Coaching Staff

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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!

• 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. 

• 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

• 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.

Jesse is son of Doug & Tina Pershun and was born into the Gymnastics Family.  Being a cute & friendly baby, Jesse was held and played with by numerous Olympic Champions as he traveled with his parents to  numerous competitions (Mary Lou Retton / Nadia Comaneci / Bart Conners / Kim Zmeskal / Krystal Uzelac / Svetlana Boganskaya / ... and many more.  Jesse participated and is the founder of the current 'Mom & Tot' program at EGC where we founded the class.  Jesse participated in all of the EGC Rec. Classes as well as was a member of the Team Lightning Men's Team.  Jesse went on to play travel Hockey as well as some NCAA Hockey.  

Jesse wanted to follow in 'Dad's Footsteps', so dad made him start at the bottom of the ladder.  Jesse started helping with Preschool & Beginner Classes.  Eventually he moved up to the Preteams and Compulsory Teams with his mother.  Now, he has learned 'advanced spotting' and works as assistant to the Team Lightning Optional Team.  Jesse now has produced his first series of State Champions and has his first 'National Competitor.  Jesse has been studying and taking both online and hands on courses thru USA Gymnastics and has earned numerous credits in the School of Recreational / School of Business / & School of Competitive.  

In addition to gymnastics, he shares his fathers love for music and his band - Real Fake Doors - has been taking flight - opening for National acts and has multiple songs on spotify.

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 Coach Jenn just started coaching this year but is no stranger to Erie Gymnastics Center.  She has three daughters who have all started in Mom and Tot and are now Level 3, Level 2, and Intermediate Kinder.  She currently assists in teaching Kinder and coaching Mini Team, Level 2, and Level 3 at the West gym.  Jenn is originally from Pittsburgh where she was a cheerleader all through middle and high school.  She has her Bachelor's and Master's degree in education.  Along with coaching, Jenn teaches at Our Lady of Peace School.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and making candy. 

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  Mackenzie - daughter of Doug & Tina - grew up in the gymnastics world.  Mackenzie participated in every class from Mom & Tot - thru - Advanced II.  She went on to Team Lightning Compulsories and was most accomplished at the Uneven Bars.  Mackenzie graduated Collegiate Academy - Summa Cum Laude - and is now attending RIT majoring in Biochemistry.  Kenzie is on college leave but comes in a coaches during the Holidays and Summer.  Kenzie is currently coaching at a prestigious club in Rochester, NY - Victor's Gymnastics as well is a NWGJA Gymnastics Judge.

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Justin grew up in EGC - becoming both a Class 1 and National Level 10 contender.  Nicknamed the "Showman" Justin performed in 25+ EGC end of the year shows.  Justin graduated Slippery Rock Univ. w/  Health & 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.   Justin has coached numerous State & Regional Champions as well as led our Team Lightning boys to win first place Team at the PA State Championships in 2018.  

By day Justin is a school teacher at St. George Catholic School.  Justin is also a USAG Professional Coach, First Aid / CPR certified / NCIS & PA Background Clearences / USAG Safety Certified.  

Justin took a year sebatical but joined back up with the staff to assist the Team Lightning Women's Compulsory Team.  

Hobbies:  Golf, Working Out, spending time with his wife Lauren and daughter Mia (soon to be a Team Lightning gymnast!). 

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.