini said. "He has a wide variety of experiences and things he's learned over the years. We have a strong relationship, so I wanted to stay with him and continue to be coached by him."
"There's that immediate connection with Cas that is lasting and means a lot to me," Simpkins said. "He's a great coach and a well-classed coach so I wanted to continue [training with him]. Being here, you get to meet the guys on the team and get to know them and what they do for fun. It's a great team atmosphere."
Suarez saw something in Contini and Simpkins and knew that they'd be able to compete at the collegiate level. Fast forward to the present, both have broken into the team lineup despite only four gymnasts competing for the team on each event.
"For Conlan, I always saw that he was going to be good on pommel horse because he has the talent. When I talked to his family, I always said that he'll be able to do that in college. Exactly the same thing with Peyton. To Peyton's mother, I said that he's going to be able to be able to do it in college. He's going to be good gymnast – good on rings and he's fast so he'll be good on floor and vault."
Suarez is dedicated to the gymnastics world and even more dedicated to teaching young people the most important traits and qualities to possess.
"I think it's the discipline – the basic thing for anything you want to get in your life," Saurez explained.
"A big lesson I learned is how important the small details are," Contini said. "Doing enough conditioning and doing therapy to get your body healthy."
Suarez continues to work with the younger generation to help them develop into great gymnasts and great people. It's why he keeps doing it – he loves the work he does.
"You see [the past] and you see guys that started training here [at a super young age]. For me, it's happiness and a mission accomplished. For those guys to be here at Ohio State, for me, is amazing. This has been what has made me continue working with the younger generation."
#GoBucks
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