Our Coaches

We’re Proud of our Staff

 

Our staff consists primarily of highly qualified gymnastic professionals with personalities conducive to working with children. All of the coaches at SGC are certified through the National certification program of Canada. We also use an in-service training program to build the leadership abilities and teaching techniques of some team athletes who assist our instructors as junior staff members (CIT).

 

Our staff’s credentials are quite impressive and hard to match. Many of our instructors are former competitive gymnasts. Our master staff is safety certified in First Aid and C.P.R.

 

We offer in-house spotting clinics and frequent work-shops for our staff. In addition, master staff attends provincial meetings and clinics as well as participation at national congress. We keep on top of the latest teaching methods and spotting techniques in order to deliver top quality gymnastic instruction to our students.

 

Alanna Kerler Gym Head Coach/President

 

Alanna Kerler is our Head Coach and President.  Alanna has experience coaching all ages and levels from toddlers to National Champions. Alanna has 21 years of coaching experience and is a level three NCCP coach, and has Risk Management and First Aid certification. Alanna has been involved with the sport for over 28 years as both a gymnast and a coach. She has coached numerous Provincial Champions, Eastern Canadian Champions and Canadian National Champions, and has been named Team Coach for many traveling teams representing Canada and Ontario. Alanna has been a clinician at many Gymnastics Ontario Clinics and Camps.   Alanna is a proud mother of a 2 ½ year old toddler that loves gymnastics!!

 

Jennifer Simbhudas

 

Jennifer is currently coaching Pre-School gymnastics, Developmental, Intermediate, Advanced and Competitive classes.  Jennifer comes with an impressive and extensive history in Gymnastics.  Jennifer was a Canadian National team member from 2000-2005.  Jennifer was a member of the 2001 World Championships team in Ghent Belgium, 2002 Commonwealth team in Manchester England and was the 2nd alternate to the 2004 Olympic trails.  Jennifer just completed her NCAA Varsity Gymnastics Scholarship at the University of Iowa where she obtained a BA in Health and Sports studies and a certificate in Entrepreneur management and a minor in Communication.  Jennifer inspires great gymnastics in all the athletes she coaches. Her passion for gymnastics along with her love for teaching has brought her to SGC where she joins an excellent coaching team!

 

Lisa Yamashita

 

Lisa is currently coaching our Pre-School gymnastics, Developmental, Intermediate, Advanced, Tumbling and Competitive classes.  Lisa began her career in gymnastics at the age of 6 and was a competitive Artistic gymnast at the Winstonettes Gymnastics Club in Unionville. Lisa was coached by Alanna Kerler in her younger years and went on to coaching gymnastics of all ages and levels.  She has been coaching gymnastics and tumbling for over 9 years.  Lisa studied child and youth work and also volunteered at a group home and in a behavioural class with children. Lisa is also a National Cheerleader and has traveled extensively with the National Team representing her club.  Lisa strives to provide quality programs for all levelswhile maintaining a fun and fulfillingatmosphere.  Her goal is to help athletes achieve their goals and conquer their fears.

 

Casey Demarco

 

Casey is currently coaching our Pre-School gymnastics, Developmental, Intermediate, Advanced, Trampoline and Competitive classes. Casey has been coaching for the past 7 years. Her focus has always been on the Tumbling and Trampoline.   Casey was a competitive Artistic Gymnast also coached by Alanna Kerler in her younger years and then moved on to becoming a Competitive Trampolinist.  Casey graduated with Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in 2010.  Her energy and expertise provide her young athletes with the opportunity to learn in a safe environment. 

 

Hayley Purcell

 

Hayley has been a permanent fixture at the SGC for the past 9 years. Hayley is currently a National Artistic gymnast.  She started as a Developmental athlete and worked her way up through our competitive program to achieve her national status today.  Hayley started junior coaching early and has been a recreational gymnastics coach for the past three years. Hayley’s love for gymnastics and desire to share her enthusiasm allows her to motivate and inspire her young gymnasts.

 

Stephanie Bacon

 

Stephanie is currently coaching our recreational classes from pre-school to advanced classes. As a coach she also draws from her experience as a competitive gymnast and in order to be able to provide clear and competent instruction on the basic elements of gymnastics. This year Stephanie has graduated to a full Level 1 Coach and is playing a more integral role in the development of our youngest Gymnasts. Stephanie knows how to balance fun with discipline and is able to get the very best from her athletes.

 

Lynn Laprise

 

Lynn coaches Pre-School and Developmental gymnastics for SGC.  Her 22 years of coaching experience allows her to provide her young athletes with strong basics and a love for the sport.  Lynn studied Coaching Techniques in Gymnastics and Child and youth worker and Marketing.  Lynn is also a mother of two boys that are a part of the SGC gymnastics program!!

 

Paige Richardson

Marcel Destine

Courtney Desouza

Janelle Dekkema