Chapter 32

Lee Bjella 2015

WASHINGTON CLUBS

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All American Gymnastics, Kennewick - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


A.I.M. Gymnastics Center, Moses Lake - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


AOG (Academy of Olympic Gymnastics), Seattle
Dale Shirley, Linda Hicks (Parker back then), Laurie Reid and Jim Wilkins were coaches.

Corine Olsen, Linda Lutz and Janine Bell were all gymnasts together at AOG, from 1982-84. "We were all class I gymnasts. I, Corine, began gymnastics at age 8, at the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club.  My coach also worked at AOG and asked me to participate in the team tryouts. I ended up being chosen. At this time, AOG was still located next to Carpet World on Northrup Way in Bellevue.

Dale moved the gym to a location that is close to Lowes today. Obviously, Lowes was not in existence at that time. As time went on I became a talented gymnast. In ninth grade, I was labeled as an elite and competed at NAAG as an elite. Either my coaches or myself (honestly I can't remember who), decided I was not ready for that caliber of gymnastics and I decided to drop back to Class I. I competed as a Class I from 1981-1986. In 1985, I took 2nd place in the senior division at Class 1 state. I went on to compete at Regionals, hosted by NWA at Issaquah High School. I won vault for my age division, placed 3rd on floor and took 7th All Around. I fell off beam twice, so I did not make the National Team and settled for Westerns. I ended up missing Nationals by .2, because back in the 80's, only 6 gymnasts go on to Nationals from Regionals and Westerns. Another difference is there were only 3 age groups: child: 8-11, juniors 12-14, and Seniors 15-18."
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Alley Oop Gymnastics Center
Opened October 7, 1996 as Gymnastics Elite. They decided in 2011 that they wanted a more kid-friendly name and decided on Alley Oop Gymnastics Center. They retain the name of Gymnastics Elite for the team program. Owned by three families that have had their own children in the gym for a number of years; first as students, then competitors and finally as coaches. One of the owners and the program director are Washington State Certified Teachers.
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Apple Valley, Wenatchee
Pam Morgan was born and raised in Wenatchee. She graduated from Wenatchee High School in '81, then moved to Spokane and attended Spokane Falls Community College, and then moved back to Wenatchee and attended Wenatchee Valley College. She married her high school sweetheart in 1985 and has 2 daughters.
How Apple Valley Gymnastics got started: Pam started working in the Rebounders Gymnastics office part time in 1994, then moved to full time office manager, helping out with classes whenever she could. She loved working with the kids, and concentrated her time on them as much as possible. When the gym was offered to her in 2000, she jumped in with both feet, changing the name to Apple Valley Gymnastics to represent the home town she loves.
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A Time to Tumble, Spokane - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Auburn Gymnastics Center, Inc.
quote from their website: "Brent Phelps purchased Auburn Gymnastics Center in April of 1997. Initially AGC had a total enrollment of less than one hundred students with no team at all. During their first competitive season we had five girls compete levels seven through nine. During our second season (1998 – 1999) we added a competitive boy’s team bringing our total competitive athletes to over sixty. Our team program has consistently grown and we currently train over one hundred competitive gymnasts. Auburn Gymnastics Center currently trains several State, Regional and National Champions.
Auburn Gymnastics Center moved into our new 18,000 square foot facility in June of 2010. Our facility is one of the best equipped gymnastics training centers in the United States. The gym has already hosted the Region 2 Congress for Coaches and Judges, several Sectional and State Championships, National Judges Cup, Western National Championships and Junior Olympic National Championships as well as our “All American Invitational”, one of the largest competitions in the Northwest. Our team program continues to produce some of the top gymnasts in the country. AGC won 25 medals at Western National Championships in 2010, the most of any gym in the country, of which many of those gymnasts started in our rec program!" Former coach of Shilese Jones 2014 Jr. Elite gymnast.
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Bainbridge Island Gymnastics Club - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Black Hills Gymnastics, Lacey - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Bleeker's School of Gymnastics, Spokane. Tom  Bleeker owned Blekers School of Gymnastics in Spokane. He came from a circus/vaudeville background. Mike Armstrong bought the gym and renamed it Northwest Gymnastics Academy in the early 1980's. Tom coached in the 70' and 80's. Was quite a character. Suspended his uneven bars from the ceiling.
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The Bremerton YMCA was an early program on the peninsula. The coach was Frank Perrone, who later had a program at the old Bremerton Armory. It was known as the Kitsap County Tucks. Thor Erickson was director at Bremerton YMCA and gymnastics coach 1931-32.

Frank Royal Perrone, June 29, 1951 - Feb. 25, 2013
(Kitsap Sun Obit: Frank grew up in Bremerton, where he was an active athlete from childhood through college. He graduated from West High School in 1969 where he lettered in wrestling and gymnastics. He went on to attend Central Washington University and earned a BA in education. While at CWU he qualified for the NAIA Championships. He was CWU's first national gymnastics champion. At the competition, he was a four event All American in two days, earning the title of Outstanding Gymnast of the tournament. He went on to coach girls gymnastics through Kitsap County YMCA Tucks. Over a several-year period he successfully held Class One and Class Two level meets which opened doors for several gymnasts to compete at national competitions. After coaching gymnastics, he moved to Arizona and worked in construction for many years. Frank inspired the athletes he coached to strive for perfection. He developed friendships in the same way that he coached and will be missed by all."

John Smith recalls: "Perrone, who ran Kitsap County Tucks for years and held the Whaling Days outdoor gymnastics competition for a number of years downtown on the waterfront, in conjunction with city celebration of Whaling days. We first attended the meet in 1983 and had a ball. Frank produced a number of regional competitors at Class 2 and Class 1 and he hosted the optional state meet at his gym in Silverdale in the mid 1980's. He had a green plastic cover for his floor exercise mat and it was pretty strange but we made it work. Frank married one of his gymnasts and they had some kids together and he was an engine mechanic and lived in Bremerton."
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Cascade Elite Gymnastics, Mount Lake Terrace
Frank Lee: Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee grew up in Seattle and attended Cascade High School in Everett. UW Husky men's gymnastics team. Graduated from UW in 1989 with undergraduate degree in zoology. UW assistant women's coach 1999 to 2005. Co-Owner of Cascade Elite Gymnastics in Mountlake Terrace. Olympic coach for Ghardi Gelenhuys in 2000 in Australia. Ghardi was representing her home nation of Namibia. Five of his club gymnasts have been members of US National Teams including Mylan Dodd. Retired from coaching in 2005 to become a Firefighter/E.M.T.

Lynda R. Cottrill
1974—1979 Pierce Community College, Director of Gymnastics Program for children ages 5 to 17 years
1974—1978 California State University, Northridge Bachelor of Arts Degree
1978—1979 California State University, Northridge Secondary Teaching Certificate, Physical Education
1979—1982 Substitute Teacher Lake Washington, Issaquah, Edmonds School Districts
1979—1982 Head Gymnastics Coach Finn Hill Junior Hill, Lake Washington School District State Champions
1981—1983 Head Gymnastics Coach Lake Washington High School, Lake Washington School District Qualified to Kingco Championships
1983—1985 Head Gymnastics Coach Ingraham High School, Lake Washington School District Qualified to Kingco Championships
1982—1985 Head Gymnastics Coach, Compulsory Team Northwest Aerials, Kirkland
1985—1989 Head Gymnastics Coach, Compulsory and Optional Teams Seattle Gymnastics Academy, Seattle Coached gymnasts to State, Regional, and National Championships
1989—Present Part Owner, Gymnastics Coach, Advertising Manager Cascade Elite Gymnastics, Mountlake Terrace State Championship Teams
1992—Present Member of the Washington State Gymnastics Board Certifications: USA Gymnastics Safety Certified, Red Cross First Aid, CPR Status: Married since 1988, 2 children.

