STAFF

Coach Callie

Some fun facts about me:

• My first name is Rachel but I go by my middle name, Callie.
• Years coaching gymnastics: more than 8
• Favorite healthy food: strawberries
• Favorite dessert: chocolate peanut butter ice cream
• Languages: besides English, I speak some Spanish and Hebrew (I was pretty fluent in both at the end of high school).  I can still understand quite a bit
• Pets: our husky/collie dog Bacon, and our cat Lucy
• Hobbies: swing dancing, snowboarding, doing gymnastics myself, and chasing our high-energy toddler around
• Role at AGC: Owner/Preschool Director & Coach
• I love coaching because it’s so rewarding to see my students learning and succeeding, and it is really fun to see the personality of each kid come out.  I grew up in the DC area and did recreational gymnastics from ages 3-12.  I went to UW Madison and now live in Verona with my husband Sonny, stepdaughter Evelyn (11 years old), and daughter Kaitlyn (3.5 years old).
   

Groundskeeper Sonny

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: 0
• Favorite healthy food: sugar-free Greek yogurt
• Favorite dessert: donuts
• Languages: English
• Pets: our husky/collie dog Bacon, and our cat Lucy 
• Hobbies: weekend warrior at the gym, getting my kids to say weird things, finding decorations for my office
• Role at AGC: Owner/All-rounder
• I do my best to make sure the coaches at AGC can focus on what they do best. That means I’m in charge of groundskeeping, marketing, bookkeeping, etc, etc… at least until we decide to call in a professional. I grew up in Cedarburg, just north of Milwaukee. I went to UW-Madison for my undergrad and graduate degrees. I live in Verona with my wife Callie (see above) and two daughters, Evelyn and Kaitlyn.
   

Coach Sara

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: this is my first year coaching gymnastics, and I am already having so much fun!!
• Favorite healthy foods: fresh summer fruits like watermelon or pineapples
• Favorite dessert: ice cream (my two favorite flavors are cookie dough and coffee)
• Languages: I am taking Spanish classes in high school, and it is one of my favorite subjects
• Pets: one fluffy cat named Jade. He likes to snuggle and look out the windows
• Hobbies: Outside of coaching and doing gymnastics, I love to dance, play golf and hang out with my two younger sisters
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I like coaching kids because I love how happy it makes them when they ACHIEVE their goals.

Coach Elizabeth

Some fun facts about me:

• You can call me Elizabeth or Coach Beth
• Years coaching gymnastics: 6
• Favorite healthy food: anything in moderation!
• Favorite dessert: chocolate of any kind
• Languages: English and accounting
• Pets: none at the moment, but I love taking care of my brother's two Australian Shepherds, Ollie & Stella
• Hobbies: I enjoy powerlifting, puzzles, going to restaurants with my boyfriend, and, my favorite - adult gymnastics class with Coach Susan!
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I love coaching because it's an extremely fun and rewarding way to help kids learn, grow, and have some fun! I love the problem-solving aspect of teaching a new skill, and I love to see how happy it makes young gymnasts when they conquer a new challenge. I had the opportunity to coach gymnasts of all ages before moving to Madison, WI in 2019, and I'm so excited to be a part of AGC!
   

Coach Kaitlyn

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: 3
• Favorite healthy food: fruit (I love pretty much ALL fruit)
• Favorite dessert: donuts
• Languages: English, some Spanish
• Pets: none anymore, sadly, but I used to have 2 dogs named Sammie and Scooter. They were siblings! I am getting a tattoo for them
• Hobbies: spending time with the people I love, shopping, braiding hair, hiking, and gymnastics!
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I love coaching because it allows me to see the kids grow as both gymnasts and people. Having done gymnastics for 8 years myself, it really excites me to see their progressions and drive for the sport.
   

Coach Shana

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: on and off for almost 30 years
• Favorite healthy food: seafood/sushi
• Favorite dessert: ice cream. All of the ice cream.
• Languages: English
• Pets: two cats and a frog 
• Hobbies: spending time with my two young boys and husband, log rolling, adult gymnastics (I still love it!), fitness (I am a personal trainer in the "real world"), and napping
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I truly believe all children should begin their athletic journey in the sport of gymnastics. It's a positive and fun-filled environment that develops strength, balance, flexibility and teaches them at an early age about finding success through overcoming fears and obstacles.
   

Coach Aimee

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: this is my first year 
• Favorite healthy food: avocado toast with Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
• Favorite dessert: chocolate lava cake... or anything chocolate as long as there are NO berries on it
• Languages: English and a tiny bit of German, but that was in high school so I don't remember much
• Pets: my corgi Waffles
• Hobbies: rock climbing, hiking, skiing, cross stitch, playing board games
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I loved gymnastics as a kid and competed through high school. I'm so excited to show kids how much fun gymnastics is!
   

Coach Melanie

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: this is my first year coaching
• Favorite healthy food: mango or jicama
• Favorite dessert: any water based smoothies
• Languages: Spanish and English
• Pets: none 
• Hobbies: painting, listening to and finding new music, doing gymnastics!!
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I love coaching because I find happiness in being able to help others grow and reach their goals. I love watching people improve by the day!

Francesca

Some fun facts about me:

• This is my first year at AGC
• Favorite healthy food: raspberries
• Favorite dessert: milk + warm, freshly baked cookies
• Languages: English, Italian, some French and Spanish
• Pets: I don't need them- I have 3 little girls! But if we do find an insect in the house, it's our temporary pet 
• Hobbies: climbing, snowboarding, longboarding, acroyoga, teaching piano, grad school, gymnastics, house renovation
• Role at AGC: Open gym supervisor
• I am very passionate about helping people see their potential. Personal growth and physical movement are my biggest drivers!
   

Coach Tina

Some fun facts about me:

• Years coaching gymnastics: 7 years (I was a volunteer coach 2 years before I was old enough to get paid- I love gymnastics that much!)
• Favorite healthy food: Vanilla Greek yogurt with honey and berries
• Favorite dessert: Tiramisu
• Languages: English and a little Spanish (I took 4 years in high school, I really should remember more)
• Pets: 2 Dogs (Moose and Ron) and 2 Cats (Ash and Coal)
• Hobbies: Reading, cooking, traveling with my husband (my favorite place to travel is Costa Rica), live music, yoga, working out
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I love seeing how excited the students are to discover gymnastics and learn firsthand how hard work and dedication pays off. I also feel that the body awareness gymnasts learn is extremely valuable when learning so many other sports.
   

Coach Zay

Some fun facts about me:

• My name is Isaiah but you can also call me Coach Zay
• Years coaching gymnastics: this is my first year coaching gymnastics. I am a gymnast myself, though, so I’m familiar with being coached!
• Favorite healthy food: Brussels Sprouts
• Favorite dessert: Chocolate
• Languages: English and semi fluent in Spanish
• Pets: I have two dogs, Charlie and Chase
• Hobbies: Gymnastics of course! I really enjoy all thing exercise related.
• Role at AGC: Coach
• I like coaching because I enjoy working with kids and helping others reach their goals. It is fun and rewarding to watch the children progress and see the joy in them when they get the skills they have been working for. We (gymnasts) all started from nothing and it was our coaches who got us to where we are, and I love that it’s my turn to do the same for others.