Coaching Staff
Erie Gymnastics Staff
Program Directors - Douglas & Christine (Tina) Pershun
Coming up soon here in 2020, Tina & I will have been in business at Erie Gymnastics Center / Team Lightning Inc. for 30 years! Wow! It's been an amazing journey with a tremendous number of loyal and dedicated staff that helped us get here! We consider them members of our family! Coaching now for 30+ years, we're on 2nd Generations. That is perhaps the best compliment we can receive. Children who once attended here now are fathers and mothers and loved the experience so much they share their children with us! In addition, a good portion of our staff are former gymnasts who've attended Erie Gymnastics and came back to share their love and passion for the program and the sport! Below I would like to introduce you to some of our staff, their credentials, and our Philosophy in Hiring!
Safety - Mackenzie Test
When hiring teaching & coaching staff, we use what we call the "Mackenzie Test". As a National Clinician for USA Gymnastics, I've trained lots of coaches in the intricacies of the sport. I used to be a School Teacher. In the school were numerous qualified teachers at varying points in their career. Teachers with numerous years of experience had all sorts of tricks up their sleeves to get students to perform better. The newer hires - fresh out of college often lacked this experience, however whatever they lacked in experience, they made up for in enthusiasm.
When considering hiring a Teacher / Coach, we ask ourselves a very simple but poignant question. Would we TRUST - that coach teaching and working with our daughter Mackenzie (or son Jesse)? Do we trust that they will do their best to keep our child safe? Do we trust that they have a safe and clean background? Are they skilled enough to safely spot my child? Are they competent enough and prudent enough to make safe decisions for my child? Do they have the skills to give my child a quality learning experience? Only if they pass this test are they considered for hire!
Our Daughter is now 20 years old and away at college (and a Gymnastics Judge), our son is working here in the Family business, however we still employ this method in hiring our staff.
Professional Work & Accolades
Profession Credential / Work
- School of Competitive Gymnastics USA Gymnastics Rating - National Women's Artistic Coach (only one in Erie area)
- USA Gymnastics National Instructor
- School of Recreational Gymnastics - Director
- USA Gymnastics Professional Member - cert. Men's Artistic / Women's Artistic / Rhythmic
- USA Gymnastics Safety Certified (U101)
- USA Gymnastics Member Club - Administrator
- USA Gymnastics - UB 100 / PDP 1 & 2 / Yurchenko Vault Cert. /
- American Coaching Education Program (ACEP)
- U110 - Safe Sport Trained
- W200 - Developmental Coaching Course - Hands on Training - Instructor
- W202 - Women's Meet Director
- Member - ECA - (Elite Coaches Association)
- Red Cross - First Aid Cert.
- Red Cross - CPR / AED - Infant, Child, Adult Cert.
- National Cheerleading Judge - CCC - Local, Regional, and National Championships
- Head Clinician - Cheerleading National Coaches Congress
- Woodward Gymnastics Camp - Coach & Coaching Certifier
- Meadowland Gymnastics (Gym Dandy's) Summer Camp Clinician
- Butler Hy-Flyers Summer Camp Clinican
- Warren Powerhouse - Summer Camp Clinician
- Team Lightning - Summer Competitive Team Camp - Director & Clinician
Event Director
- Meet Director & Host- Stars & Stripes - 2002 - present -- Largest Coed Gymnastics Competition in Pennsylvania with 2,000 athletes & 55 Team attending. (one of the largest in the USA)
- Meet Director & Host - for the Level 9 / 10 (USAG highest level) State Gymnastics Championships
- Meet Director for 12 additional Pennsylvania State Gymnastics Championships
- 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award (Ron Sertz Award) Awarded by the Erie Sports Commission / Visit Erie - for contributions to Erie in the field of Sports Tourism
- 2016 & 2018 - Locally Managed Sporting Event of the Year (Erie Sports Commission / Visit Erie)
- 2017 National Locally Managed Event of the Year - National Sports Commission.
