Hometown/Current town: Verona
Coach Frankie started coaching here at Capital in April of 2025. Frankie attended Capital both as a rec gymnast for several years before joining our competitive team for 3 years! Besides gymnastics, Frankie also played soccer for 6 years and track for 2 years. What she loves most about working at Capital, is seeing kiddos create a love for gymnastics!
In her free time, Frankie enjoys performing in musical theater, reading, dancing, and hanging out with her friends! The best piece of advice that she has been given is:
“Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone to make meaningful memories!”
Hometown/Current Town: Verona
Coach Lil joined Capital as a coach in July of 2025! Before her time coaching, she was a competitive gymnast here for 6 years! She currently attends Verona Area High School. Lil loves working at Capital because she gets to help kiddos do what they both love!
In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends! The best piece of advice Lil has received is to:
“Push yourself! You can do it if you put everything you have into it!”
Hometown/Current Town: Verona
Coach Addison joined Capital in June of 2025! Before coaching here at Capital, Addison took tumbling classes with Coach April. Addison is a dancer for Kehl School of Dance and has been dancing since she was 3 years old! Her favorite style of dance is contemporary. She is currently attending Verona Area High School. Having fun with the kiddos and helping them grow has been the highlight of Addison’s time at Capital!
In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and hanging out with her friends! The best piece of advice that she has been given is to:
“Do it for yourself!”
Hometown: Reedsburg, WI
Current town: Madison, WI
Coach Elizabeth joined Capital in February 2025. Before her time here at Capital, Elizabeth has taught recreational gymnastics for kiddos ages 2-14. She also spent two summers teaching STEM programs to 6th-12th graders. Elizabeth was an Xcel gymnast as a child, then competed in varsity gymnastics and varsity tennis in high school! She is currently taking online classes through UW-Milwaukee toward her degree in civil engineering. Being able to share her love for gymnastics with the kiddos is one of Elizabeth’s favorite things about coaching at Capital!
In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis and hanging out with her friends and family! The best advice Elizabeth has received is:
“Focus on yourself and do what you love. The rest will fall into place!”
Coach Allison (Coach Ally) is from the Milwaukee area but also lived in Houston for 10 years. She trained as a gymnast for over 10 years and was a competitive gymnast in that time. In her free time, Coach Ally loves to travel and spend time with her two cats. Coach Ally joined Capital Gymnastics in December 2024 and is an excellent asset to our team coaching staff!
Coach Ally is currently coaching our newest team members in our Rising Stars group and our Compulsory gymnasts in DP Level 2.
Coming Soon!
Hometown: Mount Horeb
Current town: Milwaukee & Mount Horeb
Coach Ava joined Capital in October of 2023! Ava participated in club gymnastics from the age of 9-15, then joined her high school gymnastics team from the age of 15-17. She also participated in high school track, focusing on pole vault! Currently, Ava attends the UW-Milwaukee, working towards her Graphic Design/Marketing degree. What she loves most about working at Capital is building relationships with the kiddos and seeing their skill progression!
In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her friends, and doing crafts such as coloring and making jewelry. The best piece of advice Ava has received is:
“The most important thing is to be helpful and kind.”
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, WI
Current: Verona, WI
Coach Aubrey moved to Madison from the Milwaukee area in the summer of 2024. Aubrey was a gymnast at Lafleur’s Gymnastics until an injury ended her competitive career in her sophomore year of high school. She also has valuable coaching experience, having coached Xcel and DP Levels 2-4, and brings her unique skills to teaching gymnasts with special needs. In addition to coaching gymnastics, Aubrey has a background in the medical field and worked for 2 years at a clinic for kids with autism as a behavioral technician.
Here at Capital, Coach Aubrey coaches all of our current Xcel levels, and DP Level 4/6, and is one of our gym managers. One of her favorite things about coaching is being a role model for young gymnasts and building confidence and trust with each gymnast she works with.
In addition to coaching gymnastics, Aubrey enjoys hiking, traveling to visit family and friends, and spending time with her husband and Bernedoodle, JJ!
Hometown/Current town: Fitchburg
Coach Emma joined Capital in June of 2024. Previously, Emma taught dance for 3 years to kids of all different ages. Emma’s athletic background includes Irish dancing for 12 years, gymnastics for 3 years, and soccer for 1 year. Emma’s favorite thing about working at Capital is working with each gymnast and watching them succeed in their skill progressions.
In her free time, Emma enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. The best piece of advice Emma was given is:
“Mistakes are a learning experience, making them is how you improve.”
