Stars & Stripes Gymnastics has an experienced staff with an unparalleled dedication to the sport. A biography of each staff member is provided below.

	Liz Lane Coach   Bio not available at this time.
	Yolanda Luna Preschool, Girls Program   Bio not available at this time.
	Jennifer Friedman Gym Owner   Growing up I did Club, High School, and College Gymnastics. After graduation I took a job at Pensacola Junior College as the Director/Head Coach. I landed in California after marriage in 1993 and worked at California Elite Gymnastics in Mission Viejo for three years as the Director/Head Coach, moved down to San Diego and coached at West Coast Gymnastics as the Optional Women's Coach...shortly after bought the club, May 1999 and this is where Stars & Stripes Gymnastics began. I have two Children, Seth (6yrs.) and Lexi (4yrs.) that you can sometimes run into either passing in the halls of the gym or out on the floor. My life is my children and gymnastics...I hope that here at Stars & Stripes you can find a piece of this sport that can change your life like it did mine! Welcome!
	Robin Fleming Girls Team Coach & Gym Coordinator   Robin recently relocated to Southern California from Cleveland, Ohio. She is a former gymnast who has been coaching all levels of the sport, from preschool to Elite, for the past 22 years. With a B.A. in Non - Teaching Physical Education with a Scientific Foundation Concentration from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and Early Childhood Education Teaching Licensure from Cleveland State University, Robin makes every effort to ensure that training plans are based on the latest scientific foundations of the sport while meeting each individual athlete’s individual needs. The following quote from Haim Ginott is a guiding principle in her coaching philosophy: “I’ve come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or deescalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”
	Masha Krakovskaya Rhythmic Team Coach   My name is Masha Krakovskaya and I am the head coach of the Rhythmic Gymnastics team at Stars and Stripes Gymnastics. I have been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since the age of 9. I was born in Kiev, Ukraine and moved to Los Angeles when I was five years old. My mother was a professional ballerina in the former Soviet Union so my beginings in rhythmic gymnastics evolved from a strict ballet background. I started the sport in Los Angeles where I was coached by Alla Svirsky, Natasha Lisogor, Larissa Nikitina, and Yelena Chshukareva and trained there until I was 17. At that point I was selected to be a part of the U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Team. Rhythmic gymnastics has given me the opportunity to compete all around the world in many international competitions. When I was tweleve years old, in 1997, I traveled to Osaka, Japan to represent the U.S. in the Aeon Cup. Later on in my career, I competed in Bulgaria at the Sofia Grand Prix in which the U.S.A. group team that I was a part of took the silver medal in the 5 ribbons event. My last competition was the 2002 World Championships held in New Orleans, LA. My amazing experience in this Olympic sport inspires me to coach girls in all different age and level categories, from 5 year old beginners to current National Team Members. My goal, as a coach, is to enhance the experience of any and every girl interested in this beautiful, elegant, and powerful sport. I love to take part in a child reaching her goal in becoming the best she can possibly be! For the past two summers, and the one to come, I took part in the "Summer Nights" show at Sea World, San Diego. Check out the news/updates page to see upcoming shows I will participate in as well as the competition/results of the rhythmic team at Stars and Stripes.
	Melissa Senter Academy & Girls Team Coach   Missy has been coaching girls gymnastics for seven years. Being a competitive gymnast herself she enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge for the sport of gymnastics. "We have a great bunch of girls here. I love coming to work and helping them achieve their goals or find gifts that they never knew they had" Outside of the gym, Missy spends most of her time homeschooling her boys and enjoying her family.
	Karen Page Front Desk Receptionist/Administration   Karen is from Darien, Connecticut. It was there she took lessons and competed in gymnastics. Karen started out instructing and coaching gymnastics at Arena Gymnastics in Stamford, CT. She is currently working at the front desk and with administration. Other hobbies/interests include gardening, painting, and is the choreographer for a children’s show choir at her church. She also enjoys biking and camping with her family
	Kristin Rassmusen Academy Staff   I was born and raised in El Centro, CA, a desert town about two hours Southwest of San marcos. I took gymnastics lessons for about 5 years prior to my first days as a Southwest High School student. I was a cheerleader all four years of high school and was allowed to demonstrate my tumbling abilities at all football games, pep rallies, and other cheer events. In my second year of college I started working as a gymnastics instructor at Imperial Valley Gymnastics Club. I have experience working with all levels of gymnastcs, from begining to team. I was accepted to Cal State University of San Marcos, after graduating with an Associates Degree from Imperial Valley College. During that summer, I made the ¨big move¨ away from home to San Marcos in order to pursue my college education. My boss from previous gymnastics club recommended Stars and Stripes Gymnastics because of it´s valued reputation for a coaching position. I have been working at Stars and Stripes for over a year now, and am in my senior year at CSUSM. I plan to graduate in May of 2006 with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies and a Minor in History. After college, I will continue my education in order to receive my credential to become an elementary school teacher, and hopefully will get married to my high school sweetheart of five years.
	Kristyn Bence Academy Staff   I have been coaching gymnastics for 4 years. I did gymnastics for about 10 years, some of which were with Stars and Stripes Gymnastics. I also competed collegiate gymnastics for one year at Seattle Pacific University. Coaching helps keep gymnastics a part of my life, and I have always loved working with kids.
	Crystal Ellis Academy Staff   I started gymnastics when I was 5 and did it until I was 16. Was on a demo team for 2 ½ years and competed for 3 ½ years. Won many medals in gymnastics including first, second and third place, as well as team championships. Currently I am part of a competitive dance team and I have been on this dance team for about a year. Currently I am a student at Cal State San Marcos and am majoring in Kinesiology . ~ I love teaching kids something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. My main goal is to teach my students to have the best form as well as to be strong athletes so that they can take their gymnastics to the next level.
	Corinne Snell Academy Staff   My name is Corinne Snell and I have been coaching gymnastics for about 9 years now. I have coached pre-school levels up to level 10. I competed as a gymnast for quite a few years, and I was a rhythmic gymnast as well for a little while. I also am a rhythmic gymnastics coach, a cheer tumbling coach and a trampoline coach. I am currently training as a trampolinist, in hopes to make the 2008/2012 Olympics. I am also a CMT, Certified Massage Therapist, I mainly concentrate on athletic massage but have other modalities as well.
	Marilyn Ishii Academy Staff   Marilyn was involved in cheerleading for 3 years before she started her coaching career at the Y.M.C.A. She coached at the Y in Point Loma and Mission Valley while teaching at San Diego State University. She went to work at J.W. Tumble's and taught Physical Education for a Montessori School. Her favorite event is beam. She thinks it take guts and it's beautiful. Marilyn has a general science degree from Oregon State and a Masters in Exercise Physiology from San Diego State. She has a long list of sports she likes to participate in including skiing, swimming, windsurfing and biking. Driving her three daughters to school and their various activities seems to take up much of her time these days, teaching gymnastics and learning about competitive gymnastics, thanks to her daughters, Melissa and Nicole. Marilyn's goals for her classes are: 1) build self-confidence 2) strengthen and 3) coordination with the enjoyments of physical activity.