Gymnastics Staff
Ms Dawn has over 20 years of experience teaching gymnastics and tumbling to both the recreational and competitive athlete. Many of her competitive students have won state, regional and national titles and earned college athletic scholarships. Ms Dawn has also served as the director for several local gymnastics/tumbling/cheerleading programs, projects and events. Most notably, she is currently the co-founder and director of the St. Jude Benefit Gymnastics meet held annually at the Peoria Civic Center. She also served 10 years on the Illinois USA Gymnastics State Board. Her gymnastics experiences go beyond the national borders as she has been a guest coach in Arequipa, Peru and studied the national program in Deva, Romania. Ms Dawn recently retired from coaching competitive gymnastics to focus on sharing her skills and talents with the beginning level students. She believes that by providing students with sound, fundamental and technically correct skill development at the basic levels, they will achieve more long term success should they decide to pursue competitive gymnastics, tumbling or cheerleading.
Ms Dawn received a BA in Psychology from Augustana College. She is married to John Kocher and has three children: Ryan, Katelyn and Rachel. She is excited to provide the Peoria area with a fresh approach to gymnastics and tumbling and believes that Jump Start Gymnastics is the place where children of all ages can receive the best training from the most qualified staff in the area. Her goal is that every child who participates at Jump Start will experience the joy of success in a safe, FUN, learning environment.
• USA Gymnastics Safety Certified
• Red Cross CPR/First Aid Certified
• Former member of US Elite Coaches Association
• KAT/MELPD, PDP Level 1 & 2 Certified
PeaJay Craig - Preschool Director
Ms PeaJay is one of the most talented, fun and enthusiastic teachers we have here at Jump Start. Ms PeaJay was a gymnast throughout her childhood and young adult life, and also the cheerleading captain during her high school years. Ms PeaJay has many years of coaching gymnastics and power tumbling under her belt. Along with her love for teaching children, she enjoys her love of puppy dogs and spending time with her three beautiful sons, Kal, Kolt and Brogan.
• USA Gymnastics Safety Certified
• Red Cross CPR/First Aid Certified
• US Tumbling Association Safety Certified
• EMT Certified
Erica Sapinski - School Age Director
Ms. Erica has been a gymnastics instructor for all levels from toddlers to team for the last thirteen years. She has taught in Peoria, Des Moines, IA and Monterey, CA. Ms. Erica recently returned from China, where she spent three years working as an event manager for events such as the Special Olympics, Paralympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Drake University and received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Monterey Institute for International Studies. As the School Age Director, Ms. Erica is in charge of the girls’ gymnastics, boys’ gymnastics, tumbling and cheerleading programs.
Jalynn Willis - Special Events Director
Ms Jalynn is a former competitive gymnast from the Peoria area who also trained under Dawn Kocher & Aaron Tilton. She also competed and placed Second in Tumbling at Nationals. Ms Jalynn teaches a bit of everything including, preschool, school age, Kids in Motion and cheerleading. She is also the Special Events Coordinator, planning and creating all of our fun and exciting extra events. Outside of the gym, Ms Jalynn enjoys spending time with her boyfriend Nate and her puppy Riley.
Through high school and part of college, Ms Dawn competed in gymnastics and has also taught recreational gymnastics on and off since then. She has taught at the Milwaukee Recreation Department, Whitewater Recreation and Whitefish Bay Rec Program. Ms Dawn attended University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she received a BBA in Accounting. She has recently returned to attend the Bradley University MBA Program. During her free time, Ms. Dawn spends time with her spring spaniel named Ernie, enjoys reading and NFL Sundays.
Ms Jenny has been coaching gymnastics, from preschool to competitive team, for eight years. She is a former competitive gymnast and tumbler herself. Ms Jenny earned a Bachelors degree from Bradley University in Family and Consumer Science with a minor in Sociology. She has also had the privilege of coaching gymnastics at the famous Flip Fest Gymnastics Camp in Tennessee and at ___?
Ms Stephanie started gymnastics when she started walking. She competed until she was 10 and then due to an ankle injury, took some time off. She realized she missed it and returned to tumbling. Ms Stephanie has been teaching for roughly 12 years off and on. She “absolutely loves it!” and says it’s the highlight of her day. Spending more time at Jump Start would be great she says, but Ms Stephanie keeps busy by working full time at Power 92. Ms Stephanie likes to spend her free time with husband Josh and their guinea pig Gordon, who they treat like a dog.
“Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s life and share something that means so much to me!” –Ms Stephanie
Interesting Notes:
• Went to college for Elementary Education
• Interned at radio station one summer and has yet to leave the business
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