Hometown: Brasov, Romania
Current: Fitchburg
Coach Maria has been coaching at Capital since August 2024. Maria was a gymnast for several years as a child, and also participated in dance and yoga. Maria has an extensive history of teaching, including 3 years of coaching gymnastics, currently a yoga instructor for kids, adults, and seniors, teaching high school PE, and teaching early childhood education since 2017. Coach Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a master’s degree in Fitness and Body Esthetics. Maria’s favorite part about her job at Capital is the family spirit and mutual encouragement between the coaches and students.
In her free time, she loves yoga, hiking, painting, drawing, cooking, and dancing! The best piece of advice she has been given is:
“If you don’t have it, it means you didn’t want it enough.”
Hometown: Madison
Current town: Verona
Coach Kailyn joined Capital in May of 2024. Kailyn has prior teaching experience, tutoring kiddos and babysitting! As a child, Kailyn did gymnastics for 7 years. She also is on the tennis and track team for Verona Area High School.
Her favorite thing about working at Capital is the community and friendly staff that she gets to play a role in! In her free time, she enjoys being with friends and family, cooking, and baking.
Hometown/Current: Oregon, WI
Coach Willa joined Capital in June of 2024. Willa’s athletic background includes 3 years of cheerleading, and she also attends our tumbling class, “Pop Stars,” here at Capital! Willa’s favorite thing about working at Capital is seeing the kiddos reach and exceed their goals and how proud they are of themselves!
In her free time, Willa enjoys tumbling and working out! The best piece of advice she has ever received is:
“The difficult tasks are the ones worth doing.”
Coach Adelynn (Addy)
Recreational and Preschool Instructor
Hometown: Blue Mounds, WI
Current: Verona
Coach Addy joined Capital Gymnastics in August 2024. Addy participated in gymnastics here at Capital throughout her childhood! She has also participated in other sports, including dance, club volleyball, and high school volleyball. Addy’s favorite part about working at Capital Gymnastics is seeing all the kids having fun in class!
In her free time, Addy enjoys spending time with her friends. The best piece of advice Addy has received is always to be kind.
Home Town: Minneapolis, MN
Current Town: Brooklyn, WI
Coach Sarah grew up in Minnesota, where she competed through Level 10 at Twin City Twisters. She also competed at the collegiate level, helping the UW-Whitewater team to claim two National Championship titles! She has had 7 years of prior coaching experience before coming to coach at Capital, and we are so thrilled she has chosen to continue her journey here! Sarah coaches the DP Program levels 3 and 4. She began coaching at age 15 at the rec level in MN. During college, she coached four years with Whitewater gymnastics camps, choreography clinics and high performance camps, levels 1-10.
When Sarah isn’t coaching, she is an environmental scientist, and she spends a lot of time outside both personally and professionally. Sarah loves camping and spending time with her two dogs. Sarah and her husband, Michael, recently welcomed their new baby boy in July 2025!
Hometown/Current: Verona
Coach Ianna has been coaching at Capital since April of 2023. Ianna was a gymnast when she was younger and is currently a dancer! Ianna has a passion for teaching kiddos and loves working and building relationships with her gymnasts. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and dancing.
The best piece of advice that Ianna has been given is never to lose hope!
Hometown/Current: Mount Horeb
Coach Owen joined Capital in May of 2024. Owen’s background in coaching includes 2 years of volunteering as an assistant martial arts instructor. As an athlete, Owen has completed 13 years of martial arts and taken some dance classes. He attended school at Lawrence University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts. Owen’s favorite part about working at Capital is running around with the Ninja kiddos and helping them improve!
The best piece of advice that Owen has been given is:
“If something is daunting and you’re getting it into your head about it, then you owe it to yourself to try.”
Hometown/Current town: Verona
Coach Lili has been coaching at Capital since 2023. Lili has been doing gymnastics since she was three and started competing at 9. She joined Capital as a gymnast in 2018 and is currently in the high school gymnastics program at the Verona Area High School. Lili’s favorite part of being at Capital is working with kiddos of all ages! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends.
The best piece of advice that Lili has been given is
“To see mistakes as lessons, each challenge teaches you something new!”
Hometown: Deforest
Current: Stoughton
Anne joined Capital Gymnastics in February 2023. Anne brings several years of office experience to us. She has also worked many years at the YMCA, doing everything from working in the Child Watch room to running the Family Engagement Programs and helping with special events. Anne enjoys working with children of all ages and says she enjoys being a part of the Capital Gymnastics family and seeing everyone’s smiling face when they come to class.
