Chris Jacobs

Chris Jacobs

Owner

Background:  Competitive USAG gymnast  as youth and  East High School.  

Experience:

  • Jacobs Gymnastics Owner – September 2002 – Present.
  • Director and coach for preschool – team levels, 1985-2002.
  • AAU Gymnastics Team gymnastics coach, 1994 – 2006.
  • Amerikids team coach 2006-2010.
  • USAG Certificates and Completions:
    USAG Gymnastics Professional Member Coach since 2010
    USAG Safety Certified.
    U100 Gymnastics Certified.
    USAG Meet Director Certification.
    Safe Sport Certified.
  • Coaching Xcel team levels.
  • Head USAG Xcel coach 2010- current.

Family: Husband, Ron and sons, Nate and Luc.

Luc Jacobs

Luc Jacobs

Coach


Background:
 Began gymnastics classes at age 3. Competed AAU Boys and also tumbling competitions.

Coaching experience:

  • Began coaching June 2005.
  • Currently Xcel Team Vault and Tumbling coach specialist
  • USAG Professional Coach since 2011
  • USAG Safety Certified
  • USAG Safe Sport Certified
  • USAG Xcel coach 2010- current
  • USAG U100 Certified.

Education:

  • Graduated Waukee High School 2009 –
  • Graduated Grandview College – Elementary Ed major with a K-8 math endorsement
  • Waukee Middle School 6th grade Science teacher Purple Team – since Fall 2015
  • Family: Dad-Ron, Mom-Chris, and  brother-Nate
  • Other Interests: Lacrosse, hockey, football, basketball and wrestling fan.

Mallory Arnold

 Coach 

  • Background:  Jacobs AAU and AmeriKids team gymnast
  • Currently coaching:  Xcel Team and subbing all levels 
  • Coaching experience:
    Began coaching at Jacobs in 2010 – all levels. 
    USAG Professional Coach 
    USAG Safety Certified
    USAG Safe Sport Certified
    USAG U100 Certified
  • Education: WHS Grad – ISU Grad – Major in Mathmatics 
  • Currently working at Farm Bureau. 
  • Other interests: Cheering on the Cyclone – house renovations – Puppy mom to Huxley! Civic Center, Family!
Amy Garcia

Amy Garcia

Coach

Background:  USAG competitive gymnast

Currently coaching: Rec and Xcel Team

  • Coaching experience:
    Began coaching at Jacobs in 2002 – all levels. 
    AAU and Amerikids Coach – 2003-2009
    USAG Professional Coach 2010 – current
    USAG Safety Certified
    USAG Safe Sport Certified
    USAG U100 Certified.
  • Education: AIB Business College

     

  • Family:  Husband Matt, Daughter Megan

  • Other interests: Cheering on the Hawks! Hosting  family/friend gatherings. 
Rachelle Ruhland

Rachelle Ruhland

Coach

  •  Background: Team gymnast at The Turn Around Gym in LeMars. Coached team programs at Triad and Blackhawks. Began coaching Xcel Team, private lessons and subbing at Jacobs in 2013.
  • Education: Graduated UNI, degree in Elementary Education.
  • Currently teaching Kindergarten at Saint Francis
  • Currently coaching  Xcel team and sharing choreography duties
  • Family: Husband Eric and 3 year old Mick, 1 year old Brynlee
Emma Graen

Emma Graen

Coach

  • Background: Began at age 2 with Chris and also at Jacobs opening day! Former Jacobs Team Gymnast.
  • Currently Coaching: Preschool – Xcel levels! Emma does it all!
  • Staff development coordinator
  • Education: Van Meter graduate, UNI, Allen College – Clinicals in Sonography
  • Other Interests:  Emma loves spending time with family, outdoor activities, and Farrell’s. 
Mary Johnson

Mary Johnson

Coach

Currently Coaching:  

Background: Former Jacobs House Team Gymnast

Education: Creighton University, WHS Graduate 2020

Interests: Reading, movies, hanging out with family and friends. 

Kylee Vaudt

Kylee Vaudt

Coach

Currently Coaching: 

Background:  Former Jacobs Xcel Team gymnast

Education: WHS Senior, NHS, CNA certificate, Midwifery internship. 

Brenna Hunt

Brenna Hunt

Coach

 Currently Coaching: Recreational and Team levels 

Eackground: Began as a preschool gymnast at Jacobs, Platinum Level Team Gymnast -possibly specialist in 2021.

