Flathead Gymnastics Academy

     David has been blessed with a very good gymnastics background both as an athlete, and through the opportunity to coach at nearly all levels and ages from preschool and recreational gymnastics to Division I collegiate gymnastics at Boise State University and Utah State University. Throughout his life, he’s had incredible coaching mentors, including his parents, who have owned a successful gym in Boise, Idaho for more than 40 years. David’s favorite aspect of coaching is seeing and helping to create change in children that leads to growth and success. He feels that John Wooden best defines success with these words: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming,” and he hopes to help bring that type of success to young people in the Flathead Valley through his work at FGA. David loves God and the beautiful world He has created and enjoys spending time in it. He loves people, kids, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, windsurfing and spending time with his wife, Keeley, and their four dogs.

     David has been blessed with a very good gymnastics background both as an athlete, and through the opportunity to coach at nearly all levels and ages from preschool and recreational gymnastics to Division I collegiate gymnastics at Boise State University and Utah State University. Throughout his life, he’s had incredible coaching mentors, including his parents, who have owned a successful gym in Boise, Idaho for more than 40 years. David’s favorite aspect of coaching is seeing and helping to create change in children that leads to growth and success. He feels that John Wooden best defines success with these words: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming,” and he hopes to help bring that type of success to young people in the Flathead Valley through his work at FGA. David loves God and the beautiful world He has created and enjoys spending time in it. He loves people, kids, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, windsurfing and spending time with his wife, Keeley, and their four dogs.

     Keeley’s active childhood included competing in gymnastics, diving, track and field, and dance. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Portuguese at the University of New Mexico, she moved to Spain and taught English there for three years. Returning to the States, she came to Montana to visit her family in Kalispell and decided to stay. Along with teaching Spanish at Stillwater Christian High School, she started working at Flathead Gymnastics Academy (FGA) as a developmental coach. In 2011, she was given the opportunity to buy the gym! Her favorite part of owning FGA is the continuous challenges and opportunities that teaching presents.  She enjoys interacting with students and finding new ways to help them realize their strengths and encourage them to embrace the detailed effort necessary to grow and develop within the sport and life itself.  She also enjoys focusing on creating a strong support system for athletes at FGA comprised of student, parent, and coach relationships working in unison for the benefit and success of each athlete.  She loves seeing each gymnast progress in their own ways and at their own pace. As an owner and head coach, she challenges herself and her staff to continue to educate themselves in the sport of gymnastics so that FGA is able to provide the best instruction and education for all participating athletes. Outside of the gym, Keeley enjoys time with family, traveling, hiking and camping, snowboarding, and spending time with her husband, David, Finn, and their dogs Kohna, Lucy, Shimba, and Tatanka.

     While attending the University of New Mexico on a football scholarship, Daniel earned a degree in exercise physiology. He has a passion for understanding the human body- which spurred him to continue to educate himself by earning further certifications in Personal Training, Massage Therapy, Nutrition, and life coaching. In addition to his personal training business (Body Balance Fitness for life), and his photography business- Daniel Lowney Photography, he enjoys coaching Strength and Conditioning with FGA's Team Program.  Having worked with a variety of athletes, gymnasts continue to amaze him! He has great respect for the commitment and discipline required of them to achieve their ever changing goals, and loves that he is able to contribute to their success.  Daniel is also an avid outdoorsman- He loves fishing, backpacking, hiking, hunting, camping, and exploring the Montana wilderness.

     Jelani began his coaching career running our Tuesday Night Extreme program in 2015. He was quickly asked to coach in our FUNdamental gymnastics classes and help start and organize the Extreme Ninja program for kids. Jelani also worked with our team program as a Vault and Bars coach from 2016 to 2021. His two favorite parts about working at FGA are being able to share his passion and watch students learn how to push their limits and learn to love the challenge. His hobbies outside of the gym include parkour, martial arts, traveling and camping.

     Bekah began at FGA as a competitive athlete and transitioned into coaching in May of 2013, working with our FUNdamental gymnastics classes, open gyms and birthday parties. Soon after, she was asked to join the team staff, coaching the compulsory level gymnasts and began running the front desk. In the last few years, Bekah has been coaching mainly Beam and Dance for all levels of the Xcel and JO competitive teams. Her favorite part about her job at FGA is seeing the gymnasts overcome challenges and fear to realize their own progress, both within themselves and the sport. On the occasion that Bekah is not in the gym, she is usually found outdoors, lost in the woods camping, traveling or practicing martial arts.

     Mel began her job at FGA in 2018. Her main coaching roles are in our FUNdamental gymnastics program. You can find her coaching everything from our Hot Shot classes to our Advanced classes. She enjoys watching the kids grow in confidence as they learn new skills and explore the sport of gymnastics, finding out just how many amazing things that they are capable of. Outside of work, Mel enjoys figure skating, skiing and spending time with her cat.

      Brynlie started gymnastics at the age of four and recently finished her 14-year career as a gymnast at FGA. She has been working at the gym every Summer since 2017 coaching our FUNdamental gymnastics program. She will be utilizing her gymnastics skill set starting Fall of 2020 at Davis & Elkins College as part of their Acrobatics and Tumbling team. Her favorite part about coaching at FGA is the opportunity to pass down her knowledge and love of the sport to the next generation of gymnasts. Outside of coaching, Brynlie loves bullet journaling and calligraphy, and hanging out with her friends and family.

     Carrie started working at the beginning of August 2020 at the front desk. She loves interacting with parents and telling them all about what the programs at FGA have to offer. Outside of work, she and her daughter, Henley, take many adventures: Hiking, snowshoeing, being avid lake finders. Henley has also been a part of our competitive team since 2019. Carrie used to ski quite a bit and is looking forward to getting back into that this winter. Something you probably would not have guessed about Carrie: she used to play roller derby in Alaska as CJ Crush before she had Henley.

Michelle

Brie became a coach in June of 2021. She has been on the FGA competitive team program since 2016 and is currently a level 8 gymnast. She mainly coaches Beginner and Intermediate gymnastics and ninja classes as well as Hot Shots. Her favorite thing about working with students is being able to teach them new skills and the joy of gymnastics. Outside of the gym, Brie enjoys art, snowboarding and spending quality time with friends and family.

Rogan began her job at FGA in December 2021, and she has been on the Xcel competitive gymnastics team since 2018. Her roles in the gym are coaching the FUNdamental classes and running birthday parties. You will mostly see Rogan coaching the Hot Shots and Beginner Gymnastics groups, but she does also coach Extreme Ninja. Her favorite thing about being able to coach is that it gives her the opportunity to teach kids something new and try out the sport of gymnastics in a welcoming environment without fear of being judged. Outside of the gym, Rogan enjoys spending time with family and friends, painting, biking, baking, and getting to explore the outdoors.

Sara