James Thompson 1997-1999 Clark Community College, 1999-2002, University of Utah, Bachelors of Biology, Chemistry Minor. 2008-present, CEG Head coach, optionals. 2003-2008, Metro Gymnastics Center, Tigard, OR. 2000-2003 Olympus Gymnastics Academy, Salt Lake City, UT. 2993-2999 Naydenov Gymnastics Center, Vancouver, WA. 2005-2008 USAG Oregon State Board.
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Clarks Capers, old club in Longview under the direction of Myrna Clark.
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Clallam County Family YMCA was established in Port Angeles in 1980. It began as a seasonal intramural program for Middle School girls and has expanded into a year round program offering pre-school, recreational and girls competitive programs.
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Colville K.I.P.S. - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Crystals Gymnastics Center/Korum YMCA, Puyallup - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Desert Gymnastics & Sports Training Center, Pasco (Closed in 2011)
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Dynamic Gymnastics Academy, Spokane
Adana Harris owner: "Being over active as a child Adana's mother placed her in dance and gymnastics at the age of five. No one knew how much she would love it, or that these activities which were meant to keep her busy would ultimately become the center of her life. Adana has been involved in competitive gymnastics since the age of 9. She has competed and won in gymnastics meets all over the Northwest and was 1984 All-Around State Champion. Adana was a member of the Lewis and Clark high school gymnastics team for four years, and assistant instructor at Eastern Washington University (EWU). Throughout her gymnastics career she continued to dance and eventually put that knowledge to use.  As a member of the Lewis and Clark Drill team she performed for many audiences and was fortunate to be a part of the highest-ranking team in the area. After graduation she became a part time Jazz lll performing group at EWU, in which she performed, directed and choreographed. Adana began her career with the Dance Emporium in 1991." (From their website, 2009)
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Eastside Gymnastics
Colleen Long bought the gym in 2013.
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Edmonds (City of) - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Emerald City Gymnastics Academy, Redmond
Owner: Sandy Flores.
Brian Muenz; head optional coach from2010 - present. 2003-2014 he was the owner of D’Versified Gymnastics and Sports, Inc. Brian was previously the head coach at the Tacoma-Oierce county YMCA 1992-2003. 1986-1988 Head Coach at University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO. 1977-1983 University of Illinois-Champaign, IL., Bachelor of Science, Commercial recreation
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Falcon Gymnastics (SPU), Seattle
Directed by Laurel Tindall since late 1982 in the Seattle Pacific University Gymnasium - Royal Brougham Pavilion.
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Garland's Gymnastics, Kennewick
Garland's Gymnastics is owned by Brett and Wendy Garland 1995- present, former collegiate gymnasts. Wendy: Competitive Experience: Region 5 Club gymnast NW Turners/American Academy 10 years
1973-1983
University of Iowa gymnast (Full scholarship) 4 years
All Big 10 All Around 1983 -1987
Coaching Experiences: NW Chicago Turners Chicago, IL 1987 - 1992 (Notable gymnast: Kristy Powell) 5 years
Levels 4 - 9 American Academy of Gymnastics Wheeling, IL
1992 - 1994 (Notable gymnast: Larissa Fontaine) 2 years Levels 7 - Elite
Garland’s Gymnastics: Co - Owner From 1995 - Present Current Head Girls Team Coach Levels 4-9
Personal & Life Experiences: Married to Brett, college sweetheart, and former Iowa gymnast. Together we have coached and nurtured several state, regional and national champions. I’m a mom of 6 busy/athletic children, and have been to numerous orchestra, choir, band, baseball, basketball, hockey, wrestling, soccer, la cross, skate, track, tae kwon do, dance, and cheer events. As a child I spent my summers at an all sports camp. As I grew older I attended the camp as a counselor and eventual Camp director. This gave me my first opportunity to work with children and parents. I have spent my life working with children, parents, teachers and coaches to develop a positive environment that encourages the development of children. I love the process of building, growing and the journey of progression.
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George Lewis School of Gymnastics (See NWA) - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


German Turnverein is in downtown Seattle in the early 1900's.
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Gold Star Gymnastics, Vancouver
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Grace Gymnastics/Lakewood YMCA, Tacoma
National Champions!  Lakewood WA YMCA Team won  the team titles for the Championship (L9/10) and Level 8 Divisions at the YMCA Nationals Gymnastics Championships - held in Pheonixville, PA at the end of June. This is the 9th win for the Lakewood YMCA Championship Team - breaking the record (tied) with the Seattle YMCA.  Seattle won their championships between 1965 and 1974.In the individual all-around competition, Mia Tabbutt brought the Lakewood YMCA their 8th Individual National Title - the most of any YMCA participating in the event. Past champions include: Joyce Tanac, Lorna Woodward, Cleo Carver, Debbie Halle, and Yumi Modre from the Seattle YMCA and Linda Metheny Mulvihill from the Champaign IL, YMCA. (Pictured are Bria, Margaret, Evanni, Mia)

From Graces' website, 2009: "Coach Kevin Milliren has been coaching for 28 years. He coached at PSSG for 23 of those years. He has been the Gymnastics Director at the YMCA for 6 years. In 1991 he was voted Washington State Coach of the Year! He is very proud of his role at Grace and feels very blessed to be surrounded by terrific staff, gymnasts, and parents. Kevin is most proud of his beautiful wife (Kelly) and two great kids (Kurtis & Kelcey)."

Optional Coaches Brian Muenz:coaching for 30 years. He attended and competed as a gymnast for the University of Illinois. His proudest moment is when the Level 10 team won the State Team Championship and the first YMCA National Championship. Jackie Bellmer: been coaching for 10 years. Her most memorable moment was when the team won the Y-Nationals for the 7th time in a row! She also enjoys watching the girls progress and be successful.
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Green Lake Fieldhouse, Seattle
George Lewis took gymnastics classes here as a child.
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Ground Zero Gymnastics, Mount Vernon. Formally Skagit Valley Dimensions of Gymnastics. Opened in 2015 under new management.
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Gymagine, Mukilteo
Owner and head coach, Kelly Donyes, has been teaching gymnastics to children of all ages since 1976. Kelly holds a Physical Education degree from Seattle Pacific University. He was a National Safety Instructor for USA Gymnastics and is on the board for GYMCERT as a safety and education contributor.
Susan Riley - Head gymnastics coach, Levels 3-8 from 2006-2013 and head XCEL and 3-7 coach 2012-present. Susan was a SPU grad in Psychology and wasa WSGCA Coach of the Year in 2002 and King 5 "Coach That Makes a Difference" 2004. (Also was assistant coach at Shorewood HS 1990-1995 and head coach fro 1998 - present.
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Gymnastics Arts Center, Spokane - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Gym Country LTD, Mukilteo. Was hosed in the old firestation which was across from the ferry. Coach Jim.
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Gymnastics East (Bellevue)
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Gymnastics East (Preston)
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Gymnastics Elite, Tumwater
Opened October 7, 1996 as Gymnastics Elite. (Jim Bell was head coach - later imprisoned for sex abuse crimes.) They decided in 2011 that they wanted a more kid-friendly name and decided on Alley Oop Gymnastics Center. They retain the name of Gymnastics Elite for the team program. Owned by three families that have had their own children in the gym for a number of years; first as students, then competitors and finally as coaches.
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Gym Express, Auburn
Linda Haverly Lutz
Started Gymnastics at the Academy of Olympic Gymnastics in 1980. One of my very first coaches was Laurie Reid, she taught my pre team group. I remember thinking after my first day with her: "she's really hard, she made me sweat." Pretty funny considering she's one of the nicest people I know. Not long after that, she introduced us to Norm and then she was gone. Nancy Baumgartner took over for her. Nancy coached my group: Erin Brewer, DeAnne Dengate and a few others that I can't remember, she trained us UAIGC for a couple of years. It was very similar to the TOPS program we have now.

