Staff
If you would like to be part of Pacific West Gymnastics’ staff, please complete and submit our Employment Application. We currently have openings for:
- Preschool Instructors
- Recreational Instructors
- Birthday Party Instructors
Rodica Apateanu
Rodica has been coaching gymnastics for almost 30 years! She began her career at a very young age and went on to compete for the Romanian Junior, National and Olympic Teams. After her success as a gymnast, Rodica went on to become Technical Director of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation. While as a coach in Romania, her athletes won over 30 National Champion Titles between the team, all-around and individual apparatus events. Rodica has been a lecturer at numerous gymnastics seminars and has received the Romanian Honored Coach award. She is working with our Competitive Team and loves teaching beam. Rodica is Safety Certified, a USAG Professional Member and a FIG certified judge. Rodica has judged the European Championships and pre-World Championships.
Birthday: April 16th
Jennifer Battaglia
Jennifer is a founding member of Pacific West Gymnastics. Originally from Morgan Hill, Jennifer competed as a Class I gymnast and later coached Preschool, Recreational, Developmental and Competitive Team programs. Jennifer loves coaching beam and bars and is Safety Certified, a USAG Professional Member and a level 8 judge.
Interesting info: Jennifer loves to travel. She has been to Russia, China, Finland, Mexico and Canada and can’t wait to travel more!
Birthday: May 21st
Contact Jennifer
Kristen Buehler
Kristen has been involved in gymnastics since she was 3 years old and continued for 10 years! Her favorite event to compete was floor because she loves tumbling; however beam was always her best event. Kristen is currently trained to coach from squiggle worms up to level 3. Most of the time Kristen’s favorite event to coach is floor but it changes week to week.
Interesting info: Kristen just started coaching TOPs! Also, she was one of the inaugural gymnasts at Pacific West, trained by Maria, Jen, Liviu and Hanako.
Birthday: October 26st
Meredith Flythe
Meredith has been dancing since the age of 2, spending the majority of her training under Janet Nordgren-Taddie, Janell Tomblin-Brown, Bob Macke and Deborah Skinner.
She received her B.A. in Dance Performance/Choreography as well as a minor in musical theater in June of 2000 from San Jose State University. Her most recent training comes from Robert Moses, Janet Van Swoll, Janie Scott, Fred Mathews, and Gary Masters. While at SJSU she was given the opportunity to represent SJSU at the American College Dance Festival as well as touring with their musical theater company “Company One” for 2 years.
She is trained in Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Modern, Ballet, Musical Theater, Pilates Dance Yoga, Dance History, Choreography and Costume Design. Her professional appearances include a television pilot featuring Janie Greggins, Billy Hufsy from “FAME” and MC Hammer. She has also been a dancer for both Paramount’s Great America as well as Disneyland. Meredith has also worked and performed in many of the AIDS benefits at Fort Mason with Anne Frazier and Ross Mgowen. She was a guest dancer for 4 years in the Oakland Ballet “Nutcracker”. She has also choreographed and performed for many famous Asian vocal artists such as Coco Lee and Jackie Chan. She has taught all around the Bay Area as well as Southern California, for the past 18 yrs teaching ages 2 through adult.
She has taught 2 years at SJSU- Jazz I and Jazz II. She also has choreographed for SJSU’s musical theater company “Company One”
Birthday: September 23rd
Alan Fujinami
Alan competed in men’s college gymnastics and has coached boys and girls gymnastics for over 15 years. He has led several compulsory teams and individuals to become state champions. He enjoys the challenge of developing a drive for excellence in individuals as well as teaching cooperation, respect, and teamwork.
Interesting Info: Alan enjoyed working out on floor, bars, and vault until recently when a certain gym changed their policy for “seasoned gymnasts.”
Birthday: November 26th
Dacia Gonzalez
Danielle Gonzalez
Danielle started here at Pacific West Gymnastics in 2008. She loves working with our Preschool age children! Before working at Pacific West Danielle worked as a preschool teacher. You will most likely see Danielle behind the desk or tucked away in an office working on the little things that help the gym run smoothly.
Interesting Info: Danielle has 2 kids, one of which will start competing (at the age of 6) in September 2011.
Birthday: April 19th
Denisse Gonzalez
AJ La Manche
AJ has been involved in gymnastics since she was 4 years old. Her favorite event to coach is beam and her favorite events to compete were beam and floor. AJ can be seen working with our Inch Worm and Squiggle Worm classes, as well as our Girls levels 1, 2 and 3.
Interesting info: AJ competed up through level 8 here at Pacific West, and as a level 7 she placed 1st in the all-around competition.
Birthday: August 24th
Christina Loera
Christina has been dancing since the age of 6. She received most of her training under Christina Titera and Janel Tomblin-Brown. Christina is trained in tap, jazz and ballet. She has performed in many 4th of July parades, many other local parades and Art and Wine festivals. Christina received her BA in Liberal Arts with a minor in Human Development form CSUEB in June of 2010. She is continuing her education by getting her teaching credential. She has taught for 3 years for UCLS as the ballet teacher. She taught at Titera Dance & Performing Arts for 4 years, 2002-2006.
