Our Coaches

We have a highly trained staff who are very knowledgeable in the instruction of this sport, both through personal participation as well as years of teaching experience. You will not find a more positive, motivated, personable, and caring staff. Our philosophy in teaching is based on the love and growth of this sport and the growth of the individual child, both in self-confidence and physical prowess.

 

Louis and Carol Robinson,  Owners

Thad Beaver

Program Director/Girl’s team head coach

 Thad has been coaching gymnastics since 1988, and he has been with MGC for 16 years.   During this time he has enjoyed coaching preschool classes to optional level competitive team.   Thad has coached multiple state team championships as well as having champions at the regional and national levels.  When not working at Midwest Thad enjoys working out, golfing, and watching movies. 

Amy S.

Class instructor/Birthday party hostess

 Amy is from Hilliard.  She was a member of her middle school gymnastics team and continued as a cheerleader until high school graduation.  Amy says “I love working at Midwest because it brings me back to all the fun I had as a gymnast.”

Debbie Heller

Girl’s Team Coach/Open Gym

Debbie previously coached at Upper Arlington Schools for 9 years.  During that time she was also a gymnastics judge.  Debbie has been working at Midwest since 2006 and is the Level 4 head coach.  She is the mother of 2 children, Alex and Robert.  She enjoys coaching because she “loves working with kids!”

Doug Pelanda

Class Instructor

 Doug has been teaching gymnastics and tumbling classes at Midwest since 2004.  He will be graduating from The Ohio State University with a biology degree in August 2008.

Joy Queary

Training Team Head Coach/ Class Instructor

 Joy has been coaching gymnastics for over 20 years.  She has taught a variety of levels ranging from preschool classes to elite gymnasts.  She enjoys working with the training team because she loves teaching good basics and developing a strong foundation for gymnastics.  Joy has a master’s in exercise physiology from the University of South Carolina.  She is a mother of 2 boys, one of whom is on the competitive team her at MGC.

Eric VanSickle

Boy’s Team Program Director and Head Coach

Eric has been involved with gymnastics for 23 years.  During his career he has been coached by such decorated coaches as Dennis McIntyre (current USAG Men’s program director), Peter Korman (former OSU head coach and Olympic head coach), and Miles Avery (current OSU head coach and Olympic head coach).  Eric is a five time Junior Olympic regional team member and was a member of the Junior National team in 2000.  During his time as a scholarship member of The Ohio State University’s Men’s gymnastics team (2000-2004) Eric was a part of two Big 10 championship teams and the 2001 National Champion Buckeyes.  Eric has been coaching boy’s gymnastics for 12 years and has been a certified national judge since 2004. 

 

Nick Searcy

Boy’s Team Coach/Class Instructor

 Nick has been involved with gymnastics since the age of 3 and spent some of his competitive career as a member of the Midwest boy’s team.  Nick was a two-time captain and member of three Big 10 championship teams at The Ohio State University.  Nick graduated from OSU with a major in nutrition and a minor in exercise science.  He is also a CSCS certified personal trainer.  Besides gymnastics Nick enjoys all sports, especially golf.

Tami Sorensen

Class Instructor/Office Staff

 Tami is a former cheerleader with 13 years of experience.  As a teenager she taught pre-school gymnastics classes at the local YMCA.  Tami enjoys teaching younger children because “they are at a pivotal point when gymnastics is new and fresh. It’s nice to see the excitement and awe.”  Tami works full-time as a Medical Laboratory Technologist.  She has two daughters, both of whom are involved at MGC; one as an optional level gymnast and the other attends tumbling classes.  She chooses MGC because she and her daughters love the atmosphere, staff, and other parents. 

 

Brittany Baker

Class Instructor

 

Jen Loadman

Team Coach/Class Instructor

 

Hillary Becker

Team Coach/Class Instructor

 

Sarah Jones

Class Instructor

 

Tara Chamberlain

Class Instructor

 

Mike Powell

Team Coach/Class Instructor

 

Mitchell Arthur

Class Instructor

 Mitchell has been doing gymnastics since he was 10 years old and is a Level 10 gymnast at MGC.  He attends Westerville South High School where he is also a member of the varsity wrestling team.  Mitchell “loves the sport of gymnastics and loves teaching it to others.” 

 

Connor Stillion

Class Instructor  

Connor is 15 years old and has been training gymnastics for twelve years and competes for Midwest. He has gone to regional championships every year he has been eligible and was regional high bar champion two years ago and placed second all around.  Connor has four siblings at home so he is used to working with little kids.  He says he is "excited to learn all he can from coaching and rotating with Eric”

 

Brock Gaus

Class Instructor

  Midwest Office Staff

 

 

 

 

 

Terri Becker

Office Manager/Preschool Class Instructor

Terri has worked at MGC since 2006 when her family moved from Tennessee to Ohio.  She has a daughter who is a competitive gymnast, so one of their first priorities after the move was to find a gymnastics facility.  When visiting Midwest, the Becker’s realized that the owners and coaches were coaches that had impressed them at a camp a few years prior.  Terri says “We were enthusiastically welcomed by the staff and have considered Midwest home ever since.”

 

 

 

 

 

Candy Kiss

Office Staff

Candy has been working in the office since 2006.  She has 3 daughters who are on competitive team at Midwest so Candy spends many hours at the gym!  She has a love for gymnastics because she was a competitive gymnast herself!

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Gaus

Office Staff

Amy has worked at Midwest since 2006.  She has a son who is a level 10 gymnast on the boys team.  She also has 2 daughters who are both in college.  Now that her children are older and she has more free time, Amy enjoys reading, shopping, and traveling with her son to his meets.

Kim Troutner

Office Staff

This is Kim’s first year working in the office at MGC.  She has a son and a daughter on competitive team here.  Kim also coaches gymnastics for the Special Olympics, and volunteers with the elementary school gymnastics program.  Kim “REALLY loves being at the gym!

Lorraine Rojas

Office Staff

 

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