TAMMY MCLEAN
Program Director (Co-Owner)
Tammy McLean has been in love with gymnastics since she first saw Nadia Comăneci compete in the 1976 Olympics. She has been involved in the greatest sport ever since.
Her parents built equipment in their backyard and enrolled Tammy in Rockland County, NY. She started coaching in that same gym when she was 17 and has now been coaching for over 30 years. Tammy has experience in the classroom as well, running an academic preschool, Kindergarten, and working with children with special needs. Vault was her best event and still her favorite to coach.
Tammy and her husband, Todd, owned and operated Flip Factory Gymnastics in Hayden, Idaho for nearly two decades before her extended family encouraged them to settle in Florida.
Flip Factory hailed many state champions, regional competitors, and scholarship recipients.
She is so excited to be a part of the new Apollo Beach Gymnastics Academy and grow an amazing program here in the Suncoast area.
TODD MCLEAN
Team Director
Todd enjoyed gymnastics as a child, but decided to focus solely on football to finish his high school career at East Valley High School in 1990. He later studied Sports Psychology and Physical Therapy at Eastern Washington University.
Todd met his wife Tammy in 1994 at a gymnastics training facility in North Spokane, Washington. He started coaching part time, and he and Tammy have been coaching together for over 25 years. They started Flip Factory Gymnastics in a small town in Eastern Washington in 1998. Shortly thereafter, they outgrew this facility and reopened in North Idaho, running the facility for nearly 2 decades.
Over the years, Todd has coached gymnastics and cheer at several high schools and colleges. He's instructed and spoken at numerous seminars and Gymnastics and Cheer Congresses. Todd has also been a guest coach at many gymnastics and cheer camps.
One of Todd's unforgettable moments was when he taught tumbling at his favorite college,
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON..GO DAWGS!!
"Positively influencing the minds and hearts of young ones is not a job, it is a joy!"
SYDNEY GRIBNITZ
Rec-Director & Co-Team Director
Sydney was involved in gymnastics before she could walk. She was raised in a gym and loved every single minute of it. Sydney competed not only in gymnastics, but also in dance and cheer.
She is a multi-time Idaho State Champion and has won competitions not only in Idaho, but also Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada and Montana.
Sydney has been coaching for over 5 years. Long before that, she displayed leadership qualities as a team member/coach on the floor, inspiring her teammates to always give 100%.
Sydney's strong dance background inspires creative and artistic choreography that will take our teams to the next level.
AMANDA GARTE
Finance and Marketing Director (Co-Owner)
Amanda has been a resident of Apollo Beach for eight years. She and her husband, Justin, are the parents of 4 children, 2 girls and twin boys.
After graduating from USF, Amanda was a sales service manager for Swarovski Crystal covering Tampa to Naples. She spent nearly a decade in cardiovascular pharmaceutical sales as a sales specialist before having the privilege of being a stay at home mom.
Amanda watched her daughter’s intense love for gymnastics and cheer grow, as well as her own. She wanted to be an active member and contributor in the community and ABGA will provide her this opportunity.
Amanda loves volunteering at school. She’s a travel enthusiast, animal lover and amateur writer who enjoys skiing, crafting and yoga.
DANIELLA ESTEVEZ
Coach for Recreational Boys , Pre-Team Boys and Rookie Girls.
Daniella has coached for four years and cheered for thirteen years
Her favorite part about coaching is the children.
Three random facts about Daniella:
1.) She cheered at East Bay Little League for most of her childhood
2.) She is fluent in both English and Spanish
3.) She loves to travel.
Her upcoming goals for this year are to expand her knowledge in gymnastics and create stronger bonds with the children.
GARY MORRIS
Coach for Recreational Boys and Team Boys
Gary was enrolled in gymnastics classes by his mom at age 4 in 1959 at the Crenshaw Athletic Club in Austin Texas. By age 8 Gary was competing on the Crenshaw team in AAU Gymnastic competitions all over the state of Texas.
