Meet Our Coaches!
Colleen Connors
My name is Colleen Conners. I am originally from outside Binghamton, NY but I am here in Buffalo going to school at University at Buffalo where I am a junior. I did gymnastics for eight years and competed for six. I began coaching when I was 16 and have been doing so for five years. I will be working with the Girls Beginner, Beginner/Advanced Beginner, and Advanced groups as well as Level 4 Team. When not working I like to ski, be outside, and hang out with family and friends.
Megan Dressel
My Name is Megan Dressel. I have been involved in gymnastics since 1998 here at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center. This is my first year coaching here at the gym and I will be teaching pre-school and girls beginner classes and also helping out with the Prep-Opt team. I am currently a Junior at the University at Buffalo, majoring in English and Psychology. In my free time, I enjoy reading and hanging out with friends and family!
Gage Greiner
I started gymnastics at the age 3 here at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center and am currently on the Level 10 Boys Team. I will be working with the lower level Team Boys and some Boys Classes. I attend Starpoint High School. Outside of the gym I enjoy boating, fishing, outdoor sports, tubing, waterskiing, jetskiing, and spending time with my family.
Erin Hake
I was a competitive gymnast for 14 years at Summit Gymnastics Center and The College at Brockport. I competed at Level 9 and was a Regional Qualifier. At Brockport, I competed as a DIII gymnast. I have coached for 8 years up to Levels 9/10. I am currently working on my Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Daemen College. Outside of the gym I enjoy kayaking, running, hiking, rollerblading, and skiing. This year I will be working with the Level 6 and 7's!
Keesha Keilly
Hi! My name is Keesha Keilly. I have been in the sport of gymnastics since I was 3 1/2. I was a competitive gymnast for 9 years, competing through level 8. I have been coaching since I was 16. I have been coaching here at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center since 1995. Currently I coach the team girls and am excited to sart the new Prep-Optional program at the gym. I have a daughter, Savannah, who is 5 and she loves to be in the gym!
Randolph Kent
I started gymnastics here at Greater Buffalo in 1997 and began coaching here in the fall of 2009. I coach Boys Beginner and Advanced Beginner Classes as well as the Level 4-6 Boys Team. I am a political science major at UB and outside the gym I enjoy reading, writing, and traveling.
Josh Malecki
I have been involved in gymnastics over 20 years as a gymnast, coach, and judge. I have been coaching for approximately 9 years and currently coach the Boys Team at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center. I was a member of the 2000 NCAA Championship team at Penn State University. I am currently working towards a doctorate degree in Health Policy at D'Youville College.
Jason Miller
I started gymnastics in 1978 at Stumpf's Gymnastics Center and started coaching in 1990. Before I started coaching, Torey was my coach! I will be working with the Boys Teams. I graduated from Buffalo State College in 2000 with a degree in Health Education. Outside of the gym I like hanging out with my family, doing home improvements, working out, cooking, garden work, playing the drums, and collecting art work. I am married and have a son, Jacob. I am a manager in claims with Travelers Insurance.
Mary Mongeon
My name is Mary Mongeon. I have been a gymnast since I was 4 years old. I competed in private clubs and high school, then won a full gymnastics scholarship at the University of Bridgeport, CT where I loved being an all around regional competitior as well as an assistant coach my 5th year. I've actually been coaching gymnastics since I was 14, over 30 years now, boys and girls, ages 2-adult, beginner classes through Level 10. I also coach cheer tumbling, as needed. Although most of my coaching has been at Lockport Flips, I thoroughly enjoyed my first year here at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center, last year, with the Level 1-3 girls. This year, I am excited to coach Level 6-10 girls, where I may better use my many years of experience with higher level gymnasts, among them, my identical twin daughters, Emily, Level 8 and Alea, Level 9. Outside of the gym, I enjoy gardening, ballroom dancing, and the blues. I recently completed a corporate engineeing/management career and am currently studying Spanish and Education at UB to become a high school Spanish teacher. I am looking forward to a wonderful year with many of your daughters!
Mallory Nikolaus
I started gymnastics in 1996 at Desert Devils in Arizona. I began coaching in 2003 and coach Levels 1-10. I attended Mesa Community College in Early Childhood Education and Dentistry. When I'm not in the gym I enjoy sewing, refinishing furniture, interior design, painting, and spending time with my kids!
Judd Penetrante
I have been involved in gymnastics for 29 years. I have been coaching at Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center for the last 7 years. I have worked with all levels of Boys Team Gymnastics and am currently coaching Levels 6-10.
Katelyn Riese
I began in the sport of gymnastics at Cortland YMCA Gymnastics in 2000. I began coaching in 2008. I will be coaching Girls Beginner and Beginner/Advanced Beginner classes as well as the Level 4 team. While involved in the sport, I was a Level 7 gymnast. I am attending NCCC to be an X-Ray Technician. Outside of the gym I enjoy motocross and going to Alaska to visit family
Amanda Sheriff
I'm Amanda Sheriff. I've been involved in gymnastics on and off for over 8 years. I've been coaching for 2 1/2 years here at Greater Buffalo. I teach Pre-school and Girls classes, and help coach lower level Girls Team. I'm a sophomore at the University of Buffalo studying to be a nurse.
Sara Szczerbinski
I started gymnastics in 1990 at Niagara Gymnastics and started coaching in 2004. I coach all class levels and Girls Team Level 1-6. My major at Buffalo State College was Mathematics Education (7-12). Outside of the gym I enjoy teaching, running, and spending time with family and friends.
Carolyn Taylor
I started taking gymnastics in 1992 in Pasadena, CA and began coaching in 2006. I majored in nursing at Southern Utah University. This year I will be teaching Girls Classes as well as working with the Level 5 - 7 teams. Outside of the gym I love hanging out with my husband and two daughters. I also like sewing, crafting, and exercising.
Curt Wenner
I did gymnastics at Amherst Central High School and at Cornell University. My first year out of college, I coached full time in Owego, NY with two other Cornell gymnasts. I started my career in electical engineering the following year when I moved back to Buffalo and worked for Comptek Research. At the same time, I continued working out, coaching and judging at Stumpf's, with the boys team and a guy named Torey Hirsch. Through the years, I moved around and lived in Washington DC, Germany, and southern California. But I kept coming back to Buffalo and each time I'd find Torey and get my gymnastic fix wherever he was working, ultimately his family's club, The Greater Buffalo Gymnastics & Fitness Center. I am currently working with the Boys Team, but last year worked with my daughter Hope's Level 1 team. When I'm not at the gym, I'm usually at Moog, Inc. where I am a project engineer for the new Boeing 787 airliner.
Lindsay Yaeger
My name is Lindsay Yaeger. I attend UB for Occupational Therapy. I did gymnastics for 6 years. I have been coaching for the past 5 years. I coach all girls recreational classes as well as Level 4 team. Outside of the gym I enjoy camping, fishing, and skiing with my family and friends.