The 1982-83 season was my first as a Class I; Dale Shirley, Linda Hicks (Parker back then) and Jim Wilkins were my coaches. I have fond memories of the judges smiling kindly at me as I finished my routines, often times with more "stops" and "falls" than connecting parts.
1984 Regionals in Boise, Idaho was my last meet with AOG. I remember watching NAAG take 5 of the 6 spots for JO Nationals. Shortly after, AOG closed and a bunch of us went to Washington Gymnastics to work with Bruce McGhee. The 1985 season changed my life as a gymnast. I won Bars in a meet and soon realized that with hard work, discipline and self-confidence I could become the gymnast I wanted to be.
1986-89 I trained at Gymnastics Unlimited with Erin Brewer, DeAnne Dengate, Lisa Pizl, Heather Starr and Staci Wicklund. Apparently I didn't understand the meaning of hard work until I started there. My first month, I would get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about the conditioning I was going to have to do. We had 4 girls at the 1986 Class I State meet. Our last event was Beam and I was near the end of the rotation. Lisa Pizl kept coming up to me and saying "Linda, you HAVE to stick this routine!!!" No pressure! I had probably stuck only a handful of routines in work out all year. Well, the stars must have been in alignment, I got lucky and actually stayed on and we narrowly won the meet. We went on to win the 1987, '88, and '89 State Championships.

Summary Gymnastics Accomplishments/History
1980 Started Gymnastics at the Academy of Olympic Gymnastics, Pre Team: Laurie Reid, Nancy Baumgartner
1982-‘84 Competed Class I Coaches: Dale Shirley, Jim Wilkins, Linda Parker
1985 Washington Gymnastics Coach Bruce McGhee Class I State: 1st Place Team
1986-’89 Gymnastics Unlimited Coach Matt Erichsen Class I State: 1st Place Bars & Team
1987 Class I State: 1st Place Team. Regionals: 1st Bars, 2nd AA; JO Nationals: 2nd Bars
1988 Class I State: 1st Place Team. Westerns: 5th AA; JO Nationals: Participant
1989 Class I State: 1st Place Team Regionals: 1st BB, 2nd AA, JO Nat.: 2nd Bars.
1989 Graduated Hazen High School Renton, WA., Scholarship to Univ. of Oklahoma
1989 Performed giant blind front toe on handstand, Jaeger. Learned and competed a Reverse Hecht in 1
month because the aforementioned combination was too inconsistent. JO Nationals -Fell over on a straddle back handstand covered up by changing to an undergrip, glide kip, double leg jam to qualify to finals placing 2nd.
1990 AA gymnast; 1991 Big 8 Team Champions, 1992 Big 8 Bar Champion, 1993 Team Co-Captain, Big 8 Team Champions. Met Jeff Lutz while at OU, he was on the Men's Gym Team and a member of the US National Team.
1994 Graduated with a BS in Health and Sport Science, moved back to WA
1997 Opened Gym Express
2007 Sold the gym to David Hart. Renamed Harts Gymnastics.
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Gymnastics 4U
Pam Cays and her husband opened Gymnastics 4 U in Kelso, WA in 2001. 2003 was their first competitive season with Levels 4, 5 and 6.  In 2003 they will compete Levels 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.”   Pam moved her gym to Oregon in 2014.
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Gymnastics Inc. of Seattle (See NWA) George Lewis’ club at SPU, after he left the YMCA. Patti Lanterman bought it and renamed it NWA.
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Gymnastics Plus, Inc., Yakima Owners: Laurie and Norm Reid. Formerly named Central WA School of Gymnastics. Started in 1978, when a group of parents encouraged Norm (who was volunteer coaching at the Yakima YMCA) to open his own gym. They even helped him secure a loan to get him started. Laurie and Norm met in 1980 at a gymnastics clinic. Laurie married into the business in 1981. In 1989, they changed the name to Gymnastics Plus and moved intot the current location. Theyalso offer birthday parties, academic pre-school, and the kid's castle play area.

Reids marking 30 years of gym October 23, 2008 by Dave Thomas  http://sports.yakimablogs.com/category/sportsnews/

YAKIMA — Norm Reid vividly recalls those early days of the gymnastics club he started 30 years ago this month.
“It was youthful enthusiasm that kept me going,” he recalled. “For a year and a half, I taught all the classes. I’d go from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“I distinctly remember falling asleep teaching a class of preschoolers one day,” he continued, laughing. “I was sitting on the edge of the pit and I just nodded off.”

Yet Reid, joined three years later by new wife Laurie, persevered through those humble beginnings, and this month the pair is celebrating the 30th anniversary of what has become one of the best clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

Gymnastics Plus has, by Laurie’s estimate, helped train more than 50,000 youngsters since opening its doors, and is today the region’s second oldest gymnastics club under continuous ownership.

“We had some tough times, but we always found a way to make it work out,” Norm said. “It’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a rewarding activity and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” As the club turns 30, the Reids are inviting former students to visit this month to share their memories either in stories or pictures.

“We’re just trying to give people some special thanks,” Laurie said. “I want to thank everybody who brought their kids here … and we’d love to see any of the families that have been part of the past 30 years.”

A sentimental journey for the Reids that began with small steps.

Norm Reid, who competed in gymnastics at Kentridge High School and Central Washington University, was a volunteer gymnastics coach at the Yakima YMCA when a group of parents encouraged him to start his own club, even helping his secure a loan to get him started.

“I was kind of ignorant about business … but they had a lot of faith in me,” said Reid, who opened the Central Washington School of Gymnastics in October 1978.

Norm met Laurie at a gymnastics clinic in 1980 and, after some long-distance dating, Bellevue-based Laurie “married into the business” in 1981 and they’ve never looked back. They eventually settled into their current location at 2121 W. Lincoln Ave. in 1989, and changed the name to Gymnastics Plus, to reflect the expanding scope of what the Reids were offering, including the Kid’s Castle, a swimming pool, and rock climbing wall. “We had to offer more than most (gymnastics) clubs because of the size of the community,” he said. “We had to evolve or we wouldn’t have made it.” Even with more varied offerings, gymnastics remains the primary purpose and motivation.

“We got a chance to be with some really neat, enthusiastic kids who really wanted to be there,” Norm said. “Our learning curve (at the start) was huge but the kids quickly started doing better in competitions. “After Laurie came, we became one of the top clubs in the northwest.”

The club has helped numerous gymnasts eventually go on and compete in college, or inspired them to open their own clubs, such as the one Mark Kindelspire started in Moscow, Idaho. But developing competitive gymnasts is not the Reids’ sole focus.“Our goal is to get kids involved and active,” said Laurie, who was a gymnast at Corvallis (Ore.) High School and Oregon State University. “We feel this is one of the best cross-training sports going on. Gymnastics build skills and body control that helps kids in other sports.”

One example of that is Gymnastics Plus alum Doria Holbrook, who became an NCAA Division III champion diver at MIT. “It’s fun to watch them go through high school and excel in other sports after they leave gymnastics,” Laurie said. “We feel we had a hand in helping them develop their prowess.” It’s not all about athletics, though. Surrounding the club’s athletic core is a family atmosphere the Reids have fostered. “Parents think it’s a nice, safe, family-friendly atmosphere to bring their kids to,” said Laurie, noting that their own children, daughters Brianna and Jenessa, and son Chris grew up in the gym. “The greatest compliment we can get is that (former students) are bringing their kids back to the gym because they had a good experience.”

