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Heather SchnelzerOwner & Head CoachHeather's passion for gymnastics comes from growing up as a competitive gymnast, where she competed at the Junior Elite level. She was recruited by the College of William and Mary before transferring to Trinity University, here in San Antonio. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Trinity University. After eight years of serving as Head Coach for several gymnastics clubs, Heather opened Aerial Athletics. In 2007, she received the award for Texas Coach of the Year and Region III Coach of the Year. She is currently a member of the Texas Gymnastics State Board and is the coordinator for Region III camps and clinics. Heather has one son, Jackson. |
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Valerie Oates & GracieBusiness Manager & BuddyVal brings over twenty-five years of business marketing experience to Aerial Athletics. Since 2006, Val has not only managed our busy office, but it has been with a friendly welcome and smile to every customer. On her shoulder is our gym buddy, Gracie, who loves to “motivate” the girls with a spirited chase and bark in the mornings. Val has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation from Texas A&M University and is a professional member of USA Gymnastics. |
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Jennifer BanowskyAcro Team Head CoachJennifer built on her prior experience as a team and recreational gymnastics coach when she began the acrobatic gymnastics program at Aerial Athletics in 2007. A graduate of Trinity University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, she has also taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten in both public and private schools. She is an acrobatic gymnastics judge and serves as Regional Judges Coordinator. In 2008, she was named Region 3 Acrobatic Gymnastics Coach of the Year. |
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Anna PawlakTeam CoachAnna has been involved with gymnastics her whole life. After representing the Polish National Team she received an athletic scholarship to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. After graduating from college, she started her coaching career first in Illinois and later in Arizona where she coached for almost 10 years. Anna joined the Aerial Athletics staff in 2009 and she is really excited about being part of the amazing program here in San Antonio. |
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Kaitlyn TarjanCompulsory Team DirectorKaitlyn Tarjan has been passionately invovled in competitive gymnastics since she was 5 years old, as a gymnast, coach and judge. Unfortunately, she had to retire from competitive gymnastics at the Junior Elite level due to a knee injury, but remains dedicated to gymanstics. Kaitlyn graduated from Texas State University in 2009 with a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science. She has coached for several gymnastics clubs around South Texas and she is now happy to call San Antonio home with her husband. |
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Denise KingAcademy TeacherDenise brings fifteen years of teaching experience to The Academy at Aerial Athletics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from UTSA, a Master’s from Our Lady of the Lake University in Curriculum and Instruction for Science Integration and a Master’s from Texas A&M in Curriculum and Instruction. She holds Texas teaching certificates in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education and Science grades 4-8. Denise has taught pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, elementary physical education and has been science lab facilitator and teacher. She has a compassion for athletes balancing their sport and education. Denise believes in the total development of each child: spiritual, moral, intellectual, social, emotional, and physical. |
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Deborah StewartAcademy TeacherDeborah is the primary teacher for the Academy at Aerial Athletics. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in education. Deborah retired from thirty-four years of teaching in the public school system and spent the last twenty-four working as a fifth grade teacher. Deborah has lived in San Antonio for the past twenty-seven years. She has six beautiful grandchildren. She loves teaching at the Academy and her dream is to work with these athletes until she reaches the "true" retirement age. |
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Zsolt "Kenobi" BenseTeam Coach |
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Erine HarleyTeam/Pre-Team CoachErine is a native to San Antonio and has been involved in gymnastics throughout her life. She competed through Level 9 under Heather Schnelzer and has been coaching for five years. She is a patient coach who focuses on the fundamentals, providing all of the gymnasts a great foundation. She is currently going to school to become a Physical Therapy Assistant. Between coaching and school, Erine spends her time being a mother to a beautiful daughter and has a baby on the way. |
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Heidi ReetzGym Manager & Team CoachHeidi is a native to South Texas where she competed in gymnastics through Level 9. She has been involved in gymnastics throughout her life as a Team Coach, Program Developer, and Manager for the past 17 years. She has a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Texas San Antonio. When she is not at the gym, she spends her time with her four beautiful children. |
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Ashley "George" ReighlinTeam Coach |
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Arthur "Mann" RedrickRecreational Coach |
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Elaine WelchRecreational CoachElaine’s love of gymnastics began at an early age and she has been in the sport in different capacities since that time. She taught gymnastics at a college level, began a club gymnastics program, was a successful team coach and became a gym owner coaching both recreational and team gymnastics. Since moving to Texas, she has held positions of Preschool Director, Recreation Director and Assistant Gym Manager. She has a great love for teaching and gives God the glory for that gift. |
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Brenna HernandezOffice StaffBrenna was a gymnast for five years and danced at Earl Cobb Dance Studio for fourteen years. She was a high school varsity cheerleader, all-star cheerleader, NCA All American for four years and an NCA national champion. Her love of cheer and gymnastics led her to coaching positions in both sports. She is USAG certified and is now working as part of the Aerial Athletics Office Staff. She is attending Northwest Vista in the pursuit of becoming an Elementary school teacher. |
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Kitty ToudouzeOffice StaffKitty was born and raised in San Antonio. She has many years of office experience and enjoys working the desk part time with Val in the evenings. She is also the Administrative Assistant at Rolling Oaks Christian Church. Kitty began in 2006 as a “cheerleading mom” and has called Aerial Athletics home ever since. She is the mother of four wonderful adult children and grandma to two awesome grandsons. |
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Cayla SanchezRecreational CoachCayla has been involved in dance for most of life, about eighteen years. She was Captain of the Clark High School Dance Team. She became involved with the sport of gymnastics about six years ago and has been coaching since that time. She is currently attending classes at Alamo Community College for education. |
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Carol Robuck-WilliamsTeam CoachCarol brings over forty years gymnastics experience to the Aerial Athletics staff. She has been an athlete, coach, judge and gym owner. She was an All American High School bars champion. She has coached athletes from preschool through college. She has served as Secretary and President of the Gymnastics Association of Texas, on the State Gymnastics Board for many years as the District 4 Representative and is a National Rated Judge. She is currently the State Judging Director of Texas. Carol strongly feels: “Gymnastics has something for everyone. It helps to develop us physically, mentally, and spiritually into the best person we can be. I hope to give this gift to all my students.” |
Kayla LandRecreational CoachKayla Land graduated deep in the Heart of Texas in Brady, TX, in 2009. Her passion of gymnastics began as a young competitor which earned her a five time national qualifying title in power tumbling and trampoline. Kayla is an active volunteer in church organizations, community service activities and is a member of the First Christian Church. She is currently a junior at the University of Texas at San Antonio seeking a Bachelor of Science in Health and Kinesiology with aspirations of becoming an Occupational Therapist. |
