
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
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
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
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
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
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
Coach
Currently Coaching:
Background: Former Jacobs Xcel Team gymnast
Education: WHS Senior, NHS, CNA certificate, Midwifery internship.

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
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
Coach
Currently Coaching:
Background: Former Jacobs House Team gymnast
Education: ADM Senior
Other Interests: ADM Comp Cheer – Loves coaching her gymnasts!

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
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
Coach
Currently Coaching:
Background: Intermediate through Xcel Gold Team Gymnast
Education: Junior at WHS
Other Interests: Church functions, friends and family

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
Coach
Currently coaching:
Background: Xcel Gold Team gymnast
Education: ADM Sophomore
Other interests: Spending time at the gym, cheer, friends and family

Reese Ervin
Coach
Currently Coaching: Subbing Rec levels
Background: Former Xcel Gold Gymnast
Education: Dowling Sophomore
Other Interests: Cheer, Cross Country, Track

Lily Nepper
Coach
Currently Coaching: Recreation Levels
Background: Xcel Gold Team Gymnast
Education: ADM Sophomore
Other Interests: Family, friends and travel.

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
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
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
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
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
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
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.