Gary competed continuously throughout his childhood and into high school where he won gold in the Long Horse vault and 2nd All Around in the Texas State High School Championships, as well as numerous other awards and an athletic scholarship over his years in the sport.
As an instructor, Gary began his teaching in the boy’s gymnastics program at the Crenshaw Summer Camp during his high school years, eventually becoming the camp’s lead instructor for the boys program. Later in life, Gary would continue to coach boys gymnastics in parallel with his professional career in the Aerospace industry.
Upon “pseudo” retirement in 2015, Gary and his wife Colleen moved from Texas to Apollo Beach to be near their son Brian, his wife Summer and their beautiful granddaughter Abby (who is also a student at Apollo Beach Gymnastics Academy). Finding that ABGA had a sincere interest in developing a competition boys program, Gary was delighted to join ABGA Coaching staff.
CARRIE JACKA
Developmental Program Coach
Carrie, one of our upper level coaches, is from Spokane, WA. She has over 4 years of coaching experience and was a gymnast for 10 years before moving on to high school gymnastics. In college she was a pole vaulter.
While coaching at ABGA she is also going to grad school for speech therapy.
Her favorite part about coaching is seeing the kids learn new skills and become stronger more confident athletes
She coaches intermediate girls, Pre-Team girls, team girls, and Tumbling
BELLA ROJAS
Team Coach
Bella has been coaching at ABGA for about a year. She was a gymnast for 3 years and a dancer for 15 years.
Her favorite thing about teaching at ABGA is seeing all the kids smiles. They really are the highlight of her day.
Some fun facts about her are:
1. Her favorite color is lilac.
2. She got married last May.
3. She LOVES Hot Cheetos!!
She coaches Sunrays, Rookies, Beginner Girls and team.
CHRISTINE SEXTON
Front Desk / Developmental Class Coach
I am a mom to 5 amazing kiddos (3 girls and 2 boys). I taught elementary education for 8 years. I have been part of the gymnastics world for the last 4 years and I have enjoyed every minute of it!
Two of my biggest passions are helping children build their self-confidence and watching them develop new skills. Some of my favorite classes to coach are pre-team, hot tots, and assisting with boys and girls team.
Three random facts about myself are:
1. I love taking mini vacations with my family (especially to Orlando)
2. I’m super competitive and love playing games with family and friends.
3. My idea of relaxing is snuggling up with a comfy blanket holding a hot cup of tea while binge watching movies.
MORGAN LANDES
Coach for Baby Classes and Boys and Girls Team
Morgan was born and raised in Central Oklahoma. She spent 9 yrs as a gymnast at Rising Star Gymnastics.
Her favorite part of coaching is watching the kids have fun and light up when they learn something new.
Outside of being a coach, Morgan is a nursing major and loves long-boarding.
JULIA SEXTON
Preschool, Recreational Boys and Girls Coach
I have been coaching gymnastics for 4 years. My favorite part about coaching is watching the boys and girls grow with their skills and confidence. I love helping them learn new things!
My favorite classes to coach are Pre-Team, boys and the sunbeams!
Three random facts about myself:
1. I love spending time with family and traveling with them
2. Hanging out friends and going places
3. I love being outside
LIZ SEXTON
Preschool Coach and Choreographer for Developmental Classes
I danced competitively for 7 1/2 years and have been doing gymnastics for over a year. I love coaching kids and helping them develop new skills, I also enjoy coaching pre-team, hot tots, and rookies.
The best part of my job is getting to know all the kids and pushing them to be the best that they can be.
Three random facts about myself are:
1. I Love anything lavender
2. I want to be a veterinarian
3. I have an obsession with elephants
MORGENDY BUZBEE
Recreational Coach
I’m a third year cheerleader and I have done gymnastics from the ages of 6-10. I have been coaching for 10 months at ABGA.
I love coaching Hot Tots, Sunrays, and Sunbeams. I love building a bond with the kids and parents.
3 facts about me:
1. I’m a flyer
2. I love to wake surf
3. I’m a certified diver