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Mark Fong Mark Fong is a San Francisco native. He kicked off his gymnastics career at the age of nine, at Daly City Parks and Recreation, where he later went onto to teach. Although his favorite event was the rings, he fondly remembers the moment he made his giant swings on the high bar without assistance. He began competing at the age of 11 and finished 3 rd All-Around at the Zone Championships, qualifying for the State Championships.
His coaches were his prime inspiration in gymnastics, encouraging him to succeed and enjoy the benefits of perseverance and hard work. These are the lessons he would like to impart to his students. “I hope I can have the same impact on the next generation, “ he says.
Mark is currently studying to earn his B.S. in Kinesiology (Exercise Science and Fitness) at San Francisco State University and teaching recreational classes at American Gymnastics.
Hilary Kilpatric Hilary was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico and began gymnastics at age five. She began competing in Class III gymnastics at age nine. She won the State Championships in Class III at age eleven and went on to compete up to Level 8. In Level 8, she attended the Regional competition, placing 3rd on Bars. After retiring from gymnastics, Hilary joined the cheerleading squad. She was selected as an NCAA All-American cheerleader and cheered for the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii in 1993. She began teaching gymnastics in her home state of New Mexico. Hilary loves working with children so much, she left a job as an auditor (after earning her CPA license) to return to teaching children. " I especially enjoy the preschool program in gymnastics, because it really helps to develop their self-confidence." Aside from gymnastics, Hilary is a Capoeira enthusiast, has performed as an acrobat in the San Francisco Opera, takes yoga, paints and dreams of traveling to Peru. Her personal motto is "Follow your dreams!'.
Neal Yasami's gymnastics career began in Corvalis, Oregon, where he was born. He spent most of his childhood living between Oregon and Hawaii. Neal's earliest gymnastics memories are of practicing his splits, swinging on the pommel horse, and tumbling into foam pits, “ I remember being terrified to tears, but also feeling a rush of excitement”.
Throughout his life, Neal has lived in Germany, Italy, Mexico, Hawaii and Nebraska. He used his talents as a great gymnast to put himself through college, via scholarships. All of his hard work was certainly noticed, as he won Hawaii Homecoming Scholar and received the Top Scholar Athlete Award four years in a row! Neal credits his love for gymnastics to the people who stood behind him, and even those who didn't, “ I appreciate the people who took the time to really show me how to perform gymnastics, not just to do it. All the people who said I couldn't do something, because of them, I worked even harder”.
Neal began to coach his favorite sport around the age of 19. He has been coaching for 14 years and enjoys every minute of it. “ I love teaching gymnastics and art almost as much as I love doing it”. Neal is also a professional artist who keeps busy by going to school and educating children in his spare time. Neal's personal mantra: “ Nothing is worth doing, that isn't worth doing well”. Before competitions, he likes to stay silent and really focus on what he is about to do. AGC welcomes him to San Francisco, and to our gym. Neal works with all different ages and levels. He will be a great addition to our Girls and Boys competitive teams.
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Neal Yasami