Mini-Hops is Proud to Introduce our Part-Time Coaching Staff
Coach Holly Burk – Girls Compulsory Team Coach
Hometown: Johnston City, RI
Education: B.S. in Graphic Design.
Levels Coaching: Preschool – Preschool and Recreational classes; Pre-team – Levels 4-6 Compulsory Girls Team Co-Head Coach.
Coaching Certifications and History: National Safety Certification; USAG Pro Member; CPR and First Aid Certified. Holly has 15 years coaching experience. She has coached in the private club (Level 1-6) for 11 years and at a YMCA program for 4 years; she has 8 years experience working with pre-team athletes. She has competed through USAG Level 6. She attended the 2007 GAT Texas Congress, the 2006 USAG National Congress, and the 2000 Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Boston. She has also attended the National High Performance Seminar and Tom Burgdorf’s Super Staff Seminar.
Fun Facts: Holly traveled to Tonga, Oceania on a Kayaking trip. She was also a Karate instructor for 5 years, and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Doe.
Coach Laura Jansen
Hometown: Minnetonka, MN
Education:2005 Graduate from University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Family Social Science.
Levels Coaching: Preschool & Recreational as well as Boys Team.
Coaching Certifications and History: National Safety Certification; USGA USA Professional Member; CPR and First Aid Certified. Laura has competitive experience through Level 9 in USAG, and was a State Champion in the beam event for Hopkins High School. She coached gymnastics at Hopkins High School for 3 years.
Fun Facts: Laura likes winter more than summer.
Coach Jeanna Letzring
Hometown: Grand Forks, ND
Education: B.A. in Interior Design at Art Institutes International, Minnesota.
Levels Coaching: Boys Pre-Team, Recreational PreSchool.
Coaching Certifications and History: USAG Safety Certification; USAG Professional Member; CPR and First Aid Certified. Jeanna has been coaching for a total of 6 years and boys team for 4 years. She attended both the 2005 USAG National Congress and the 2005 National Future Stars Workshop. In addition she also serves as secretary for the Minnesota Men’s Gymnastics Board.
Fun Fact: James and Jeanna have 2 American Pit Bull Terriers:Tsukahara and Roxy. They are also the proud parents of their beautiful daughter Addi.
Coach John-Paul Singh
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Education: Senior in High School
Levels Coaching: Preschool – Early Boys – Boys Team Level 4
Coaching Certifications and History: USAG Safety Certified; Currently competing in USAG Level 10
Fun Fact: John-Paul plays piano and sings rock and pop.
Coach Bethany Thorsen
Hometown: Golden Valley, MN
Education: Bachelor of Theater Arts
Levels Coaching: All Mini-Hoppers and early girls beginners
Coaching Certifications and History: CPR and First Aid Certified; 3 years of coaching experience in preschool gymnastics.
Fun Fact: Bethany lived in Ireland for 1 1/2 years.
Coach Janna Singh
Hometown: Corcoran, Minnesota
Education: Student
Level She Coaches: Preschool A and B and Camps
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Former team gymnast; interned at MHG for 3 years, then started coaching in 2009.
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: Started gymnastics at the age of 3 and all of my four siblings are former gymnasts as well.
Fun Fact: She loves walking in mud with her bare feet.
Coach Jon Gale
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Education: Sophomore at Maple Grove Senior High
Level He Coaches: Camps and Birthday Parties
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Assistant coach since 2010. Interned 2008-2009
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: Level 10 Gymnast
Fun Fact: Enjoys Gymnastics, friends and burgers
Adam Nau
Hometown: Chogrin Falls, OH
Education: Senior at Minnetonka Highschool
Level He Coaches: Boys and Girls Recreational
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Coaching Boys since 2009, Coaching Girls since 2010
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: Was on the Boy’s Team from 2003-2005
Fun Fact: IB diploma canidate at Highschool, have played the piano for 11 years and loves Italian and Oriental Foods
Coach Aleksa Walter
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
Education: Junior in Highschool
Level She Coaches: Pre-School
Coaching Certifications and Experience: USAG Safety Training
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: She has been in gymnastics for 11 years.
Fun Fact: “I have no life outside of these 4 walls!!”
Coach Gabrielle (Gabby)
Hometown: Springfield, IL
Education: Highschool Graduate, working towards Associates in Arts.
Level She Coaches: Beginner to Level 7
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Coaching girls and boys since 2007
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: Gymnasts for 12 years total. Competed club and highschool.
Fun Fact: She loves music! She also plays a handful of instruments and enjoys performing in her spare time.
Coach Aaron Fortunato
Hometown: Bedford, OH
Education: University of Minnesota; Bachelors of Civil Engineering
Level He Coaches: Boys Level 7
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Coaching boys since 2001
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: National Gymnastics Judging Association – Nationally Certified Men’s Judge. Four year member of University of Minnesota Men’s Varsity Gymnastics Team
Fun Fact: He has 3 brothers and they all did gymnastics. His younger brother, Nathan, is also currently a gymnast at the U of M.
Coach Lucas Krier
Hometown: Minnetonka, MN
Education: Highschool
Level He Coaches: Little Hoppers and Junior Hoppers
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Level 10 gymnast, interned for 2 years and been an assistant for about a year.
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: N/A
Fun Fact: He was the first Mini-Hops gymnast to go to the Future Stars Nationals.
Coach Sean Hawkinson
Hometown: Plymouth, MN
Education: Junior in highschool
Level He Coaches: Preschool, Little Hoppers and Junior Hoppers
Coaching Certifications and Experience: Coaching preschool since 2008
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: Has been in gymnastics for around 8 years
Fun Fact: He has a pet snake named Brucella and he was the first male gymnast to qualify for Nationals at Mini-Hops.
Coach Kris Wilner
Hometown: New Ulm, MN
Education: BA in Elementary Education from College of St. Benedict’s.
Level She Coaches: Preschool
Coaching Certifications and Experience: N/A
Additional Certifications or Gymnastics related information: N/A
Fun Fact: She has 2 children; Tess (15) and Mac (10)