Meet Our Coaches

Submitted by Web Master on Sat, 12/18/2010 - 1:31pm

♦ The coaches at Roots Gymnastics Center come with a genuine passion for the sport of gymnastics and children. All of our coaches are safety-certified by USAG - the governing body of gymnastics in the United States. We are confident the experience and enthusiasm of our coaches will empower any child to progress in and enjoy the sport of gymnastics.

 

*You can email our coaches by coachesfirstname@rootsgymnastics.com

(This Page is currently under construction to add our newly hired and safety certified instructors and staff.)

 

Kari DeMarinis R.D.

♦ Owner/ Program Director

Kari has been involved in the sport of gymnastics since 1975. She competed both nationally and internationally for 12 years. She qualified to state, regional and national competitions. She was also awarded a scholarship to University of Massachusetts for gymnastics.

Pam Pryor

♦ Team Manager

Pam Pryor brings with her 20 years of teaching experience as a gymnastics professional. After managing a very successful start-up gymnastics center in Ohio, Pam moved to the local area where she has been the program manager and head coach for several of Massachusetts’ most competitive team programs. → (continued)

 

Steve Pryor

♦ Team Manager

Steve Pryor brings 20 years of gymnastics experience as both an athlete and a coach at all levels. He showed an early interest and involvement in the development of children when he began teaching pre-school gymnastics at age 15, and he has progressively been able to combine his joy of teaching with his technical knowledge of the sport to coach state, regional and national caliber athletes. → (continued)

Christie Lee

♦ Class Instructor/ Birthday Party & Special Event Coordinator 

Previously a level 10 gymnast, Christie has coached and choreographed gymnastics routines for seven years. With a great amount of enthusiasm and passion for fun, she organizes the Birthday Parties at Roots and coordinates special events. Christie is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Neuroscience minor.  - (continued)

Kylie Willhoite

♦ Class Instructor/ Pre Team Coach 

  • Kylie has been working at Roots Gymnastics since it opened March of 2008. She has a gymnastics background of 13 years. She also coaches all ages and abilities, including little sprout and recreational classes. In addition to that, she is one of the coaches of pre-team and (continued) ...
Victoria Westman
  • ♦ Instructor / Team Coach
    Victoria, a competitive gymnast for 8 years and coach for 7, joined the Roots staff in June 2010.  She coaches our competitive levels 4– 6 as well as recreational classes.
Laura Dialessi Bellows
  • ♦ Little Sprouts Instructor/Ballet Instructor 
    Laura trained in classical ballet since the age of 6.  She trained and performed extensively with Dance Arts Ballet, Berkshire Albany Ballet, Pioneer Valley Ballet and The Boston Ballet.  She attended college at the University of Mass Amherst as a dance major.
Joanne Hewins

♦ Roots class instructor/ Prep Op Head Coach

Joanne brings with her over 35 years experience both as a coach and athlete. She has coached all levels at various gymnastics clubs throughout western mass. She has been the head coach of Westfield High School’s gymnastics team for 17 years.

Amy Parody Smith

♦ Little Sprouts Instructor  Amy has been working at Roots since the Spring of 2009.  Most recently she was the owner/operator of the Westfield Mill End Store where she was an interior decorator.  Before moving back to the area, she was the General Manager of the Boston Sports Club in Andover.  Amy was a Synchronized Swimmer for 18 years and ...(continued)