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Mona began coaching over 20 years ago for the Pasadena Parks and Recreation Department where she eventually became head coach and director of the gymnastics program. She and her staff of ten instructed 300-400 children a month during which time she developed a special program to coach handicapped and learning disabled children. Prior to coaching Mona trained competitively as a gymnast at Kips Gymnastics Academy in Long Beach, finishing at competitive level 6.
Mona Manos Pratte, Owner
Zak has been coaching for more than 10 years and has been a USA Gymnastics Pro member since 1995. He has experience coaching all levels of gymnastics from beginners to elite. He was a 1996, 1997, and 2000 Region One Team Coach. Zak has attended several national training camps, and has worked with many of the top National Team coaches. Prior to coaching Zak was a gymnast for 12 years. During that time he competed nationally for 10 years and was a Junior National Champion on trampoline. He ended his career as an elite gymnast preparing to qualify for World Trials on Pommel Horse. He retired due to injuries at the end of 1997.
Zak Johnson, Head Coach
Sarah received her initial training from Meredith Baylis and Jonette Swider. She has danced for the Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Long Beach Ballet and has long been the principal ballerina of the immensely popular and celebrated Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral. She is an assured classical artist dancing some of ballet's most demanding roles from Don Q's Kitri to the Nutcracker's Sugar Plum Fairy. She is now principal ballerina with De'Ath Ballet/Los Angeles. She currently is a Guest Artist for Regional Companies as well. She teaches classical ballet at many studios in the area and has been assistant choreographer for the Glory of Christmas since 1998.
Sarah Spina, Office Manager
Aksana comes from Belarus, where she started her gymnastics training at the age of 6. She was a Belarus national Champion in 1989, 1990, and 1991. She was also a Silver Medalist at the Soviet Union Championships. Aksana graduated from the Academy of Sports and Physical Arts in Minsk, Belarus in 1999, where she majored in coaching. More recently, she was a team coach for Olympian Vitaly Scherbo in Las Vegas. Aksana is a technical specialist and is superb at refining every last detail when coaching. We are very proud to have her as a part of the coaching staff at Club Champion.
Aksana Suvalava, Team coach, Optional coach, Pre-team coach
Jenny comes to us from Kentucky where she was head coach for compulsory gymnasts training level 4, 5 and 6. There, she also coached gymnasts who won State and National titles in competitive Trampoline and Tumbling. Since moving to California and joining Club Champion's staff, Jenny has become the Pre-Team and Recreational Manager and has been instrumental in developing these programs. Jenny probably knows every one of our 600 students by name and enjoys seeing every child reach their maximum potential. She encourages children to overcome obstacles and see that in many ways, they are all Champions.
Mary basically grew up in the gym. Her father Rich Boccia, now a high school principal, was a well known gymnastics coach. Both her parents ran a gymnastics program in Glendale througout her childhood. She has been a gymnast since before she could walk and also a high school cheerleader. She began coaching at Champion in 2005. Mary says she couldn't imagine working anywhere else. She leaves the gym each day with a huge feeling of accomplishment after seeing her students' progress. She is currently in college, pursuing a career in Education. Mary is also CPR certified and First Aid trained.
*** Bio coming soon ***
Lainie has been a gymnast for the past 13 years, coached by Club Champion's Director, Zak Johnson. In fact, she is still competing and is a National Championship and College Scholarship hopeful. She began as an assistant coach in 2005 to help pay for her gymnastics tuition. Since then she has proven to be have wonderful coaching abilities and enjoys so much seeing young students progress toward the same goals she had as a young gymnast.
Anthony began coaching at Champion in January of 2007. He has been involved with gymnastics and martial arts his entire life. He loves passing on his knowledge to children, in fact all 5 of Anthony's children attend gymnastics here. Anthony is a USAG Safety Certified Pro-Member and also a former EMT, a great asset to have around the gym. Anthony says, he is hungry to learn. Just like he teaches his students, he is always working on gaining more skill in this sport. He is actor, appearing in such movies as Pirates of the Caribbean II, 50 First Dates and National lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2. Anthony also has an action figure modeled after him.
Jenny Rector
Mary Boccia
Keely Myers
Lainie Fleming
Anthony Patricio
Ivan was a long time member of the National Team of Ukraine and has achieved the honor of being named “Master of Sport in Gymnastics” by the Physical Training and Sport Committee, Council of Ministers of the USSR. He has repeatedly become a Ukrainian National Champion and was a Bronze medalist at the Soviet Union Championships in 1988. As a Women's Gymnastics Coach he has had Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalists at many prestigious National competitions. Ivan is also a Ukrainian National level judge.
Ivan Bereznyakov
Jenn has been a team coach here at Champion since 2002. She specializes in beam, floor and choreography. Under her floor coaching, Champion has had numerous State and Regional Champions. She has trained many of the nation’s top athletes, including gymnasts who have gone to U.C. Berkeley, Yale, Cornell, Michigan State, UCLA, and UC Davis. She has trained 3 National Team Members and has been a Region 1 coach for 8 consecutive years, with over 50 State and Regional Champions. She has been nominated for “Choreographer of the Year” and was awarded “Best Beam and Floor Choreographer” 2 years in a row at the LA Classic Competition in Southern California. Gymnastics is in her blood, with a younger sister, Jamie who was a 2000 Olympian and UCLA Team member, and 2 younger twin sisters, Janelle and Jalynne who were UCLA Team members.
Jennifer Dantzscher
Lamont grew up in Virginia, Tennessee, and South Dakota. His coaching career started at the age of 15, assisting with the high school team and coaching grade schoolers in a summer recreation program. He coached rec and team kids at the gym he grew up in, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He continued to coach over the years at both AAGA in South Dakota and TAGS in Minnesota, most recently coaching levels 4-10 for the '06-'08 competitive seasons.
Lamont Hunt