Meet the Coaches

Laurie

Owner
Laurie started working for HSG in 2003 as a recreational preschool and beginning girls’ coach. She has been the owner of High Sierra Gymnastics since 2005. Laurie enjoys watching kids grow into athletes that mature and learn life lessons through gymnastics. Her goal for HSG is to have a gymnastics school that feels like family. Coaches that love gymnastics and love to work with kids. Laurie has helped run several large gymnastics competitions including Women's and Men's Nevada State Championships, Men's Region 1 Gymnastics Championships and Men's National Gymnastics Championships. She has helped run the Cal Benefit Cup for Men and Women at Cal Berkeley and their NCAA competitions. Laurie enjoys taking pictures of the gymnasts during their competitions to share with the parents.

Kellee

Gym Manager
Kellee started at High Sierra Gymnastics in October, 2012. She has become an especially important part of the HSG family. Kellee attended UNR and has a bachelor’s in psychology. She enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her family. Kellee is our Gym Manager and works extremely hard in running the everyday aspects of the gym. She loves working for HSG because of the family atmosphere it has. Her goal is to be successful in any obstacles that come her way. Kellee is a great addition to the HSG family. Every business needs a Kellee; but she is ours!

Coach Emily

Competitive Girls Team Head Coach
Coach Emily is a former gymnast for High Sierra Gymnastics. Emily started coaching for us in June, 2008. Over the past years she had become one of the best coaches. In 2016 she became a Girls Competitive Team Coach. Her commitment to excellence is evident in the girls she coaches on the competitive program. Her goals are to develop the whole child with life lessons, coach with passion, not yelling and that winning at all costs is not the goal. Coach Emily enjoys working at HSG because employees and athletes are her second family. She loves that HSG is a special place that cultivates a safe and loving environment for kids to grow into happy, healthy, successful, and driven individuals. Her goal in life is to make a positive and lasting impact on as many lives as possible.

Coach Tim

Competitive Boys Team Head Coach
Coach Tim started gymnastics in High School taking 1st place on PH his senior year. He received a full scholarship to Cal State Fullerton and placed 2nd on PH at the Pac 10 Championships in 1984. He has been coaching gymnastics since 1981. In 2015 he moved up to Reno as the Boys Team Head Coach for High Sierra Gymnastics. Coach Tim received the “Frank Cumiskey Award” in 2003. This is the highest award in the USA Men’s Junior Olympic Program given to one person each year for their contribution to Men’s Gymnastics. He has helped coach many gymnasts onto Jr National Teams as well as All Around and Event National Champions. Caoch Tim was a member of the USA Gymnastics Board of Directors and Advisory Committee to the USAG Board of Directors. He was the Region 1 Chairman and member of the Jr. Olympic Program Committee. He was the State Chairman of So Cal. He is currently the Nevada State Chairman. He was President of the USA Men’s Gymnastics Association from 2003-2015. He has been on many committees throughout his 35+ years of coaching. He is currently on the USA Age Group Competition Committee (AGCC) and is a member of the USA Compulsory Writing Committee. He has also been a member of the Jr. Olympic National Championships Format Committee. Coach Tim hosted and helped out at many gymnastics events and is one of the best Event Directors in the men’s community. He has been the co-Meet Director for the USA Men’s Jr. Olympic National Championships 6 times. He has been the Meet Director (and co-Meet Director) for the Region 1 Championships 11 times. He has also been a Nationally rated Judge since 1986. He has been a presenter at the USA Gymnastics Congress as well as at many of the Men’s New JO Program Workshops. He has presented at the USA Men’s National Coaches Workshop in Colorado Springs.

Coach Nathan

Competitive Girls Team Coach Special Events Director Preschool & Recreational Program Director
Coach Nathan is one of our own. He started on the competitive team and when he retired from competing, he jumped right into coaching. Coach Nathan started with us in June, 2015. Coach Nathan coaches our girls’ competitive team. He graduated from UNR in the winter of 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in political philosophy and community health. Outside of coaching he is getting his masters degree in education and plans to teach high school social studies. Coach Nathan is in charge with keeping the gym clean and equipment in top shape. He also organizes all our special events and oversees our preschool and recreational class program. Nathan enjoys HSG because he loves being able to have fun with the kids every day and teach them about his passion. His goals are to be happy, to teach and serve the younger generations as much as possible. Coach Nathan is an awesome staff member and coach.

Coach Tyler

Birthday Party Director Competitive Girls Team Coach Recreational Class Coach
Coach Tyler started her gymnastics career at High Sierra Gymnastics as a competitive gymnast. She joined our coaching staff January, 2018. Coach Tyler is our Birthday Party Director and does an incredibly good job at keeping the parties’ fun for our guests. She has graduated from UNR and plans to find a job in her field that allows her to help those who come into contact with the law because of their substance use/mental health disorders. Coach Tyler says, “I love that the environment [at HSG] allows me to teach children gymnastics while also allowing them to have fun.” We are excited to have her on our team.

Coach Tristan

Competitive Boys Team Coach
Coach Tristan started his gymnastics career here at High Sierra Gymnastics as a competitive gymnast. He was on our competitive team until January, 2020 when he retired to become a competitive team coach. He joined our coaching staff June, 2018. Coach Tristan says why he likes coaching at HSG, "The family feeling, we’re all a team and if we fall there’s always a helping hand to get you back on your feet." He works part time at Western Nevada Supply as well as a boys team coach. His goals are to grind hard till he can make enough to help others do things they wouldn’t be able otherwise. Examples: giving to charity, building new homes, maybe becoming a motivation speaker. We are happy he has decided to stay and help shape the new crop of gymnasts into exceptional gymnasts.