In her free time, Anne enjoys reading and working with plants. She also likes to travel, and her favorite place is Greece! She hopes to have a large garden one day and maybe even her own flower farm.
Coming Soon!
Hometown: Verona, WI
Current: Verona, WI
Will joined Capital in the summer of 2021. Will took gymnastics lessons when he was younger and also plays basketball, bowling, and baseball. Will takes great care of the gym and takes a lot of pride in his work, all while having a big smile on his face and ALWAYS has a positive attitude! His favorite part of his workday is the end of his shift when he jumps on the trampoline. Will also loves waterparks, dancing, karaoke, and singing.
If you’re looking for Will, you can find him at his favorite store, Menards, or at his favorite restaurant, McDonald’s. His special talents include memorizing things very easily, and he’s also great at geography.
Steve’s Bio is coming soon!
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Current: DeForest, WI
Coach Ania joined Capital Gymnastics in December 2022 and coaches the Bronze and Silver teams. She played a key role in leading the Bronze team to a 1st-place state championship in 2023 and a 5th-place finish in 2024, and coached several Silver regional champions that same year. She is passionate about helping gymnasts grow into their best selves by focusing on strong technique, safety, and most importantly, making gymnastics fun! With her energetic personality, she keeps practicing engaging with games and activities that help her stay motivated and excited to learn.
Originally from Arizona, Coach Ania moved to WI in 2022 after earning a Nutritional Sciences degree from the University of Arizona. She has a diverse athletic background, including gymnastics, swimming, dance, cheerleading, and track and field. She was a competitive DP gymnast from ages 5-13, going up to level 6. In high school, she competed in level 4 All-Star Cheerleading and track and field, specializing in the 400m, long jump, pole vault, and high jump. In college, she was a pole vaulter for the University of Arizona and later coached high school athletes in pole vault, long jump, and triple jump.
Coach Ania graduated in August 2025 and is starting her nursing career at UW East Hospital! She plans to continue coaching while working as a nurse.
Outside of the gym, she enjoys traveling, painting, working out, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
Office Manager
Hometown: Lancaster
Current: Madison
Emily joined Capital Gymnastics in January 2023. She came to us with 15 years of office experience, most of those years in Dallas, Texas, where she lived for 10 years. She also has 25 years of experience working with children in some capacity, including teaching English in Japan during college! Emily loves having both an office atmosphere and the opportunity to interact with and build relationships with the gymnasts and their families. “Seeing the gymnasts so excited for class is the absolute favorite part of my day!” Emily also enjoys all sports and was fortunate enough to be a part of many teams, but swimming was her primary sport for 15 years. Emily enjoys traveling, cooking, interior decorating, and spending time with friends and family, especially her husband and 3-year-old daughter, Penelope. Emily’s role model is her mother, who taught for 37 years and raised 3 kids. She also lives with Emily’s family part-time to care for “Poppy”.
“My mother’s selflessness is simply inspirational!”
Coming Soon!
Hometown: Oregon, WI
Current town: Oregon, WI
Coach Anna joined Capital in October of 2022. Anna was a gymnast for 7 years, and was also involved in other sports, including basketball, tennis, and running track in high school. Here at Capital, Anna loves helping the kiddos build their confidence and strength in the same sport that she grew up loving. Other than coaching gymnastics, she has also coached track for 3 years.
Currently, Anna is attending MATC for Radiography. In her free time, she enjoys lifting weights, running, and spending time with her family.
The best advice Anna has received is that you can do anything you can put your mind to!
Coach Anna is so grateful to be coaching at a gym with such positive gymnasts, staff, and families.
Hometown: Oregon, WI
Current: Oregon, WI
Sam joined Capital in August of 2021 and is currently a Sophomore at Eau Claire. Sam has a background in gymnastics and was a competitive and sideline cheerleader in high school and college. Sam also participated in our recreational tumbling class, which is where Coach April asked her if she would like to become a coach at Capital!
In her free time, Sam likes to bake, spend time with friends and family, and travel. She loves traveling so much that super speed would be her super power so she can get to places quickly and see more sights. Olivia, her sister, is her hero because she’s always been there for her, and Sam has always looked up to her.
