Coaches and Staff | New Hope Gymnastics

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New Hope Academy of Gymnastics has an experienced staff with an unparalleled dedication to the sport. Biographies of our staff members are provided below. Clicking on the instructor's name will display the classes taught by that particular coach.

	Bee Thoma Girls Team Head Coach, Founder/Director Bill "Bee" Thoma was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, a small town with an extraordinary gymnastics tradition. One of their highest achievements was the number of college scholarships given to their student athletes. Bee received a gymnastics scholarship to Georgia Southern University and graduated with a BS in Education, majoring in Physical Education. After college he went to work with Athletes in Action, an athletic ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. In 1984 Bee founded New Hope Academy of Gymnastics from the roots of AIA. Bee has been coaching state, regional, and national champion gymnasts for 25 years. Bee Thoma can be reached at bee.
	Guonian Wu Boys Team Head Coach Coach Guonian started his gymnastics training in 1971. From 1979 to 1983 he competed as a member of the Chinese National Team. He has won numerous titles on floor, pommel horse, and vault at national and international competitions. Coach Guonian originated one of the most difficult skills on the pommel horse, a skill named the "Wu Guonian" by the Federation of International Gymnastics, which possesses a difficulty level of "E." The "Wu Guonian" on floor exercise was also originated by Coach Guonian, first performed in international competition in 2006 by prodigy student and Elite gymnast Bryan del Castillo (now on the Senior National Team). Coach Guonian has a B.S. Degree from Sports University of Beijing, China. He spent 14 years coaching the Beijing Gymnastics Team, where he trained 7 national champions. His seven years of coaching experience in the U.S. includes training 11 Junior National Champions and 5 U.S. Champions. Two of his students have been U.S. National Team members. Since 2002, Guonian has been a member of the U.S. Junior National Team coaching staff. As head coach of the 2004 U.S. Junior Men's Gymnastics Team, the team won the title at the Pan American Games in El Salvador. In addition to coaching, Guonian Wu has been a Federation of International Gymnastics judging brevet for 12 years. Guonian Wu can be reached at g.wu.
	Scott Picquelle Boys Compulsory Team Coach Scott Picquelle was a 3-time All-American gymnast. While at Long Beach City College, he was a 2-time California State Champion and a 2-time NJCAA Champion. After moving on to Cal State Fullerton, he became a 2-time Pacific Coast Division Champion and an NCAA Division I National Champion. Having produced 32 All-Star Team members, Scott was named a So Cal All-Star Team coach 9 times. Scott has trained 17 Regional Champions and has won over 75 Team competitions, while producing numerous champions at the Conference and State levels. Scott Picquelle can be reached at scott.
	Russell Gleason Boys Developmental/Compulsory Team Coach New Hope's very own Russell Gleason possesses degrees in both Mathematics and Physics from California State University, Fullerton, and plans to pursue Masters Degrees. He aspires to be the "smartest" coach out there on the floor. Russell coaches our Developmental Boys Teams, our Level 4 Compulsory Boys Team, and Tumbling classes (beginning through advanced). He competed for three years at New Hope and won Gold medals at the State and Regional Championships. He is currently training so that he can audition for Cirque du Soleil. Russell Gleason can be reached at russell.
	Karissa Thoma Girls Compulsury/Optionals Team Coach Karissa Thoma was a Level 9 gymnast on the New Hope Girls Team. Karissa has performed as a dancer/actress in many movie, stage and television productions. No longer able to compete, Karissa brings her incredible dance skills and "coaching eye" to coach both our Compulsory and Optional GIrls Teams. Karissa Thoma can be reached at karissa.
	Jenifer Dodson Girls Developmental/Compulsory Team Coach Jenifer is a former varsity gymnast from Lakewood High School, and has been coaching gymnastics for seven years. She coached high school gymnastics for four years while also coaching at New Hope. Jenifer currently coaches our Level 4, 5 and 6 Girls Team. "I try to push my kids and challenge them to do more than they think they can do. I don't allow them to give up or say I can't because I believe they can be successful." Jenifer possesses her degree in Kinesiotherapy from California State University, Long Beach. Jenifer is Safety Certified. Jenifer Dodson can be reached at jen.
	Lauren Avila PreSchool Instructor Lauren Avila's bio is not available at this time.
	Erin Butkivich Academy Instructor Erin Butkivich's bio is not available at this time. Erin Butkivich can be reached at erin.