Coach Kaitlyn

Recreational Class Coach
Coach Kaitlyn began coaching at HSG in July, 2018. Coach Kaitlyn has fun coaching preschool through our highest level girls’ classes. She's also coaching boys’ classes! She is attending UNR and is in nursing school for her BSN degree. Coach Kaitlyn says she likes coaching at HSG because “I love that every day is a new and interesting day at work. The kids make my job so much fun, providing me with individual personalities to enjoy with each class I coach. I am so glad that this job allows me to reconnect with my past for my love of gymnastics.” Some of her goals are to graduate and earn her RN license, then go on to earn her masters and become a pediatric nurse practitioner. She plans to stay connected to the gym, by one day bringing her kids to take classes at High Sierra Gymnastics. Coach Kaitlyn is a fun coach, and we are happy she coaches here at HSG.

Coach Derek

Recreational Class Coach

Coach RaeLena

Recreational Class Coach
Coach RaeLena started coaching for HSG January, 2016. She has 2 girls that do gymnasts here. She coaches Parent and Me, Preschool and Beginning Girl classes and they are very fun. No one can do preschool like a mom!

Coach Niko

Recreational Class Coach
Coach Niko has been coaching for us since June, 2021. He is a high performing gymnast on our competitive team and is able to coach a variety of classes. Coach Niko coaches Preschool, Beginning Girl and Beginning Boy classes. He has won National Titles on Rings in 2018 and 2021. Coach Niko like coaching at HSG because, "I like being able to teach the kids new skills and see them so happy after they do the skill." His futrue goals are making it to college for gymnastics and become successful in the medical field. We are so happy he decided to coach.

Coach Maddy

Recreational Class Coach
Coach Maddy has been coaching for us since September, 2021. She does a wonderful job coaching preschool and beginning girls classes. Coach Maddy says why she loves coaching at HSG, "I love getting to meet new kids and their amazing and fun personalities. It’s always the best watching one of your students get a new skill they’ve been working on!!" Coach Maddy goes to school at McQueen High School and is on the Legacy T&T Competitive Team. Her goals are to continue a part of her gymnastics career with T&T in her future, and major in counseling or psychology so that she can become a psychologist when she is older. Coach Maddy is a great addition to the HSG family and we are very happy to have her here.

Coach Rysa

Recrational Class Coach

Coach Colton

Recreational Class Coach
Coach Colton is a competitive gymnast on our boy's team and started coaching for us December, 2021. He coaches beginning girls classes and makes them a lot of fun. Coach Colton loves coaching at HSG because It has helped him learn a lot about the sport in general but it is also teaching him things he will need in life; like patience. Coach Colton attends McQueen High School but wants to open a restaurant after he graduates college.

Coach Ava

Recreational Class Coach
Coach Ava joined the coaching staff at HSG January, 2022. She coaches preschool classes and they love her and can't waiti to see her every week. Coach Ava is currently in High School but her goals for the future are to become a nurse, live my life to the fullest, and spread positivity!! She tells us why she loves coaching at HSG, "Seeing how excited the kids get when they come into the gym!" Having Coach Ava coaching at HSG is great!

Coach Sydney

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Sydney started coaching for HSG in April, 2022. She coaches preschool and beginning girls classes and rocks the classes. Coach Sydney says she loves getting to have fun with the kids and making jokes with them, they’re always so funny and positive." This is what makes her a great coach for HSG! Coach Sydney's goals for her future is to become a veterinarian and work with animals but she's really just focused on living the happiest most fulfilling life she can.

Coach Brian

Junior Coach

Coach Tucker

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Tucker is a competitive gymnast on our competitive team. He started on our competitive team in 2014. He attends McQueen High School and is looking forward to college. Coach Tucker loves coaching for HSG because he likes how friendly and helpful everyone is. We love having Coach Tucker on our coaching staff. He is fun and the little gymnasts love him.

Coach Natalie

Junior Coach

Coach Carter

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Odessa

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Hahle

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Hahle started coaching at HSG in September, 2022. She attends UNR. Coach Hahle say she love working at HSG because of the welcoming and kind environment that the staff creates. After she graduate with her degree in Public Health, She plan to volunteer with the Peace Corps and continue to build her career in this field. She want to coach gymnastics for as long as possible and hopes to become a gymnastics judge.

Coach Jaclyn

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Ashley

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Katherine

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Katherine statred coaching for HSG in October, 2022. She is going to school at UNR. Coach Katherinesays about HSG "I love getting to interact with the kids and I also love being able to work in such an amazing environment." Her biggest goal in life is becoming a physical therapist.

Coach Kiara

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Kiara started her coaching career at HSG in October, 2022. She is attending UNR. Coach Kiara loves coaching at HSG because of the fun enviroment. She wants to work at Make a Wish Foundation after she finishes school.

Coach Ece

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Ece has been coaching for HSG since November, 2022. She is attending McQueen High School. Coach Ece says about coaching at HSG "I love watching the kids be proud of themselves and happy when they learn a new skill. I get to coach the kids a wonderful sport, and they teach me a lot as well." Coach Ece goals are to travel the world and also to major in psychology in college and work her way to getting a PHD. She also dream of opening her own practice one day as a therapist.

Coach Catherine

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Anna

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Ella

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Ella started coach for HSG in December, 2022. She attends McQueen High School. Coach Ella want to travels and become a nurse. She loves coaching for HSG because she is making connections with the kids and watching them grow and people and athletes.

Coach Sophia

Recreational Class Coach

Coach Sophia starting coaching for HSG in December, 2022. She attends McQueen High School. Coach Sophia likes coaching at HSG because she gets to create bonds with all of the kids she works with. Coach Sophia looks forward to running her own business.
Pictures taken by: Clint Saunders