Glitter and Gold Competition Manager
Hometown: Muscoda, WI
Current: Wauwatosa, WI
Kelsea started with Capital in January of 2019. She was a competitive cheerleader for 6 years, competing on both a high school squad and an All-Star squad. Kelsea grew up in Wisconsin, but her husband’s career in the US Army continues to move their family all over the U.S! She enjoys camping, watching Brewers baseball, and spending time with family and friends! In her spare time, Kelsea loves to craft, garden & has recently learned to play golf. Kelsea has an Associate’s Degree in Mechanical Design Technology and has a “day job” as a Lead Mechanical Designer. The song that best describes her is Fight Song by Rachel Platten. If she had to choose a superpower, it would be the ability to change the weather.
Hometown Dodgeville, WI
Current Residence Verona, WI
Amanda has been coaching gymnastics since 2008 and began coaching at Capital Gymnastics in April 2018. She grew up in Wisconsin, where her love of gymnastics started at age 5. She took gymnastics classes when she was young and later competed as a varsity gymnast for 3 years on her high school team. After graduating from high school, Coach Amanda moved to Long Island, NY, went to college, and began coaching gymnastics. She coached kids ages 3-16 in a variety of programs, including preschool, recreational, cheer, tumbling, and advanced classes. She coached for 7 years in NY before moving back to Wisconsin with her family. In addition to coaching preschool, rec, and team programs, she works closely with the coaching staff to ensure everyone is following the outlined lesson plans so the students will successfully progress at their levels. Amanda says she coaches gymnastics because she loves seeing the progress and the excitement of the kids when they accomplish skills they have been practicing. Coach Amanda lives in Verona with her husband and three children. Some of her hobbies include baking, painting, taking pictures, and singing. She met her husband doing musicals and plays in high school. She says if she could have a superpower, it would be flying!
Hometown: Madison, WI
Current: Oregon, WI
Drew joined Capital in early 2022. She started her team gymnastics career at Capital at age 7 and went through level 9 of the DP program. Currently, Drew attends the University of Dubuque and is majoring in Physical Education, and also plays collegiate golf. She loves being at Capital, teaching young kids what gymnastics is all about. She also loves to paint and uses her talent to make some extra money by selling her artwork. Her favorite animal is a cow, but you will find one dog and seven fish in her home. You can also find Drew eating her favorite food, pasta, at her favorite restaurant, Noodles.
Hometown: Madison
Current: Madison
Coach David started working at Capital Gymnastics in January of 2021. He has taught parent-tot classes (Tiny Stars), preschool, rec and tumbling classes, and pre-team (Rising Stars). Before coming to Capital, Coach David had 10 years of coaching experience. In his younger years, David competed for Madtown Twisters from the age of 9-18 and then went on to compete collegiately for ASU, competing on floor, vault, and parallel bars. David’s favorite part about working for Capital is the good leadership and positive environment! In his free time, he enjoys hiking. His goal as a coach is to give gymnasts an experience they remember and make them want to continue the sport, regardless of where it takes them.
Hometown: Baraboo
Current: Verona
Coach Holly joined Capital gymnastics in 2019. She is the Xcel team director, and she teaches preschool, recreational, and developmental classes, and also leads special events. She helps with program and lesson plan development.
Coach Holly teaches because she loves working with gymnasts, helping them grow and overcome hurdles to become more confident and accomplish new goals and skills. Coach Holly loves working with gymnasts of all levels and abilities. She loves to help the children grow as individuals and use the skills they learned in the gym for the rest of their lives.
Holly was a gymnast for 13 years and competed for 7 years, she was a dancer for 17 years, with her main focus on lyrical, tap, and acro. She started coaching gymnastics and teaching dance in 2012. She taught dance from 2012 through 2017 in Baraboo and Eau Claire. She began teaching gymnastics in 2012 in Baraboo and the Wisconsin Dells. Coach Holly helped open and start the Xcel team in the Wisconsin Dells where she trained a state and regional champion.
Coach Holly loves sharing her passion with her husband and coaching and developing teams together. You may see Coach Holly in the gym with their daughter Isabelle who was born June 2022! In her free time, Holly likes hanging out with her dog Elli and her Parrots, Tico and Pedro.
Hometown: Baraboo
Current: Verona
Coach Tyler joined Capital Gymnastics in 2020. He coaches team, preschool and rec classes, and special events. Tyler likes to make sure kids have a fun experience while learning and perfecting their skills. He likes the sense of community in the gym, and he says it is super rewarding to see the kids accomplish their goals.
Tyler competed in track and field in high school, where he was a sprinter and thrower in shot and disc. Tyler was a zipline guide for 7 years at the Wilderness Hotel and Golf resort in the Wisconsin Dells. He attended UW Eau Claire after high school.
