NEXT EVENT: 07/31/2010 - Tumble Camp
Coaches
Nicole Gelbach – Owner / Head Coach
Nicole started gymnastics at the age of 2! She is USAG safety certified in gymnastics and USASF levels 1-5 certified in cheerleading. She has coached tumbling since 1999 and has had two National Tumbling and Trampoline Teams, cheerleading since 2002 and has had squads achieve the UCA, COA and Madri Gras 1st Place Championships and artistic gymnastics since 2004 and has produced several All-Around Heart of Missouri Gold Medalist as well as a Show Me State Game Gold Medalist-Uneven Bar Champion. Nicole has had multiple competitive cheer teams qualify for the All-Levels International Cheerleading Competition. Nicole’s senior level 4 team holds the title of the All-Levels International Grand Champions. They placed 1st out of all 5 International events held in Texas, Ohio, California, Georgia, and New Jersey. Nicole trained at G.A.G.E and Flipz gyms. Nicole attended Warrensburg High School where she was an honor student and was a Varsity cheerleader. She was a recreational and competitive gymnast as well as a competitive cheerleader. She is a certified Heart of Missouri Judge and has attended several coaches’ clinics and camps throughout the state of Missouri. In addition, Nicole was choosen to coach at the FlipFest Olympic summer training program. Nicole is also the current Warrensburg High School Cheerleading Coach where she is the head coach for Varsity Football. In addition, Nicole was a competitive volleyball player.
While owning the gym and being the head coach, Nicole is also attending the University of Central Missouri where she is pursing a degree in Child and Family Development. Nicole graduates this December!
Laura Chaney – Gymnastic / Tumbling Instructor
Laura, a Warrensburg resident for 15 years, has coached tumbling and gymnastics at Spirit Express since 2005. She began tumbling at age 4 in her native Iowa and entered gymnastics competition as a middle-school student. She graduated high school in Dubuque with numerous gymnastics honors claimed at state meets, and in 1981 ranked among Iowa’s top college recruits. Laura accepted a scholarship with Southeast Missouri State University, and her recruiting class made SEMO State an immediate gymnastics power in NCAA D-II under coach Bill Hopkins. The Otahkians finished in the national top three all her four years, including runner-up National Team in 1984 and 1985. Individually, Laura, was an all-around performer for SEMO and twice won All-American honors, on balance beam and floor exercise. Perhaps her proudest achievement was competing gymnastics every year in college, becoming recognized as one of SEMO’s few four-year letter-winners across athletics. Laura starting teaching gymnastics at summer camps while in college and then coached competitive levels for 8 years, first in West Plains and later in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where one of her former gymnasts, Jessica Allen, owns Xtreme Gymnastics. Laura and husband Matt have two teenagers, Thomas and Katelyn. Laura has been employed by the MO Dept. of Social Services for over 20 years. At Spirit Express, Laura teaches children of all ages, from beginner to advanced levels. It’s a great way for her to stay active in the sport she loves, showing kids not only the hard work involved, but how they can achieve and learn many valuable lessons for life through sports participation.
Leslie Brown – Cheerleading / Tumbling / Gymnastics Instructor
Leslie works for the Warrensburg School District, where she has taught since 1999. She has bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership (School Administration.) She is a graduate from the University of Central Missouri. Leslie was an all around athlete. She played competitive softball for 7 years, competitive basketball for 5 years, competitive volleyball for 6 years, competed in track and field for 6 years, was a member of her school dance team for 1 year, and did cheerleading for 4 years. In addition to being an athlete and learning work ethic, dedication, and the sacrifice that it takes to compete, Leslie is now a coach. She coached Varsity Cheerleading for the High School for 5 years, Middle School Volleyball for 2 years, and High School Track and Field for 2 years. Leslie’s favorite quotes include: “People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will NEVER forget how you make them feel!” “Coach like every child is a champion and they will become one…it is heart that is bigger than any sport.”
Jason Hansell – Gymnastic Instructor
Jason comes to Spirit Express with 16 years of gym related experience. His gymnastic career started at GAGE (Great American Gymnastics). He was an elite gymnasts and was on the National team for two years. He was ranked 6th in nation on floor, bars, and rings in 1996. In 1998 he was a member of the International Team for the USA and competed in the International Competition against Russia and China. At the International Competition he ranked 5th overall. Jason was also a partner with Mindy Blankenship for an Elite Mix Pair in which they took 1st place in Class 1 and 2.
Jason has been coaching women’s gymnastics for the past 13 years. He has coached beginners through the Elite level. Four of his previous gymnastics students are attending college on full ride gymnastic scholarships.