As for the future, both said they don’t have any plans to slow down. “We just want to continue to provide a place that’s good for Yakima and the kids as long as we can,” Laurie said. “We haven’t figured out how long that will be, but I think we’re in it for the long haul.”
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Gymnastics Plus, Snohomish Owned by Jean Hackel. Jen Kesler was her student in her younger years. Club was sold to Northwest Aerials in 2007, and closed in 2009.
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Gymnastics Unlimited, Inc., Federal Way - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Gym Star Sports Center, Fernadale: Opened in 2008. - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Gym Starz, Kent - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Harts Gymnastics, Kent
Formally Gymnastics Express, Dave Hart bought the gym and renamed it in 2007. Moved in 2012 to Kent from Auburn.
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Island Dance and Gymnastics, Clinton
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Kitsap County Tucks - early club on the Peninsula.
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Klahhane Gymnastics, Port Angeles - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Leading Edge Gymnastics, North, Bellingham (Now North Coast with new owners.)
Grads who went on to compete college:
Summer McCain SU
1997 Kim Carey SPU
1999 Annie Campbell OSU
2001 Tiffany Putman BSU
The gym was bought by Emma and Chris Mann, and then sold in 2008. The gym was renamed North Coast Gymnastics Academy.
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Leading Edge Gymnastics Academy, Everett

Started by Bo Pederson - bought by David and Sheila Bath

Coach: Kelle Riley Lehi High School- Lehi Utah 1976-1980 (Left LEGA in 2013)
Utah State University- Logan Utah 1980-1983; Owner / Pre School to level 7 Coach- Kelle’s Gym Port Hadlock WA 1988-1999
Pre-School to Level 7 Coach- Leading Edge Gymnastics Everett WA 1999-2001
Head Compulsory Team Coach-Leading Edge Gymnastics Everett WA 2001-2012
Assistant Optional Coach- Leading Edge Gymnastics Everett WA 2005-2008
Head Optional Coach- Leading Edge Gymnastics Everett WA 2008-present
Team Director- Leading Edge Gymnastics WA 2005-present
Accomplishments: Coached National Vault Champion Kelsey Morris 2008
National Beam Champion Kailie Ponto 2009; Coaching Staff of the Year Awards 2006-2013; Region 2 Coach of the Year 2009
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Legends Gymnastics, Clinton - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Lincoln Heights Gymnastics Club, Spokane - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


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M&M's Gymnastics, Walla Walla - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Mercy Gymnastics/Pearl Street YMCA, Tacoma
Candyce Chittenden-2006 –; Gymnastics Program Director and Instructor, Morgan Family YMCA,Tacoma, WA
1990-1994 &1995-2006 Instructor, Puget Sound Gymnastics,Puyallup, WA
1994-1995 Founder and Director, Murad School of American Ballet Kuwait City, Kuwait
Education: 1992 Graduate of Puyallup High School, Puyallup, WA
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Metropolitan Gymnastics, Kent
Owner:Yulia Hancheroff. B.S. Sports Medicine and Professional Coaching. Moscow Olympic Academy. Moscow, Russia. Actress Link
Soviet Master of Sports Awarded for Mastery of Gymnastics and Acrobatics. Coach at School of Olympic Reserve. Moscow, Russia
Coached compulsory and optional level gymnasts. Started Coaching at age15. Working directly under Head Coach of Russian Federation (Mikhail
Veronin) Certified and experienced in competition judging for acrobatics and gymnastics 1985-1992.
Coach at Spartacus National Club. Budapest, Hungary. Coached optional level gymnasts. Ran clinics to train new coaches. Dance
and Floor Choreography-1992-1994
Head Coach at Tumbletown Gymnastics. Seattle, WA. Took recreational program and built into team program. Produced gym’s
first State Champion. Tripled size of program at the gym. Ran full competitive and dance program. 1994-1999
Head Coach/Owner at Metropolitan Gymnastics. Seattle, WA. Worked to create a program that has produced State and Regional
champions, National qualifiers, and NCAA Scholarship qualifiers. Have hosted State Championships, Regional Clinics, and multiple levels of meets.
Manage a gym of 20+ full and part time employees. Coordinate business and program development, advertizing and finances for gym. 10+ years of
floor exercise choreography. Have been clinician at many state and regional clinics. Have hosted and organized multiple banquets for region and state events.
1999-Present
• Certified Judge for Gymnastics and Acrobatics (Russia) 1987-1994
• USAG Professional Member 1994-Present
• USAG Safety Certified 1994-Present
• USAG Certified Meet Director 2005-Present

Guennadi Komissarov - Guennadi graduated from the Belorussian State Institute of Physical Culture in 1984. He has coached National Russian Team Members, Poland's Girls National Team, and took his team from Colorado to the National Elite Competition in 1996. He has been coaching with with Yulia for over 10 years.

Cathy Sutherland, has been coaching level 4 through Elite gymnastics in the Northwest for over 30 years and has coached 6 gymnasts to the National Training Team. She started gymnastics at the age of 15 at which time her coach immediately started her coaching the younger team members. 3 years later she received a full gymnastics scholarship to the University of Washington. From there she moved to Paris, France to attend L'Ecole Carre school of Theater and Circus. Over the next 25 years she performed Nationally and Internationally as a dancer, musician, actress and aerialist. She recently returned from a 6 city tour with the Internationally renowned Pat Graney Company. She is a recipient of the Dale Flansaas Artistic Award and won 'Best Performance' in her work with the Printers Devil Theater. She is currently performing with the aerial group 'The Aerialistas' and 'The Velone Sisters'. At Metropolitan Gymnastics, she is coaching the Level 4 team and has started teaching 'Circus and Aerial Arts'.
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Mid-Columbia Gymnastics Academy, Richland - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Mile High Gymnastics, Port Orchard - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Mountain View Gymnastics, Spokane - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Mt. Baker Gymnastics, Burlington (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Mt. Si Gymnastics, North Bend, WA. Mt. Si opened in the Puget Sound Gymnastics and Dance location in April of 2012 - owned by Kathy Caro and Amy Norton. Head Coach Georgi Georgiev. (2015)


