Gymnastics Staff

Ariane was a gymnast for 11 years and was a level 9 State Champion gymnast at Olympic Academy in Newark. Ariane has a degree in Women’s Studies from Ohio State University, and is a licensed Esthetician. She has taught gymnastics for four years in Central Ohio and coached to level 4. She loves her cats and dogs, music, Colorado, and the smiles on kids’ faces while coaching.

Nate was a gymnast at Olympic Academy in Newark, Ohio and he has been coaching in Central Ohio and Michigan over the last 25 years.  Along the way Nate developed experience and skill in teaching preschool gymnastics, girls and boys gymnastics, competitive girls gymnastics, special needs, and Trampoline and Tumbling. Nate has a great way with kids and he provides his students with a fun, effective , and positive approach to learning.  Nate is the Recreational Class Director and Assistant Manager for our Westerville Gym.

Angie is a graduate of Big Walnut High School and she has been teaching preschool for almost nine years including three years at the YMCA. She is certified in CPR, First Aid, Communicable Disease, and Child Abuse by the State of Ohio. Angie has been teaching at Buckeye for over a decade and is a preschool instructor at our Westerville location.

Victoria Keller was a gymnast at Buckeye for many years before returning to teach and coach. Vicki brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the gym where she is a popular teacher in the Buckeye Stars program. Vicki was head tumbling coach for the Buckeye Flyers TNT program for many years where she developed many state, regional, and national champions.

Maggie trained and competed in the Czech Republic through the advanced level.  She came to the USA to complete her graduate work in education and physical education.  Maggie is a certified personal trainer.  At Buckeye she teaches various classes at both our Westerville and Powell gyms.

Jolene, or Coach Jo, as she is known, has been teaching and coaching gymnastics for 18 years. Coach Jo has been a Preschool Gymnastics Program Director and a Head Team Coach for Levels 2-6 during her coaching career. She has developed many Individual State Champions and State Champion Teams. Coach Jo has always had a passion for working with kids thru sports teams and church. She is now our Tumble Bears Preschool Director at Buckeye Gymnastics in our Westerville location.

Ray attended Desmet Jesuit High School in the St Louis area where he wrestled and tumbled before heading to Ohio State. Ray is going to head up the Buckeye Warriors program and that tumbling and wrestling experience will be put to good use. One of Ray’s favorite quotes comes from Dumbledore, ‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest times if one only remembers to turn on the light.’

Jim, commonly referred to as, “Mr. Gym” or “Mr. Gymnastics”, has been at Buckeye Gymnastics since 2001.  Jim participated in gymnastics at the YMCA and the Columbus Recreation and Parks, Sports Aerobatics and Spring Board Diving RPAC.  He was also an instructor under Jim Sweeney and Peter Kormann, the  US Olympic Teach Coach.

Emilyann was a cheerleader for the Marysville district for 6 years. She also trained gymnastics and tumbling at Midwest Gymnastics for 4 years. In 2016, Emilyann began coaching and she discovered her passion to teach and mentor young athletes. She is currently studying entrepreneurship and physical fitness at Columbus State

Bri competed with Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, and later tumbled at Midwest Cheer Elite. While attending the Ohio State University, Bri joined the recreational gymnastics team and trampoline and tumbling team, and received a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. Bri has coached at a few gyms in Columbus and San Francisco for a total of four years. She has been with Buckeye since Autumn of 2016, where she is a Director in Training, teaches rec classes, and coaches the Scarlet and Grey team.

Laura competed in gymnastics for six years and has coached gymnastics at Buckeye for over a decade. She is a graduate of Capital University, graduating with a degree in Biology and Psychology. Laura attended a six-week internship at Rushmore Gymnastics in London, England, where she shared with our British sister club the details of running an American style gymnastics school.

Julia grew up in Rocky River, Ohio where she trained and competed for Great Lakes Gymnastics. Julia went on to cheer for Rocky River High School while teaching gymnastics at Great Lakes. Julia is now at Ohio State and one of our amazing Recreational Coaches at our Westerville and Powell gyms.

Kristen grew up doing gymnastics and cheerleading is Fishers, Indiana. Bars was her favorite event in gymnastics while stunting was her favorite in cheer. In the end Kristen stuck with cheerleading and she competed in multiple National Championships and her team won Level UCA Large Senior 4 Nationals in 2010. My philosophy is that “Its not just about being the best athlete, its all about being the best person.”

Hilary’s love for gymnastics began at Elmira Gymnastics Club (NY) where she competed until age sixteen.  After moving to Columbus in 2013, she decided to get back to the sport she loved by volunteering for Kidsport (Buckeye Special Needs Program).  She then joined the preschool and recreational staff a year later.  Hilary has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Special Education from St. Bonaventure University.  She also works as a substitute teacher in surrounding school districts.