AGC STAFF Bio's

(more bio's and pictures to come)

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

Jenna O'Dowd- Adminstration/Tots/Rec (Bayshore/Judah)

Kleita Gaefka - Administration/Tots (Bayshore/Judah) 

RECREATIONAL COACHES

Kayla Kenton - Tots/Rec. Coach
 

Nicole Lum -  Tots/Recreational Coach (Bayshore)

Nicole Lum is a great new addition to American. She has been teaching gymnastics for the past 8 years on both recreational and compulsory levels. As a former gymnast, she competed for Christy's Gymnastics in her hometown of  Queens, New York for over 10 years. Recently graduated, she moved to San Francisco in August and is now teaching the tots program as well as girl's levels 1,2, and 3.

Kristin Rooney - Tots/Rec./Dance

David Trazon - Tots/Rec. (Judah)

David's has been coaching gymnastics for six years.  Studying dance at a gymnastics facility he was drawn in to the equipment and the physical challenges that gymnastics brings. After highschool he started to volunteer at his first gym and was quickly hired because the kids liked him so much. His main joy in teaching gymnastics is watching the children learn that they can do anything that they put their minds to.  His two main influences in coaching are Bruce Lee and Mary Poppins. "People that judge a book by it's cover usually are people that cannot read." - David Tuazon

Allison Daniel - (Judah)

Haley Bersche - Administrator

Paulette Thomas - Tot/Rec. (Bayshore/Judah)

Paulette has been coaching gymnastics since age 16 at Ariel Tumbling & Acro Gymnastics in San Jose and has been at American now for over two years.  Paulette coaches everything from Parent Participation to Girls Level 3 any everything in between.  With her great personality and creative drills she keeps the kids learning while having a great time.  She is currently studing Liberal Studies at SF State to be an elementary school teacher.  We are lucky to have Paulette and she is our 2011 Coach of the Year.  

Betheny Walters - Tots/Recreational Coach/ Front Desk (Bayshore)

Micah Walters - Tots/Recreational Coach (Judah)

Micah began coaching gymnastics at AGC in 2008. He started recreational gymnastics at the age of 6, inspired by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He began his competitive gymnastics career at age 9 and continued competing until the age of 14. His best apparatus was the floor exercise where he placed 1st in the 2004 East Coast Regional Championships. He enjoys teaching gymnastics because it give him the opportunity to pass along his philosophy on the sport to the future generations of gymnasts. Micah is also a certified personal trainer.

Alanna Jones - Tots/Rec. (Judah)

Idanna Zharzhavskaya - Tots/Rec. (Judah) 

Victor Carreiro - Tots/Rec. Boys Coach (Bayshore/Judah)

Nikki Wong - Tots/Rec. Coach (Judah)

Michael Rauchwerger - Jr. Staff Assistant (Bayshore/Judah)

Jesse Amital - Jr. Staff Assistant (Bayshore/Judah)

Jesse is a San Francisco native, and began taking classes at AGC since age 2. He is currently a junior at the Bay School of S.F. and a level 10 competitive gymnast. This year, 2011 he felt like it was a natural transition to give back to the gym by teaching classes since he has worked out at AGC for so long. He started to teach camp at the beginning of summer and enjoyed it a lot; he has progressed and currently teach tumblers, level 1 boys/girls, and birthdays.

TEAM COACHES

Rebecca Byrne - Tots/Rec./Girls Head Team Coach (Bayshore/Judah)

Kendall Pope - Girls Team Coach

Candice Fox - Tots/Rec./Girls Pre-Team/Team Coach  (Bayshore)

Rena Rowe - Tots/Recreational/Team Coach (Judah)

Rena began gymnastics at age 6, and trained through level 7. She stated that her best competitive event was beam. She has been a great inspiration and addition to the Level 4 compulsory team, as well as recreational and tot classes at Judah. When she is not coaching,  she trains hand to hand as a mixed pair at the Circus Center of San Francisco. She has been teaching gymnastics for over 15 years.

Christina Novak - Rec/Girls Pre Team (Bayshore)

Christina joined ACG in the fall of 2011 and quickly immersed herself into all facets of our program.  Christina worked at other gym clubs in Northern California since 2000, coaching pre-school through competitive gymnasts.  She did gymnastics as a child, and now competes in the grueling sport of Tri-Fitness (obstacle course, fitness tests, grace & physique), which lead her to become a certified personal trainer. Christina’s own focused training, plus her naturally playful attitude and professional demeanor make her a perfect addition to our recreational gymnastics classes, and pre team/competitive program.  

Mark Fong - Boys Team Coach

Mark has been at American since Dec 2004.  Thanks to the multiple State and Regional Champions;accolades include Level 5/ Coach Of The Year (2010+2011) voted by NCBGA (Nor Cal Boys Gymnastics Association).  Mark currently coaches Boys Rec Lv 1-2, and Competitive Boys Team Lv 4-6, as Boys Team Coach.  He kicked off his gymnastics career at the age of nine, at Daly City Parks and Recreation, where he later went onto to teach. He began competing at the age of 11 and finished 3rd All-Around at the Zone Championships, qualifying for the State Championships.
 

Jon Louis  - Boys Optional Coach (Bayshore)

Jon has been a great asset to our boys optional competitive program. Jon has been coaching boys teams for well over a decade throughout the bay area. Starting at the "late" age of 12, he excelled rapidly then moved to Pennsylvania his junior year in high school to train at the world renowned Parkettes National Training Center. After only 2 years, Jon became Jr. National All-Around Champion. He received a full scholarship to Stanford University, where he became 1986 NCAA Men's All Around Champion and member of the U.S. National Team. In 2002, Jon was inducted into the Stanford University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Jerry Anaya - Recreational/Boys Pre-Team Coach

Jerry comes to AGC with previous experience working with recreational and Team within the bay area, for 11 years. He was named NorCal Boys All Star level 6 Team Coach. Jerry previously excelled in diving before he started coaching, he placed 3rd in the Northern CA and 7th in the State Collegiate Competition in Spring Board and Platform Diving 1996.

BALLET

Marika Brussel - Ballet Instructor (Bayshore)

Marika trained on scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School, and performed with Joffrey Concert Group. She also studied at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City.  Subsequently she danced with Ballet Theater of New Mexico, Alameda Ballet, and Napoles Ballet Theater, performing such roles as Odile in Swan Lake and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream.  She has been teaching for over 15 years.