NASA Gymnastics, (North American Sports Academy) Gig Harbor
Opens for training June 15, 1981- Historical Events and Dates to Remember
June 1981- Purchased matting from NAAG Dick Mulvihill: June 15, 1981- Began teaching classes in Gig Harbor, WA.
Jan 1982- Opened NASA Tacoma Training Center 6910-27th Ave West Tac. WA
Feb 1982- Competed First Meet at Portland Colours Invitational in Oregon. NASA Teams Compete in Class II & III State Championships
Oct 1983- Hosted the “Goblin Cup” Invitational with 210 competitors from OR.CA. WA
1983-1985 Coach Smith serves as Washington State Chairman for USGF Class 3 Modified Program
Dec 1983-Won First WA. State Team Championship- Class 3 Modified Compulsory
Apr 1986- NASA’s Ryan Ferguson wins Pacific Northwest Championship Floor Exercise
May 1990-Opened Gig Harbor Training Studio
June 1990- NASA Trains Goodwill Games Gymnastic Venue Interpretors
Aug 1990- Coach Smith Serves as Host- USA Men’s Gymnastics Team Goodwill Games
Apr 1991- Lindsey Lauderdale wins Pacific NW All Around Championship and wins National Championship All Around- USAIGC in Las Vegas and National Championship Floor
May 1992- Open Gig Harbor Regional Training Center 2905 Jahn Ave NW #11 Gig Harbor
1992 Tiffani White qualifies to USAG National TEAM Talent Opportunity Program
Mar 1993- Hosted “Harbor Classic” Invitational with teams from around PNW
1993 Tiffani White Competes in the Western USA National Championshipsand in May Tiffani White Qualifies to US National Elite Program.
1994- Participants in Closing Ceremonies “Goodwill Games” St. Petersburg, Russia. Coach in “Goodwill Games” training camp.
1995,96,97-T. White Qualifies to USAG National Elite USA NATIONAL Team
1995 Hali Saucier qualifies to USAG National TEAM Talent Opportunity Program
1996- T.White performs Full Twisting Double Back on Floor in Elite Qualifying Zone Championship
1996 National Champion- Olympic Sport Festival- Balance Beam National Elite
1996 National Champion- American Classic- Floor Exercise National Elite
1996 Hali Saucier qualifies to USAG National TEAM Talent Opportunity Program and wins COPA Invitational Junior A Elite Division All Around Title
1996- Danielle Crowley wins COPA Invitational Junior B Elite Division All Around Title
1996 USAIGC National Championship Floor Exercise Champion T. White: All Around Champion Runner-Up Tiffani White Silver Medalist; All Around Champion Ryann Devaney
1996 Copa Invitational Child Elite Division Floor Champion: Hali Saucier; Junior Elite Division Floor Champion: Danielle Crowley
1997 Hali Saucier and M. McIntyre qualifies to USAG National TEAM Talent Opportunity Program
1998 US Classic TOP’s Elite Balance Beam Champion: Hali Saucier
1998-Hali Saucier wins TOP's Elite Division National Championship All Around, Beam & Vault and Runner Up Floor Exercise
1999 USAIGC National Championship All Around Champion E. Rice
1999-Heather Hudson qualifies to Western National Championship
2000 “Surrey Classic“- All Around,Floor and Vault Champion Heide Luong
2002- USAIGC National Championships- NASA wins National Team Championship -USAIGC National Championship All Around Championship Titles Junior A Division F. Jacobs and Junior B Division Heide Luong
2003 Brittany Helm qualifies to USAG National TEAM Talent Opportunity Program
2003 Coach John and Linda Smith win the USAG Washington State “Optional Level Coaches of The Year” award.
2004- Victoria, B.C. Canada- NASA Gymnasts win three team titles and numerous All Around and Individual event championships in the “Garden City Classic”
2004- NASA Gymnasts compete in London, England in “Friendship Cup” and participate in the Southern Ireland National Training Camp in Cork, Ireland.
Coaches L. Smith, J. Smith serve as Individual Event coaches for the five day National Camp. England 2004 “Friendship Classic“- Uneven Bar Champion Maggie Churchill
May 2005- NASA Gymnasts compete in Delta, British Columbia and win two team titles and six All Around Championship titles in the prestigious “Delta Invitational”.
May 2005- Victoria, B.C. Canada- NASA Gymnasts win the team title “2005 Garden City Classic” All Around Champion Brittany Helm
Sep 2005- NASA Gymnasts win team title in London, England at the “Capital Cup” with teams from Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, England and NASA Gymnastics from the USA. Maggie Churchill finishes 2nd in the All Around. Coach J. Smith spends 7 days coaching in Cork and Ballinaugh, Ireland with Irish National Team Members. “Capitol Cup” International Gold Medal ALL AROUND Floor & Beam in Capitol Cup: Kaela Smith
Dec 2005- NASA Gymnastics Nominated to USA Gymnastics Washington State Hall of Fame
2006- Haily Luong wins level 9 USAG Region 2 Balance Beam Championship
2006- NASA Gymnasts win championship titles in the Delta B.C. Invit.- Kaela Smith, Kyra Plitt, Madison Rich, win All Around titles.
Haily Loung competes in the open division and wins Floor, places 2nd on Beam and 2nd in All Around with Canadian National Team members..
2006 NASA Gymnastics host the 25th Anniversary “Quarter Century Cup” Invitational and “Team Reunion” at Life Christian Academy, with teams from Ireland, Oregon, Idaho, and WA. NASA Gymnasts win the Level 7 and 5 Team Titles and 6 All Around Championships
2006 NASA Gymnasts compete in Kyoto Japan the “All Japan Gymfest” and Osaka Japan and take part in training camp with Nishinomiya Gymnastics Academy in Osaka. NASA Gymnast Lauren Tossey wins Floor Exercise in International Competition “Hydrangea Cup.” Floor Exercise: Lauren Schmeiss
2006 Coach John Smith coaches at the Christmas Camp of Champions in Anchorage, Alaska with Olympic Gold Medal Coach Evgeny Marchinko of W.O.G.A. in Texas who is the personal coach of Carly Patterson 2004 Olympic Gymnastics Champion.
2006 Coach John Smith is inducted into USA Gymnastics WA. State Hall of Fame.
2007 NASA Alumni Gymnast Tiffani White Selected to Tacoma Athletic Commission Sports Hall of Fame

NASA has qualified 3 gymnasts to the Elite and TOP’s Elite program and one gymnast is a three time national team member:
Tiffani White earned National Qualification as Junior National Elite and a Senior National Elite.
Hali Saucier qualified to Nationals as a National TOP's Elite in 1998 "TOP's ELITE ALL ROUND CHAMPION" 1998
Mackenzie McIntyre qualified to Nationals as a National TOP's Elite in 1998
NASA has trained 7 USAIGC National All Around Champions. Gymnasts have competed in college for Oregon State, Michigan State, U of W, BYU, Boise, Winona State, and Hamline University.
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Naydenov Gymnastics, Inc, Vancouver
The founder of Naydenov Gymnastics Center is Jordan Naydenov, born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.  The original Vancouver gym was opened in 1983.  In 1992 the business was moved to its current location on 94th Avenue. Jordan competed nationally in Bulgaria before coming to the United States in 1982 to work with Ringling Brothers as a circus gymnast.  He designed and built the gym to facilitate students of all ages, training them for competition, while gaining self-esteem, self-discipline, strength and balance. 

Naydenov Gymnastics is currently owned by Kevin & Ivanka Jenkins. Ivanka grew up in Plovdiv Bulgaria and has been assisting with preschool classes and play care at Naydenov Gymnastics from 2005 to current. Kevin started out in gymnastics as the Gymnastics/Sports camp director for the Eugene Family YMCA in 1988. In 1992 Kevin bought American Gymnastics Training Center in Eugene, Oregon. Since 1992 Kevin has been coaching gymnastics and/or managing gymnastics schools in Oregon, North Dakota, Texas, Maine, California, and Washington. Kevin achieved his bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of Oregon in 1999. In 2005 his long time friend Jordan Naydenov sold the business to Kevin and his wife Ivanka.

Coaching staff include Erik Bakacs: born in Romania, she started Gymnastics at age 3 and became an International Elite/Olympics gymnast.
Romanian National Team member: Career Highlights: Romanian National Champion, Coached by Bela & Marti Karolyi.
Coaching Highlights: International Elite Coach, Elite on National Jr. Team: Highest Level Coached: International Elite, Olympic Figure Skating Coach
Education: BSN Education, Romania, Elite Level Judge: 2005 USAG's Washington State Optional Coach of the Year; Coach of Jordan Chiles, 2014 Jr. Elite National Team member.

Dimitri Taskov Born in Varna, Bulgaria, was an International Elite/Olympics and a Bulgarian National Team member.
Career Highlights: 20th All-around 1988 Olympics, Went to Worlds in 1987,1989 & 1991: Coaching Highlights: Coached Level 10 to Nationals; Education: Sports College, Bulgaria. Coach of Jordan Chiles, 2014 Jr. Elite National Team member.
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Nine Mile Gymnastics and Dance, Nine Mile Falls - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


North Coast Gymnastics Academy, Bellingham - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Northshore Gymnastics, Woodinville - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


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Northwest Aerials, Kirkland
I (Patti Lanterman Gable) have been involved in the sport of gymnastics since age 10. In those years I have always loved the STATE level of gymnastics-promoting the sport, helping clubs right here, working with local coaches and local judges. Making the sport better for this area, and being an advocate for the gymnasts and judges in my state.

In my career I have worn many hats. As a gymnast, I was totally dedicated to the sport. Like many top level athletes, I gave up vacations, did additional training and conditioning at home, and even lived in Connecticut to train for 1 year as an elite athlete. I attained the level of Olympic trial competitor. However, as an athlete I also gained many other important life skills that have led to my coaching abilities, business abilities and my family commitment. I began coaching at age 14, as this was a requirement of being in the elite team program when I was training in Connecticut. We were required to work 4 hours per week teaching beginning gymnastics classes. When I returned from Connecticut I began teaching for a parks and recreation program and George Lewis in 1976. George was a mentor to many, but the things he taught his athletes follow them through life. His commitment to all his team members, his love of the sport and his coaching skills all left a large impact on the students he taught, including myself.