Jason’s coaching philosophy is “Get Tight!”
Danelle Bussel – Gymnastic Instructor
Danelle is a graduate of Jefferson City High School and is currently pursing an Athletic Training degree from the University of Central Missouri with plan to be a Physical Therapist.
Danelle is USAG certified, safety certified, and comes to Spirit Express with 9 years of coaching experience. She was a Level 9 gymnast and has been coaching a Level 4-7 competitive team.
Danelle’s coaching philosophy is “You have to work HARD to get where you want.”
Kristen Thomas – Tumbling and Cheer Instructor
Kristen is currently attending the University of Central Missouri where she is studying for her RN nursing degree. She was a competitive ice-skater for 4 years, which then lead her to cheerleading. Kristen has 10 years of cheerleading experience, she cheered at Kansas City All-Stars for 6 years. Her Athletic Awards include: 1st year to UCA Nationals-2nd, 2nd year – 5th, 3rd year – 3rd , 4th year – 9th, 5th year – 3rd. 1st at all-girl stunt camp in 2004, Branson, MO. 2nd at partner stunt UCA Nationals 2005. 1st in partner stunt division at UCA Nationals 2006 and second in all girl division level 5. She was named UCA All-American cheerleader 2 years in a row. Kristen is a UCA MO-Staff cheerleader – 2nd year veteran. “I am a very determined and hard-working coach that demands excellence just as my coach did. I have a heart for cheerleading and I am proud to say I am a coach at Spirit Express.”
Coaching Philosophy: “The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”
Erika Clark – Gymnastic Instructor
Erika is a 2008 WHS Honors graduate and a sophmore at the University of Central Missouri where she is majoring in Athletic Training. Erika has been a Certified Nurse Assistant since 2007 and is planning on going to graduate school to become a Sports Medicine Doctor. Erika has come to Spirit Express with 17 years of tumbling experience. She has been coaching at Spirit Express since August 2007. After training at area gyms she trained at Xtreme Fitness and Gymnastics in Lee’s Summit where she was coached by the national team coach and three time world champ Jon Beck. She was introduced to Trampoline and Power tumbling in 2001 and competed for 3 years on Trampoline and Power Tumbling for 7 years in USAG competitions. She has earned the following awards in USAG competitions: 2007 National Competition: 17th Place Power Tumbling Level 9, 2006 National Competition: 1st Place Power Tumbling Level 8, 2005 National Competition: 6th Place Power Tumbling Level 7, 2003 National Competition: 4th Place Trampoline Level 7, 2002 National Competition: 3rd Place Trampoline Level 5, and numerous state and regional awards.
Erika’s coaching philosophy is a quote from Hershel Walker: “If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat”.
Kaylee VanBlarcum- Student Cheer and Gymnastics Instructor
Kaylee truly enjoys working with children. She loves coaching because it gives her the opportunity to teach athletes the sport that she loves. Before Kaylee became a student coach she was a power tumbler. While power tumbling, she went to nationals twice, once in California where she placed ninth in her flight. She also went to Florida where she placed tenth in the nation. Coach Nicole then introduced Kaylee to cheerleading. Kaylee gave up power tumbling and became a competitive cheerleader. Kaylee is currently a competitive cheerleader and a competitive artistic gymnast. Kaylee’s cheer team recently competed at the All-Levels International Cheerleading competition where they won the grand championship title. In addition, Kaylee cheers for the Warrensburg Tigers.
Kaylee’s coaching philosophy is: “perfect practice makes perfect.”
Chelsea Pryor- Student Cheer and Gymnastics Instructor
Chelsea started tumbling at the age of three! She has been cheering at Spirit Express for seven years. She is on a level four cheerleading squad called Legacy. Chelsea’s cheer team recently competed at the All-Levels International Cheerleading competition where they won the grand championship title. Jackie started gymnastics as an NAC gymnast at the age of 7. She placed 3rd overall in the NAC competition. She then decided to be a cheerleader for Spirit Express. She began to cheer at the age of 9. While cheering at Spirit Express, her teams won the 1st place UCA, COA, and Mardi Gras Championships. Jackie’s cheer team recently competed at the All-Levels International Cheerleading competition where they won the grand championship title. Jackie is a current High School Cheerleader where she cheers for Varsity Football and Wrestling. Jackie works at Spirit Express as a coach. She has been coaching for over 3 years. She has been a student representative in her class for four years. She has straight A’s and takes school very seriously. Jackie’s goals are to attend UCM, to be a college cheerleader and get a degree in teaching.
Jackie Brown- Student Cheer and Gymnastics Instructor