Coach Tyler feels lucky to be able to share his wife’s passion for gymnastics and coach alongside her. You may also see Coach Tyler in the gym with their daughter Isabelle who was born June 20, 2022!
Tyler enjoys taking his dog, Elli, to the dog park and his favorite place to visit is Disney World.
Hometown/Current town: Madison
Staff Manager, Recreational and Preschool Instructor
Coach Natilie joined Capital in 2018! In her childhood, Natilie participated in gymnastics for 10 years and has 6 years of coaching experience. Currently, she attends UW-Madison and is majoring in Health Sciences. Her favorite part about working at Capital is the staff environment, building strong relationships, and the chance to grow as a worker and take on new opportunities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and cooking. The best advice she has ever received is to be yourself!
Hometown: Oregon
Current: Oregon
Laken joined Capital Gymnastics in 2020. She teaches preschool and recreational classes. Laken enjoys getting to know her students and helping them build their confidence!
Laken began taking gymnastics at the original Capital Gymnastics 10 years ago in April’s Oregon location. She competed in level 3 and also competed in Xcel. Laken began playing La Crosse 5 years ago. Laken is a senior at Oregon High School. She enjoys hanging with friends, swimming, spending time in the sun, and traveling to the beaches in Florida.
Hometown: Oregon, WI
Current town: Oregon, WI
Coach Megan joined Capital in August of 2020. Megan began gymnastics at the age of 6 and competed through DP level 9. Besides coaching at Capital for over 4 years, Megan has also coached for 2 years in Florida while at college. Currently, Coach Megan is in college working towards her Human Performance degree and is set to graduate in May of 2026.
Megan’s favorite thing about working at Capital is seeing the kids excited about getting new skills! In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, going to the gym, and spending time outside in the summer.
April, Founder, CEO
Hometown: Florence, KY and Conneaut, OH
Cities lived in between: Denver, CO (1 year), Los Angeles, CA (5 years), Phoenix, AZ (5 years)
Current: Madison, WI
April is a passionate entrepreneur and business owner. She has owned five businesses and has a lifelong resume that includes gymnastics, dance, cheer, performing, teaching, and coaching. April loves inspiring people to learn, grow, set goals, step out of their comfort zones, and challenge themselves to continually improve. She holds herself to a high standard, as well as her staff and students, and hopes to continue inspiring those around her.
April’s experiences have spanned from Ohio to Kentucky to Colorado, California, Arizona, and Wisconsin. She has coached under Olympic coaches, taught gymnastics, tumbling, cheerleading, and acrobatics in gymnastics gyms and dance studios, and has run her own programs for the last 19 years. April was a competitive gymnast until the age of 13, a cheerleader throughout middle and high school, and she performed as a dancer and acrobat with the Northern Kentucky University Dance Troupe throughout college. She worked as an acrobat in a circus in Los Angeles, danced and sang in musicals in Cincinnati and Denver, and worked in music videos and commercials in Los Angeles and Phoenix. April ran a mobile gymnastics school in Phoenix, offering after-school gymnastics programs at local schools and community centers, and she served as the head tumbling coach for multiple high school cheerleading squads. In Wisconsin, April owned Capital Gymnastics Academy for 8 years until her husband’s job required a move back to Arizona. After one year in Arizona (April’s second time living there), April and her husband moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family. Initially, opening a gym was not a priority for April, but after a few years of renting space from various businesses to continue to train gymnasts and dancers, her passion led her back to opening Capital Gymnastics in Verona.
April has coached and trained recreational and competitive gymnasts, dancers, cheerleaders, martial artists, performers, acrobats, and a grandpa who “wanted to do cartwheels with his granddaughter”. She has coached numerous state champions, and many of her gymnasts have gone on to become successful collegiate athletes. Her passion is deep, and she is grateful to continue leading and inspiring others. April feels blessed to have had experiences that have given her numerous amazing opportunities to travel, perform, compete, dance, teach, and help others pursue their dreams.
April holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a minor in Dance from Northern Kentucky University. She leads her staff with an emphasis on safety training, ongoing education, and skill development. April actively maintains her expertise through USA Gymnastics courses and certifications.
April lives in Madison with her husband, Steve, her daughter, Gabby, and their two German Shepherds, Ruby and Hazel. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, working out, walking her dogs, hiking, cooking, baking healthy meals and treats, and cheering on the Brewers, Packers, and Badgers.