While attending the University of Washington I taught gymnastics with George, and upon finishing my Sophomore year of college I had the opportunity to purchase Gymnastics, Inc. from George Lewis. The year was 1979 and I was19. I continued to coach, run the business and go to school for the next 2 years, graduating from the UW with a degree in Business Administration in 1981. It was in 1980 that I assumed the state director chair from Laurie Reid, and continued as USAG state chair for 23 years.

It was during the time that I first owned the gym that I began coaching the pride and joy of my coaching career: Linda Pierce, whom I coached for 10 years ages 8-18, Kim Rushing ages 8-15, Tina Barnes age 10-18, Kristen Pressentin age 9-15-and many more to follow. All 4 of these athletes are college graduates, 2 work at Microsoft, 1 at Boeing and one at Stevens Hospital as a nurse. 3 of the 4 received college gymnastics scholarships. All 4 of these gymnasts still live in the Seattle area. Both Tina and Linda continue to work in the fitness fields. The success of these athletes, and many others makes all the time devoted to this sport worthwhile.

Northwest Aerials will turn 29 years old on August 1, 2008. The history of this club actually goes back to the history of gymnastics in this state.

George Lewis started competitive gymnastics in Washington with a program at the Seattle Downtown YMCA, which then became Gymnastics, Inc. of Seattle. I purchased that program from George in 1979, renamed the program to the George Lewis School of Gymnastics, which then became Northwest Aerials in 1981. When moving to Kirkland we opened with 15 students, turning into over 300 students within 6 months of opening.

Success can be measured in many ways. We have produced numerous state, regional and national team members. We have hosted many successful sectional, state, regional and national competitions. But the most amazing part of owning my school for this long is the amount of impact one small business can have on so many lives. The program has been home to over 25,000 gymnasts, and has been a part of many of the coaching or competitive careers of coaches and judges that are currently working in this field today. The students in our program are now in the 2nd generation, we have the children of former students taking classes. Some families have been in our program for over 20 years. Children remember your name, and the gymnastics school for years after they have taken classes. Parents thank us for the great start their child had in gymnastics, because now they are excelling in academics or athletics. NWA and gymnastics has been the center of my life with over 1/2 my life being spent owning Northwest Aerials.
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Northwest Gymnastics Academy, Spokane. Originally Bleeker's School of Gymnastics, Spokane. Bleker,Tom  Owned Blekers School of Gymnastics in Spokane. He came from a circus/vaudeville background. Mike Armstrong bought the gym and renamed it Northwest Gymnastics Academy in the early 1980's. Tom coached in the 70' and 80's. Was quite a character. Suspended his uneven bars from the ceiling.
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Olympia Gymnastics Academy - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Olympic Gymnastics Center, Silverdale - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Pacific Gymnastics Training Center, Chehalis - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Peak Gymnastics, Enumclaw - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Port Townsend Twisters - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Power & Grace Gymnastics, Ocean Shores closed in 2014
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PSSG Puget Sound Gymnastics, Puyallup
From 1972 to 2007, the Puget Sound School of Gymnastics women’s teams have produced more that 15 national team members. Here is a chronology of achievements:
1972  Joe and Terry Rooney leave the Tacoma YMCA and open in 3500sq. ft. in south Tacoma. Brad Loan works part time in the summer while graduating from WSU.
1973  PSSG wins state in Class 1 and sends 3 girls to nationals.
1974  Brad Loan works full time.
1975  Team wins class III State, 2nd in Class II State and 3rd in Class I State.
1976  Roni Barrios, AAU Jr. National Championships, 1st Beam, 2nd Bars, 1st Class I State.
1977  1st place team Class I State, Roni Barrios, 1st AA State, 1st AA Regionals.
1978  11th Place Team National Championships, Roni Barrios 6th AA JO Nationals.
1979  10th National Team Championships.
1980  PSSG wins State in all levels, III, II, and I. Cheryl Chambliss places 3rd Vault Nationals.
1981  Roni Barrios places 10th AA at the American Classic Elite Nationals.
1982  Roni Barrios wins 3 national beam titles and 2 national bar titles from 1980 to 1982.
1983  Yumi Mordre 12th USA Championships, National vault champion, 4th AA World Trials, Makes Budapest World Team, is ranked 55th in the World. Yumi wins two gold and two silver medals in the Pan American Games. Placed 2nd in the Pan Am Trials and Games.
1984  Yumi Mordre places 9th at the Olympic Trials and ends up 2nd Alternate to the Olympic Team.
1985  Kelly Baker makes Jr. National Team in 5th . Goes to Japan and France for International meets. Brad Loan is selected to coach at World Training Camp.
1986  Catherine Williams 1st AA US Classic Elite Nationals, Elli Maulding 3rd. In the American Classic, Elli Maulding 1st AA, Mike Meyers 4th AA.
1987  Catherine Williams, Mike Meyers make National Training Squad. Mike places 11th at USA Championships and makes Jr. National Team. Michalene goes to Argentina and places 4th AA and goes to Japan for the USA.
1988  Marilyn Anderson makes Jr. National Training Squad
1989  Team wins class 3 state plus 8 other team meets this year.
1990  Julie Mountford National Vault Champion and 10th AA Jr. Nationals. Julie makes National Team Training Squad. PSSG Teams win Levels 6,7,8,9 State meets. Level 9 Team wins Western Nationals in Santa Barbara. Raeann Johnson 2nd AA Western Nationals.
1991  Christi Clifford 22nd AA at Sr. US Classic.
1992  Heidi Prosser 5th AA, Onnie Willis 7th AA, Jill Sorrenson 11th AA, Stephanie Roy 12th AA at the American Classic. All make the National Training Squad.
1993  Heidi Prosser 1st AA, Onnie Willis 3rd AA, Stephanie Roy 12th AA at the US Classic Jr. National division. Onnie and Heidi compete in Japan Jr. World Invitational. Heidi wins a bronze on floor and 5th AA. Onnie places 8th AA. Level 10 team wins State.
1994  Onnie Willis wins bars at the American Classic and places 10th AA. Onnie places 25th at the USA Championships. Julie Mountford qualifies to the US Gym Festival. Emily Pritchard and Tammara Diles compete at the US Classic. PSSG wins level 5 and 7 State.
1995  Onnie Willis places 18th at the Championhsips of the USA. Tammara Diles and Emily Pritchard qualify to the USA Gym Festival. PSSG wins 5 and 6 State.
1996  Onnie Willis places 8th AA at the American Classic and makes the USA International Team. Tammara Diles places 5th AA Jr. national division, and Emily Pritchard places 10th in the Sr. National division. Level 6 teams win 6 invitationals and state. Raimy Iselin makes TOP National Team.
1997  Raimy Iselin wins level 8 State. Onnie Willis and Michele Sayer win Level 10 State.
Kristina Baskett and Raimy Iselin win NW Regionals AA. Level 8 Teams win 5 invitationals. Team gets 2nd at the Overall Team meet Emerald Challenge. 4 gymnasts qualify for level 10 Nationals. Onnie Willis places 5th in USA on vault. Kristina Baskett places 1st in the nation for 10 yr olds in TOP. Andrea Peterson, Josie Hancock, Raimy Iselin make it to National TOPs Testing.
1998  Level 9 team wins state. Kristina Baskett wins level 9 State and Regionals, gets 7th AA at Western Nationals. Raimy Iselin and Jules McCraw win 9 State. Meagan Killpack wins 10 State. Onnie Willis wins PNOI, Flips, Emerald Team, 10 Regionals, and Level 10 National Champion in the AA. Onnie wins Nationals on Beam and Vault. Team wins Emerald CUP Challenge. 6 girls go to Nationals. Kristina Baskett wins international meet in Monterey , Mexico.
1999  Level 7 team places 1st in 6 invitationals, and places 2nd at state by .025. Emily Pritchard wins state and Regionals, and gets 36th at JO Nationals. Kristina Baskett places 3rd and 2nd at the National Challenge meets and gets 5th at the Festival Championship. Makes the National Training Squad. Kristina is selected to go to the Pan Amercian Training Camp.
2000 Level 8 team wins 5 invitationals and wins state. Josie Hancock wins AA 37.2. Amanda Sinclair wins Level 8 Regionals with 37.075. Tiana Jean wins Vault and Floor with 9.15 and 9.55. Meagan Killpack qualifies to J.O. Nationals, and Kristina Baskett is invited to an International meet in Puerto Rico and wins Vault. Kristina qualifies to Jr. Internatonal and competes at the US Classic in Tulsa and places 4th on floor.
2001  Level 7 Team goes undefeated in 5 straight meets. Tiana Jean, Mallory Spika, Maggie Hayes qualify to Western Nationals in Level 9. Raimey Iselin qualifies to J.O. Nationals.
2002  PSSG won 13 different meets this year and continued a 5 year run winning the level
4 sectionals. We had three regional champions in Level 8 Raquel Turnbow, Level 9 Mallory Spika, and Level 10 Josie Hancock. Including Alia Loan in Level 9, Mallory and Josie Hancock made it to their respective nationals. Mallory Spika becomes Western national bar champion and 9th All-Around at Western Nationals. Alia placed 12th on bars. Kristina Baskett goes to Costa Rica for an international meet and wins it all, and beat all age groups with a 37.375 AA. Kristina Baskett places 18th Jr. International at the Championships of the USA, just .075 from the national team. The national staff said she would probably be named to the team this year.
2003  PSSG qualifies 4 to Western Nationals, Tana Loan, Alia Loan, Magggie Hayes, Rebecca Turnbow. Alia Loan places 7th AA, 4th Beam, 6th Bars at Western Nationals. Kristina Baskett goes undefeated in 5 invitationals during the season and qualifies to USA Senior International Elite. Kristina Baskett qualifies to the Championships of the USA in the Sr. International Division, then has a foot injury and does not compete.
2004  PSSG qualifies 3 to Level 10 Nationals, Alia Loan, Raquel Turnbow, and Raimey Iselin. Alia Loan places 2nd AA 37.425 at Regionals, Raquel 4th , and Raimey 4th
Kristina Baskett wins 4 Invitationals and qualifies to Sr. International Elite Classics. Level 5 Team wins small team State, Level 6 second in State.
2007 Sold the gym to Jeff and Linda Lutz. Renamed PSG - Puget Sound Gymnastics. Brad got the gym back in 2010. Closed in 2011, Brad went on to coach at Roach Gymnastics and then to Mid-Columbia.
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Puget Sound Gymnastics and Dance, North Bend - Penny Loan owner until 2012.(To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