Birthday: September 3rd
Tanya Lynch
Tanya began doing gymnastics at age 6. She competed as a class II gymnast and her favorite event was floor. Tanya has been coaching for over 10 years! She is currently coaching our Rising Stars Team.
Interesting info: Tanya’s favorite thing to do besides coaching gymnastics is going to San Jose Sharks games.
Birthday: January 25th
Contact Tanya
Teri Lynch
Teri has been involved in gymnastics since elementary school. Beam was Teri’s favorite event to compete in and is her favorite to coach. She is currently coaching our Developmental groups as well as squiggle worms, and Girls Rec. 1&2
Interesting Info: Theater is her passion and she hopes to be on Broadway some day!
Birthday: September 22nd
Janet Mangrobang
Janet has a passion for the sport of gymnastics. She was self-taught and has always wanted to coach. Janet believes the key to gymnastics is to learn in a SAFE and FUN environment. She loves coaching young children so you will mostly see her with the wiggle worm classes. She also teaches Tae Kwon Do and Tumble and Tramp. Janet received KAT (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) Certification in 2002 and has attended Regional Congress for many years.
Interesting info: Janet loves children, which is why she has chosen to work with them! She has 4 children of her own, 2 daughters and 2 sons.
Birthday: January 28th
Contact Janet
Michelle Martin
Michelle competed for 6 years and has coached for 9. The highest level she has competed in is Level 9. She loved competing in bars and now enjoys coaching floor. She is currently coaching compulsory Level 4-6 and our Stars Developmental Program. She is Safety Certified, a Pro Member, Level 5/6 Judge, and has participated in athletic training classes.
Interesting Info: Michelle loves to compete in dog sports such as flyball and freestyle.
Birthday: December 8th
Liviu Mazilu
Liviu has been coaching the sport of gymnastics for over 25 years. He began his gymnastics career in Romania where he competed for the Romanian National Team and won 5 National Championship titles, all while earning a Master’s Degree in Physical Education. Liviu later went on to coach the women’s Romanian Olympic Team before moving to the United States and coaching Dominique Moceanu in the 1997 World Championships. You will see Liviu working with our Competitive Team, especially the optional group. His favorite event to coach is bars. Liviu is Safety Certified and a USAG Professional Member.
Birthday: June 24th
Hanako Miura
Hanako started gymnastics when she was 7 years old and competed for 15 years. Hanako started her gymnastics career in Japan where she later went on to compete for the Japanese National Team for 10 years straight, as well as at the World Championships and the 1996 Olympics. She loves competing on uneven bars and likes to coach all 4 events and flexibility. You will see Hanako working with our Stars Developmental and Competitive Team programs. Hanako is a Safety Certified, a USAG Professional Member and has judged the Nationals Meet in Japan.
Interesting Info: Hanako has lived in the US for only a couple years. She loves speaking Japanese! Next time you see her, be sure to say Konnichiwa.
Birthday: March 28th
Evelyn Paradis
Evelyn is one of the founding members of Pacific West Gymnastics. She began taking gymnastics in the 3rd grade and competed until her senior year in high school as a class I gymnast. Evelyn is safety certified, a USAG professional member and is an elite judge who has been judging for the past 20 years!
Interesting info: Evelyn has 4 children and cows live in her backyard! Her 2 daughters compete for Pacific West Gymnastics.
Birthday: December 30th
Contact Evelyn
Christopher Perkins
Christopher has been involved with the sport of gymnastics since the year 2000 and is our Customer Service Manager. He has coached Preschool and Recreational Classes, as well as Summer Camps and Field Trips. Chris is Safety Certified, Meet Director Certified and a USAG Professional Member.
Interesting info: Chris’ favorite sport is tennis and he enjoys eating ethnic foods. His mom was the Preschool Director at a gym in Livermore and his sister competed until she was a level 8 gymnast.
Birthday: November 20th
Elena Sojourner
Elena has been doing gymnastics for 9 years! Floor was her favorite event to compete in. Now she loves coaching floor & bars. You can see Elena coaching our squiggle worms, level 1 and our sparkle stars.
Interesting Info: She enjoyed working with kids and before this she helped with the special Olympics.
Birthday: April 24th
Rachel Southard
Interesting Info:
Birthday: October 14th
Maria Traggio
Maria has been involved in gymnastics since she was 4 years old! She competed all the way through her senior year in college as a Class I, while earning a degree in Early Childhood Education. Maria can coach all levels from Preschool through Pre-Elite in all 4 events; vault, bars, beam and floor. She also knows how to coach conditioning – the 5th event! Maria is Safety Certified and a USAG Professional Member.
Interesting info: Maria says “I’m not really as tough as they think – well, maybe I am!”
Birthday: December 27th
Contact Maria
Alana Turangan
Interesting Info:
Birthday: April 25th
Lauren Zettle
Lauren started working for us in the summer of 2010. She is trained to coach in our preschool program. Lauren loves helping the kids on the beam. You will also see her working summer camps and birthday parties.
Interesting Info: Lauren bakes FABULOUS cupcakes and she can (and will) eat Mexican food everyday!
Birthday: April 22nd