	Sara Carlson Academy Instructor/Girls Team Coach Sara Carlson's bio is not available at this time.
	Chancey Gaspar Academy Instructor Chancey Gaspar's bio is not available at this time.
	Sammy Muth Tumbling/Cheer Instructor Sammy has been involved in the field of cheerleading for 14 years. His vast experience includes 3 years of high school cheer, where his team was both State and National champion. He also participated in college cheerleading for 3 years. Sammy presently coaches in our Tumbling and Cheer programs at New Hope, while working as a massage therapist for a chiropractor. A certified massage therapist from Bryman College, he is also studying to become a physical therapist. Sammy is CPR and First Aid certified. He teaches cheer and gymnastics camps in the summertime, and has also been a tumbling coach at UC Irvine for the past 4 years. Sammy Muth can be reached at sammy.
	Dannielle Scholz Preschool Dannielle (or Danni, as she is called at the gym) Scholz has an extensive background in dance. Danni started her career in dance and gymnastics at the tender young age of 7, which eventually led to regular weekly appearances in television dance shows over a three-year period, during her early twenties. At age 13, Danni began her career as a dance teacher, continuing into college where she studied nursing and dance. In addition to teaching gymnastics and dance to our Academy students, Dannielle also works with our Girls Teams. She is now married, with a daughter who participates at New Hope Gymnastics.
	Claire Rohm Academy Instructor Claire Rohm is an alumnus of our Optional Girls Team who is now lending her knowledge in the sport to those "up-and-coming" in our Academy program.
	Rachel Squier Academy Instructor Rachel Squier is currently a Level 10 on our Girls Optional Team. We are happy to have Rachel share her talents in our Academy program at New Hope! Rachel Squier can be reached at rachel.
	Anthony "TJ" Stuart Academy Instructor Anthony "TJ" Stuart's bio is not available at this time.
	Michael Svabek Boys Team Compulsory Coach Michael Svabek's bio is not available at this time.
	Michele Tasiemski Academy/Gym Team Instructor Michele Tasiemski's bio is not available at this time. Michele Tasiemski can be reached at michele.
	Justin Taylor Developmental Boys Team/Academy Instructor Justin Taylor's bio is not available at this time.
	Rachel Tickenoff Academy Instructor Rachel Tickenoff's bio is not available at this time.
	Emily Wang Academy Instructor Emily is currently attending Cal State Long Beach, and majoring in Pre-Nursing. She became inspired to do gymnastics after watching Carly Patterson win all-around Gold in the 2004 Olympics. She trained at New Hope Gymnastics for 6 years, but recently stopped upon her entry into college. She says, "I think teaching kids is an amazing job, and I hope to inspire passion in the students I coach." Emily Wang can be reached at emily.
	Cassandra Young Academy/PreSchool Instructor Cassandra Young's bio is not available at this time.
	Sue Carlson Office Manager / Webmaster/Acad and Presch Co-Director Sue Carlson came to New Hope after 18 years as a fully-licensed Series 7 securities agent and Certified Financial Planner. Born in San Pedro, California, Sue graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with two Bachelor Degrees—Kinesiology (the biomechanics and physiology of human movement) and Economics. After working two years in the fledgling UCLA Athletic Marketing office, she ran the accounting and operations for a proprietary/custom software company here in Fountain Valley. She has served her community as PTA volunteer, Girl Scout Leader and as a volunteer in her children’s many activities. Now, as New Hope Office Manager and “Gym Mom,” Sue is responsible for Academy Administration, team meets and travel, accounting, website maintenance and, well, just about everything else in between. Her true assets here at New Hope are her compulsively organized personality, a mathematical mind…and a love of children. Workaholic, domestic diva, camping expert, sports enthusiast and over-zealous pet owner—Sue’s real passions are God and family…most of all, her high-school sweetheart husband, Chris, and her two wonderful children, Sara and Paul. Sue Carlson can be reached at scarlson.
	Terrilynne Haden Asst Webmaster; Admin Assistant Terrilynne Haden is a professional photographer, and the proud mother of Level 5 gymnast Jenna Haden. You may view some of Terrilynne's work on her website, Terrilynne Haden Photography, at www.terrilynnehaden.com. In addition to her duties coordinating our website Photo Gallery, New Hope is happy to have Terrilynne volunteer in the capacity of entering meet scores for our Girls, as well as functioning as an administrator of New Hope's Facebook page. Terrilynne Haden can be reached at terrilynne.