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Rebounders Gymnastics, Wenatchee. See Apple Valley Gymnastics - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Reflections Gymnastics, Everett - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Rising Stars Gymnastics, Marysville - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Roach Gymnastics
Opened 1997. Owned by Melanie Roach. "Mother of three small children under the age of six, one of whom is autistic, wife of fourth term incumbent Washington State House of Representatives legislator, Sunday school teacher AND one of the strongest women on the planet who's in the final stages of preparation to take on the world at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Focused, determined, organized and extremely time-efficient are just the tip of the iceberg of Melanie Roach." Quotes from her website http://www.qsports.net/web-roach.html (She placed 6th at the Olympics.)

The following information and pictures are from her website:
" Melanie's Story - As an aspiring young gymnast, Melanie's commitment to excellence took her all the way to the Washington State High School Championships but an injury sidelined her for the competition. Rehab included her introduction to free weights and soon thereafter a future, and powerful, star was in the making.

JOHN AMIS / AP

Shattering the stereotypical body image of weightlifters, the petite former gymnast quickly made it clear that strong things come in small packages - really strong things! Her first competition, the 1994 American Open, also brought her first trip to the medals podium with a third place finish. In 1996 Melanie made the personal commitment to pursue her potential in weightlifting to the fullest and set her sights on the 2000 Olympic games. She soon thereafter stunned the weightlifting world by exceeding the world standard in the clean and jerk at the 1998 US National Championships. She had become the #1 ranked US weightlifter and the first one in history to clean and jerk more the twice her body weight. She was poised for a 2000 Olympic debut.

Devastatingly, weeks before the Olympic Trials competition Melanie suffered a serious back injury. Her Olympic dreams, along with any future in the sport appeared to be suddenly over.

With her athletic career in shambles and apparently behind her, Melanie picked herself up and moved on. She opened a business and started a family. She put her energy into assisting her husband, Dan, in his election to the Washington State House of Representatives while opening her own business - Roach Gymnastics, Inc. Her husband is now in the midst of his fourth term, her gymnastics school serves over 500 students and together they have three young children. All the while Melanie still yearned to compete.

In the summer of 2005, Melanie decided it's never too late to chase your dreams. She returned to weightlifting but was quickly hampered by recurring back problems. In October of 2006, she underwent state of the art back surgery, known as microdiscectomy, performed by Dr. Robert Bray at LA's D.I.S.C. Spine and Sports Center. The result was her 7th US National Championship (2007) and the first time since 2000 that she clean/jerked twice her own body weight. She was back!"

2008 Olympian - 6th Place - New American Record
2008 Olympic Trials Champion
2007 Pan Am Games Bronze Medalist
8 Time US National Champion
2006 Pan American Championships Bronze Medalist
5 Time US World Team Member
2000 US Olympic Team-alternate
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Rodeo City Gymnastics, Ellensburg - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Seattle Gymnastics Academy - (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


SEATTLE GYMNASTICS CLUB

1968 Article on the Seattle Gymnastics Club in Amature Athletics magazine

The men on the UW team and the girls from the “Y” formed the Seattle Gym Club. Their purpose was to put on shows at various high schools in order to make money for them as well as sharing half with the school host. The money earned by these shows went towards sending gymnasts to various meets around the country.

seattle clowns(left: Seattle Gym Club comedy tumbling act of Bo Bennett and Jim David.)

The Club was founded on Nov. 5, 1961 to promote gymnastics in Western Washington, and to raise money to send club members to National Gymnastics meets, and to the Olympic trials, clinics and on tours. In 1966 the New Zealand National team was brought to Seattle. In 1967 a team from Kobe, Japan was brought over, and in 1968 a team from Germany was sponsored. The Club was composed of members from a number of different clubs. It was not created to take members from other clubs, but rather to supplement the other clubs by bringing together high quality gymnasts for exhibitions and competitions. This club did exhibitions in schools and the community. The club itself did not enter teams in competition, but rather members competed for their own individual teams. Most of the girls competed for the Seattle YMCA, which won the National “Y” meet three years in a row in the 1960’s. Most of the men competed on the UW men’s team.

Under the direction of Dr. Eric Hughes, this group, at the time, was made up of current and former UW men’s and women’s gymnastic team members. It toured Asia in 1968 and included: Yoshi Hayasaki, Bo Bennett, Jim David, Bob Hall, Mike Flansaas, Charles Peters, Gunter Bohrmann, Jean Henderson, Carol Elsner, Barbara Cook, Linda Bennett, Pauline David and Peggy Rowen.

1968 Seattle Gymnastics Club. (Back row, L. to R.) Dr. Eric Hughes, Yoshi Hayasaki, Bo Bennett, Jim David, Bob Hall, Mike Flansaas, Charles Peters, Gunter Bohrmann. (Front row) Jean Henderson, Carol Elsner, Barbara Cook, Linda Bennett, Peggy Rowen.