Coaching Accolades
- 30+ NCAA College Scholarships & Athletes... including Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, West Point, Gannon Univ., Pitt, Bowling Green, Alabama, Brockport....
- 2 TOPS National Elite Members
- 97' National Gold Medalist - Vault - 6th AA
- 16' National Bronze Medalist - Beam
- 30+ National Competitors
- 80+ Regional Competitors
- Numerous PA State Champions & Region VII - and Invitational Champions
Professional & Work Accolades
- School of Competitive Gymnastics USA Gymnastics Rating - National Women's Artistic Coach (only one in Erie area)
- School of Recreational Gymnastics - Director
- USA Gymnastics Professional Member - cert. Women's Artistic
- USA Gymnastics Safety Certified (U101)
- USA Gymnastics Member Club - Administrator
- U110 - Safe Sport Trained
- W200 - Developmental Coaching Course - Hands on Training - Instructor
- W202 - Women's Meet Director
- Red Cross - First Aid Cert.
- Red Cross - CPR / AED - Infant, Child, Adult Cert.
- Team Lightning - Summer Competitive Team Camp - Director & Clinician
Event Director
- Co-Meet Director & Host- Stars & Stripes - 2002 - present -- Largest Coed Gymnastics Competition in Pennsylvania with 2,000 athletes & 55 Team attending. (one of the largest in the USA)
- Co-Meet Director & Host - for the Level 9 / 10 (USAG highest level) State Gymnastics Championships
- Co-Meet Director for 12 additional Pennsylvania State Gymnastics Championships
- 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award (Ron Sertz Award) Awarded by the Erie Sports Commission / Visit Erie - for contributions to Erie in the field of Sports Tourism
- 2016 & 2018 - Locally Managed Sporting Event of the Year (Erie Sports Commission / Visit Erie)
- 2017 National Locally Managed Event of the Year - National Sports Commission.
Coaching Accolades
- Produced Numerous PA State Champions & Championships Teams.
- Numerous Invitational Champions & Team Champions.
- 97' National Gold Medalist - Vault - 6th AA
- Currently manages and Head Coaches 60+ Compulsory Athletes.
- Advanced 100's of well prepared Compulsory Athletes to Optional Levels.
- Manages and organizes over 30 Coaching Staff yearly.
- Manages, Coordinates & Head Coaches 4 Compulsory Teams yearly.
Coaching Staff
Tracy McKean
EGC West Manager - Asst. Team Lightning Compulsory Coach / Recreational Class Teacher.
Dustin Hinkson
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Jesse Pershun
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Joe Wroblewski
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Lindsey McKnight
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Jamie Altsman
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Cierra Ball
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Sabryna Ball
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Adam Barbe
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Cindy Bretz
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Adam Goss
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Crystal Goss
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Jaslyn Hagy
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Stephanie Hargest
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Andre Jones
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Kelly Martucci
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Andy Parks
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Mackenzie Pershun
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Bryanna Pierce
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Christopher Roberts
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Yuri Romatowski
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Jodie Schwabenbauer
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Kaitlyn Snyder
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Andrew Vogt
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Justin Whitman
Justin grew up in EGC - becoming a National Level 10 contender. Nicknamed the "Showman" Justin performed in 20+ EGC end of the year shows. Justin graduated Slippery Rock Univ. w/ Physical Education Degree. He became the Head Coach of the Butler Hy-Flyers Men's Team. Justin then returned to EGC where he became the Head Coach of Team Lightning Men's Team. He led our boys to their first State Title (1st place Team in PA) in 2018. Justin is a school teacher by day and cut back his hours this year to spend some time with his new wife & daughter Mia. Justin continues to come in to support the staff and Men's Team.
Courtney Wroblewski
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Stephanie (Nowokowski) Phillips
Erie Center founder - mentor to Doug as he grew into coaching. Former gymnast of Elaine Jewart - owner / founder of Pittsburgh Northstars. Former NCAA Gymnast for Slippery Rock Univ. Degree in Physical Education. For EGC - she is retired from coaching, but works with our Preschool / Mom n Tot Programs as well as staff education.