Hometown: Lombard, IL
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2012

Paul first became a gymnast at St. Pius Jr. High School in Lombard, Illinois. He went on to compete for Scarsdale High School in New York and for the University of North Carolina.

Paul has been coaching gymnastics for 40 years. He coached with Brown’s Gymnastics for 20 years and with American Twisters for nine years. He was the first State Chairman for North Carolina and the Florida State Chairman for two years. He has been a guest speaker at many clinics and congresses and has coached state, regional and national champions at all levels. Paul was inducted into the Region 8 Hall of Fame in 2012

Paul enjoys hiking, canoeing, fishing and photographing reptiles. He has hiked the Grand Canyon five times and would like to do a rim-to-rim someday. He spent his childhood in England, Ireland, Scotland and the USA.

Hometown: Evansville, IN
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2009

Karen opened Mega Gymnastics in Evansville, Indiana in 1995. There she had men's and women's gymnastics classes and teams, cheer teams and Tramp and Tumble Teams. Karen was a member of the National Association of Women's Judges and was a Level 2-8 judge for 4 years.

Karen has attended numerous regional and national coaches and judges clinics over the years. She sold her gym in Indiana in 2008 and moved to Gainesville with her husband and 3 daughters. She joined Sun Country in January 2009 and has enjoyed getting to know the families and children.

Hometown: Iowa City, IA
With Sun Country Sports Since: 1992

Mark was the all around Iowa State gymnastics champion from 1977-1978. He was a collegiate gymnast at Odessa Junior College from 1979-1980, and he competed for the University of Iowa from 1981-1982. While in college Mark was a member of the Great American High Dive Team in 1984.

Mark started coaching in 1978 and has been at Sun Country since 1992. He has helped many athletes become State, Regional and National qualifiers. Several of Mark's Sun Country athletes have become members of the Future Stars National Team and have qualified to the USA Championships.

Mark is married and has two daughters who were also great gymnastics and tramp and tumble competitors.

Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2002

Nikki graduated in 2006 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She competed as a gymnast through Level 10. As a Level 8 gymnast, she earned the All-Around Champion Award at Regionals. She started coaching recreation and preschool gymnastics in 2000, and began working at Sun Country when she moved to Gainesville in 2002. She has coached recreational classes and was the Girls Gym Team Department Leader at Sun Country from 2008 through 2012. Beam is her favorite event to coach.

Eager to keep her team competitive, Nikki has attended the Elite clinics and annually attends the National and State Clinics. She is also certified in the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges.

In her free time Nikki remains active with tennis lessons, half-marathon competitions, shopping and cheering at Gator games.

Hometown: Islamorada, FL
With Sun Country Sports Since: 1996

Tanaya grew up as a gymnast and dancer (her grandmother owned a dance studio and her father owned a gymnastics gym). She attended FSU, FIU and UF studying Elementary Education, Business and Exercise Physiology.

Tanaya holds certifications in Gym Levels 1-3, Kinder Teacher, USAG Levels 1-4 Skill Evaluator, USAG Safety, USAG Professional Membership, Preschool Fundamentals and Hands-on Training. She has been a presenter at state and local level gymnastics clinics and is also a CPR/First Aid Instructor.

Tanaya has been coaching preschool and recreational gymnastics at Sun Country since 1996. She loves being involved in every activity at the gym, including camps, birthday parties, sleepovers, the pool and the front desk. She loves working with children and loves working for Sun Country. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Scott and they have an amazing daughter named Perisa. Tanaya loves being active, being outdoors, traveling and spending time at home with her family.

Hometown: Toledo, OH
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2010

Mike is from Toledo, Ohio where he was a competitor at Sunrise Gymnastics. He earned the title of “Boys Class 2 All Around State Champion” in 1981. Mike also attended Kent State University and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. He competed on the varsity gymnastics team for 3 years and was an assistant coach for the team.

Mike coached at Hyde Park Gymnastics in Cincinnati, Ohio beginning in 1990 and owned Hyde Park Gymnastics for 12 years. In this time he was the boys recreational program director, boys team program director and head coach, girls recreational program director, girls level 4 to 9 team coach, meet director for girls and boys home meets and the tumbling/trampoline program director. Mike's coaching experience totals over 29+ years.

Mike is married to Victoria and is the father of four children: Will, Joshua, Shelly and Anna.

Hometown: Waukesha, WI
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2011

Amanda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a biomedical science degree. She won two team national titles as a member of the Women’s Gymnastics Team at LaCrosse and individually won high school state in Wisconsin.

She has been coaching tots through team gymnastics for the past nine years. She has run four half-marathons, enjoys Zumba, fitness and really good books.

Hometown: New Port Richey, FL
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2012

Mary was a competitive gymnast for 14 years. She was a Level 9 Regional Qualifier - 2nd Place Beam and All-Around and a Level 9 National Qualifier.

Mary graduated from UF in 2011 with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and is now working on her Masters. She loves everything sports and fitness and was the men’s varsity coxswain and team captain for the UF Crew Team. She is also a huge Tampa Bay Lightning fan!

Hometown: Hartford, CT
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2011

Ja’Cia is currently a student at Santa Fe studying business and radiology. She began gymnastics at age six and was a competitive gymnast for many years.

Ja’Cia’s goals are to open her own gym and work as a radiologist part-time.

Hometown: Tulsa, OK
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2012

Margaret previously worked at YMCA Sports World for 5 years as a gymnastics coach. She also was a gymnast beginning at 8 years old and loved every minute of it! Margaret is going to become a traveling nurse. She hopes to one day have six kids (five boys and one girl.

Hometown: Gainesville, FL
With Sun Country Sports Since: 2012

Rachel has been a member of the Sun Country family for many years, in many roles. She enjoys outdoor activities and is currently a student working toward her degree in early childhood education.