 

 


Seattle YMCA
Early 1900's Seattle YMCA and AAU had gymnastics competitions. Sheridan (Sherry) Bertiaume. Mr. Bertiaume had been at the Seattle YMCA as a physical education director from 1914-1916. When Roosevelt opened in 1922 he moved to the school as a physical education teacher and boys' counselor. George Lewis went to the "Y" where he trained himself and hoped to interest other men, including Tommy Thorson, in working on the gymnastics apparatus. Since he always enjoyed teaching others, he had classes for young people. George was also fond of, and skilled in diving. He competed both for the YMCA and Roosevelt High School on the swim team. While at Green Lake Fieldhouse he participated in tumbling and gymnastics. He began volunteer work at the Seattle YMCA from 1939-42. 1932 -1939 - Seattle YMCA sponsored state high school invitationals. 1940-1945 - Not much happening in gymnastics during the War Years. The Seattle "Y" did have gym classes.- George Lewis is noted for bringing the first trampoline to the west coast in 1940.The first competitive open meet after the war was in 1947 and was conducted by George Lewis.

In 1950 Eric Hughes brought one of his students, Rudy Peterson, to compete at a gymnastic meet at the "Y" and that is where these two met. Thereafter they did hand balancing together and performed at shows in order to further interest in the sport. Eric had children's programs but he was only able to accommodate boys at his UW facility so when he got calls to teach girls, Eric referred them to George Lewis at the downtown "Y". Thus George started with the girls programs. The first of these girls was Patsy Walkup beginning in about 1957 and 1958. Also included were the Suver girls, Ann Berger along with Terry Hildebrand, Frank Gato, Ken Lombardo, and Dale Shirley. This group of people would train at the Seattle Y on Wednesdays and apparently would also go to the UW. Dale McClements began in 1959 as a student at Highline High School. She went to Gym Kamp that summer and then to the "Y" with George and often to California with Bud Marquette. 1951 - Seattle YMCA hosts Pacific Northwest AAU Championships. (Joint sponsorship.)

Seattle YMCA 1973 National ChampsIn 1962 the Nationals were held in Seattle in conjunction with the World's Fair and Dale won the all-around. That meet was a trial for the upcoming World Games in Czechoslovakia that coming summer. Dale was a member of that team and George was a coach. Later more girls were attracted to the sport and began competing. George took these girls, as they became more skilled, to AAU, YMCA, National and Canadian championship meets. George Lewis would call George Gulak, who was National chairman of AAU gymnastics, and find out where the meets were held and how to obtain entry forms. Thus, these girls had the opportunity to attend meets around the country and Canada. Some top name girls came to Seattle in order to train with George. (Including Avis Tieber Jamieson and Doris Fuchs Brause.) Many Seattle girls were offered scholarships to attend other colleges and compete on teams in other places. The program at the Seattle "Y" attracted many high school Physical Education teachers. George gave workshops, invitational meets and helped many gymnasts go to other meets and invited them to workouts at the YMCA.Debbie Halle

In 1973 the Seattle YMCA team won the YMCA Nationals in New Orleans. In picture at left, Top bar: L to R: Jan Anten, Patti Lanterman (Gable), Terry Lanigan; Low bar: Sue Middleton, Donna Burian; Standing: Janette Anderson, Debbie Halle, Sue Swenson, Laurel Anderson (Tindall) and Jill Johnson. Front is George Lewis. Debbie Halle was 3rd AA, 2nd FX and Bars, and Laurel Anderson (Tindall) was 2nd on vault.

This was high caliber gymnastics - Bart Conner, who was the JO champion the previous year, competed at this meet. This meet had the elites of the day.
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Skagit Valley Gymnastics, Mount Vernon
Michelle Manduchi owner. Starting in 1974 at the Anacortes YMCA, Skagit Valley Gymnastics began. A year later, a second location at Cascade Middle School in Sedro Woolley opened. A couple of years later a 3rd location opened in Conway and then a 4th on Camano Island. In 1983, they opened in downtown Mt. Vernon and had their first "gym". No more putting up and taking down equipment daily. At that time, they added Dimension to the name. In 1996 they opened in their current location near the community college. In 2006 Michelle sold the business to Bruce Blake until 2008 when Michelle took it over again. Michelle did high school gymnastics and in 1972 was the regional tumbling and trampoline champion. Michelle sold the business in 2014.


Sky Valley, Monroe (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Sno-Co. Gymnastics Club, Everett in 1970’s: coaches: Dan Hunter (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Southern Washington Athletic Club in Centralia (which later moved to Chehalis), (To add information about this club - please fill out online form)


SOGA Spokane (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Spokane Elite Gymnastics Sold in 2010 and the name was changed to Spokane Gymnastics, owner Nadine Burgess.
(To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Spokane Gymnastics Spokane Elite Gymnastics was in business for over 30 years, with multiple owners in several different Valley locations. In August 1999, Seattle Gymnastics Academy, Inc. owned by John Sweeney bought Spokane Elite Gymnastics, and moved it to the current location. In June 2007, Molly Smith and Nadine Burgess were promoted to manage Spokane Elite Gymnastics and along with the support of an incredible staff of coaches, were successful in transforming Spokane Elite Gymnastics to become a premier gym which offers preschool, recreational and competitive programs.

Steady growth in enrollment continued until Spring of 2010, when John Sweeney opted to focus on his four gyms in Seattle. He provided the opportunity for the staff at Spokane Elite Gymnastics to buy the business and Nadine Burgess started a new corporation and changed the name to “Spokane Gymnastics” in conjunction with the new ownership effective July 1, 2010. All new equipment was purchased and installed in June and July of 2010. Nadine and Molly cooperate with all daily operations and Molly serves as Manager, Team Director and Registrar. All other staff and programs remained the same and the transition went smoothly, along with the introduction of new programs.

In February 2011, Spokane Gymnastics expanded by leasing an additional 4,000 square feet adjacent to the current facility, bringing the total square footage of the facility 11,000 square feet. The main focus at Spokane Gymnastics is on recreational gymnastics, fitness and community involvement, but the coaches are proud of their USAG Boys Team and Rec-Op Teams. Owner Nadine Burgess originally is from Oregon and has over 10 years gymnastics coaching experience. She was an integral part of the gymnastic programs at Club Northwest in Grants Pass and Coastal Fitness in Florence. In 2009 she attended “Boot Camp” at Jeff Metzer's “Kids First” Gym in Cincinnati. Nadine worked in Real Estate for over six years and was a property manager in addition to licensed Oregon Real Estate Broker. In 2005 she successfully completed a comprehensive, 6-month EMT-Basic program in Oregon and earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in 2006. Nadine served on Joseph City Council for over two years and volunteered with the American Red Cross, Wallowa County Rotary, Wallowa County Search and Rescue, and SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) elementary literacy program.
(To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)



Spokane Junior Gymnastics Academy Closed 2012 (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


S.P.O.R.T. Gymnastics, Wenatchee
Sue Harris, Owner and Director MS Early Childhood Education, University of Oregon BS Physical Education with a Minor in Dance; 2 years University of Illinois, transferred to the U. of Oregon Oregon Teaching Certificate, Elementary Secondary Education Physical Education: Competitive Gymnast at the U. of Oregon, competed 2 years at Collegiate Nationals. (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Summit Artistic Gymnastics Academy, Maple Valley (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Twisters, Port Townsend (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Valley Gymnastics in Port Hadlock was the other private club on the Olympic Peninsula that was in operation in about the early 1990’s.
(To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


VEGA Vancouver Elite Gymnastics Academy, Camas (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Washington Gymnastics Bruce McGhee (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Windy City Gusters Margaret Damerin (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Yelm Gymnastics Center (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


Zero Gravity Athletics, Poulsbo Closed in 2015. (To add information about this club - please fill out online form.)


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