Education: Senior at WHS

Other Interests: Music, Cheer, Friends & Family

Alison Toler

Alison Toler

Coach

Currently Coaching: Recreational and House Team levels

Background: Started as a preschool gymnast at Jacobs, Current Platinum level gymnast

Education: WHS Senior

Other Interests: Cheer,  Swimming,  Hair styling for teammates, School activities & Friends

Kaisha Christianson

Kaisha Christianson

Coach

Currently Coaching: 

Background: Former Jacobs House Team gymnast  

Education: ADM Senior

Other Interests:  ADM Comp Cheer – Loves coaching her gymnasts!

Teagan Sindlinger

Teagan Sindlinger

Coach

Currently Coaching:  Recreational and Team Levels

Background: Started as a preschool gymnast – Former Jacobs Xcel Diamond level gymnast

Education: WHS Senior

Other Interests: Reading, working out, watching hockey, Completed Basic Training, now reserve. 

Piper Sindlinger

Piper Sindlinger

Coach

Currently Coaching: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced levels

Background:  Preschool – Former Xcel Platinum Team Gymnast

Education: WHS Junior

Other Interests: Spending time with family, friends, babysitting and spending time with kids.  

Olivia Mesman

Olivia Mesman

Coach

Currently Coaching: 

Background: Intermediate through Xcel Gold Team Gymnast 

Education: Junior at WHS

Other Interests: Church functions, friends and family

Lauren VanDeRiet

Lauren VanDeRiet

Coach

Currently Coaching: Preschool – Advanced

Background: Preschool gymnast at Jacobs – Xcel Platinum Team Gymnast.  

Education: Sophomore at WHS

Other Interests: German, travel, Church. “I love to see the kids grow in the sport and progress!”

Kyla Christianson

Kyla Christianson

Coach

Currently coaching: 

Background: Xcel Gold Team gymnast

Education:  ADM Sophomore

Other interests: Spending time at the gym, cheer, friends and family

Reese Ervin

Reese Ervin

Coach

Currently Coaching: Subbing Rec levels

Background: Former Xcel Gold Gymnast

Education: Dowling Sophomore

Other Interests: Cheer, Cross Country, Track

Lily Nepper

Lily Nepper

Coach

Currently Coaching:  Recreation Levels

Background: Xcel Gold Team Gymnast

Education: ADM Sophomore

Other Interests: Family, friends and travel. 

 

Paige Laird

Paige Laird

Coach

Currently Coaching: Subbing

Background:  Rec – Xcel team gymnast

Education: WHS Junior

Other Interests: Gymnastics, Track (high jumper), Fitness, Friends, Family and Football!

Lillie Doehrmann

Lillie Doehrmann

Coach

Currently Coaching: Recreational levels 

Background:  Beginner – Xcel Platinum Team Gymnast

Education: Dowling Freshman

Other Interests: Gymnastics, Parades, Volleyball, BB, Ice cold water, making slime. 

Mya Sposeto

Mya Sposeto

Coach

Currently Coaching: Recreational levels

Background: Began at Jacobs in the 2 year olds. Former Jacobs Xcel Gold Team Gymnast

Education: Prairieview 

Other Interests: Spending time with her mom and family – getting nails done, cheering for her brothers’ activities.  

Taffy Sindlinger

Taffy Sindlinger

Coach

Currently Coaching: Preschool and Beginner levels

Background:  Began in the 2 year old class at Jacobs – now Xcel Platinum Team Gymnast

Education: Virtual Waukee

Other Interests: Singing/performing, hair, make-up, nails… hanging out with friends.

Abby Battreall

Abby Battreall

Coach

Currently Coaching: Subbing all levels -when available.

Background: Former Xcel Diamond Level team gymnast

Education: WHS Graduate – U of I Fall 2019 – Physician assistant program

Other Interests: Dance Marathon, volunteers in the stem cell unit at U of I Hospitals,  Cheering for the Hawkeyes, Photoshop,  Friends & Family.

Conner Rittenhouse

Conner Rittenhouse

Coach

Currently Coaching: Subbing all levels -when available.

Background: Former Jacobs Team Gymnast

Education: DMACC Graduate –
Senior at ISU 

Other Interests:  Interior Design, art, and hanging out with friends and family.

Jami Lenz

Jami Lenz

Coach and Choreographer


Currently coaching: 
Xcel Team Coach and Choreographer

Background: Began gymnastics at age 6 with Chris, team levels 3-7, and former Jacobs team gymnast.

Coaching experience: Jacobs Gymnastics coach (all levels) beginning in October 2002. Xcel Floor choreographer. USA Gymnastics Professional Coach since 2011. USAG Safety Certified. USAG Xcel coach 2010- current. USAG U100 Certified

Education: Valley High School, Lewis and Clark University, Portland, Oregon, Drake University -Master’s Degree in Elementary Ed.
Currently teaching 6th Grade Science – WMS Gold Team.

Family – Husband Billy, daughter Mila

Other interests: Fitness, traveling, painting, golf, baking, family and dogs.