Katelynn
Hey guys I’m Coach Katelynn. I love coaching young kids in this sport. Seeing them progress and helping them throughout their struggles is my favorite part. I’ve been in gymnastics since I was seven and I competed for four years.
I started coaching as a volunteer and found out quickly that I loved it. I love to inspire and motivate the kids to go beyond their comfort zone and let them find out what they are capable of. I try my hardest to have fun and be productive at the same time. I look forward to meeting you and your child, and can’t wait to coach them!
April
Hi everyone! I’m Coach April. I have loved gymnastics ever since I was younger. I love teaching all the gymnasts my knowledge about gymnastics and tumbling. I love watching them succeed and progress each day!
Ava
My name is Ava Thompson. I am 16 years old! I have been active in the sport since I was 7 years old. I enjoy working with the kids and learning myself as I get to coach!
Joyelle
Hi everyone! I am Joyelle Edmondson (Coach J). I am so excited to coach your gymnasts! I have 5 years of experience coaching gymnastics and was highly involved in gymnastics as a gymnast for 10 years. I am also a high school teacher – helping children learn is a calling in my life! My goal is to create a positive and supportive environment for your gymnast where each athlete can grow and learn. Building fundamentals, teamwork, strong mindsets are so important – all while having fun! I am looking forward to an amazing season together!
Jo
Hello, my name is Coach Jo (also known as Coach JoJo). I started taking gymnastics when I was 4 years old. I was a competetive gymnast from 6 years old to 18 years old. I held many titles, sectional and state metals, and records throughout those years. I was also on a team in Oslo, Norway, in an adult female division that competed tumbling, mini tramp and group floor exercise that was nationally ranked. My specialty was beam and floor, and I was famous for my flexability and back contortion on both of those events. A back injury due to this caused the end of my gymnastics career at 18 years old, so I am very cautious when students get injured and always suggest they listen to their bodies when injured.
I found coaching at 18 years old when I had to complete a senior high school student intership for all gymnasts at my gym, which was coaching for a year. I fell in love with helping a child learn a new skill by gaining confidence, to help them to trust and believe in themselves, and cheering for their every triumph. I moved to Galax in 2009, and coached for many years with the last owner of GGC. Over the years I have learned that coaching gymnastics is not a small job; it is an impactful job and an honor. Gymnastic and coaching lessons will follow them into life. So I try to be mindful of a coaching style to empower them to work hard for their achievements, lift them up while they are finding their confidence, support them mentally and emotionally while they are finding their belief and trust in their abilities. I even had the honor of teaching Coach Katelynn and many other coaches when they were younger, and it makes me so proud that they love this sport and want to carry on investing in young girl’s and boy’s positive self-image and goal accomplishment. Last summer, Katelynn and I choreographed 10 competition floor routines. I had forgotten how many hours it takes to find movements to music that will help a gymnast feel unique, powerful, and spotlighted, while maintaining competitive requirements. Some took several weeks to put together, but I loved every minute. Some Katelynn and I did together at the gym, which was so much fun. It lit a fire within me, because I had forgotten how much I enjoyed creating choro; I realized I could still merge dance with gymnastics so that a gymnast could feel good about themselves while showing an auditorium of people.
