GYMNASTIC WORLD TEAM COACHES
Chris Brooks
Owner Gymnastic World Fort Myers
Owner of Gymnastic World for over 40 Years and I love what I do!
Katie Jerabek
Head Team Coach
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Katie started gymnastics at the age of 3. She was a Class 1 Gymnast for 7 years competing in State, Regional and National Events. She took a short break from gymnastics to travel with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. She performed an an aerialist, dancer and elephant trick rider. Katie is a Nationally rated gymnastics Judge as well as a level 10 and elite coach. She has coached many athletes who have received Division 1 College Gymnastics Scholarships. Katie is Married with two girls who are on Team at Gymnastic World Ft Myers. Her goals are not just to create great gymnasts but, to help young girls grow into strong, confident and empowered young ladies.
Victoria Fitzko
Coach
Coach Victoria was born in New York and raised in Fort Myers, Fl. Victoria was a level 10 gymnast here at Gymnastic World Fort Myers! Her favorite event is Beam. Victoria competed at the 2012 Jr Olympic Level 9 Eastern Championship. She began coaching with us at Gymnastic World in 2015. When Victoria isn't at the Gym she loves to be at the beach, out on the boat and being outdoors.
Kim Ackley
Coach
Kim was born and raised in Fort Myers, FL. She was a Class II gymnast here at Gymnastic World, competing in many state and regional competitions.
When not working, Kim enjoys traveling with her family, camping and exploring the great outdoors. An avid hiker, climbing Machu Picchu Mountain is her next goal. Some of her most memorable adventures were hiking in the dark to see the lava flow of the Pu’u O’o eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, hiking Angels Landing in Zion National Park, and hiking Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
Diana Donohue
Coach
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Coach Diana was born in New York and was a level eight competitive gymnast. She moved to Fort Myers Florida and began coaching at Gymnastic World in the summer of 2008. Coach Diana completed her masters degree and is also a speech language pathologist in an elementary school. When she is not working, Coach Diana enjoys working out, spending time with her family, and being outdoors.
Jodi Graber
Coach
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Coach Jodi was born in Washington, IN and moved to Florida 18 years ago. She has been coaching gymnastics for 36 years. Her daughter Lexi attended the University of Alabama where she earned an athletic scholarship in gymnastics and competed for the Tide for 5 years. Jodi has worked the Alabama Gymnastics Camp for the past 13 years.
Jeff Thompson
Coach
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Jeff retired to Fort Myers to be closer to family; but, wanted to remain involved in gymnastics.
Since a YMCA job at age 15, Jeff has been teaching young girls how to work hard and have fun while learning to be successful. A thirty-plus-year career as a NCAA coach saw him become one of only four head coaches to ever lead two different teams to the NCAA Championships. During that time, Jeff was also elected by his peers to serve as the Vice-President of the NCAA Women’s
Gymnastics Coaches Association. In recognition of his performance, he was twice named SEC Coach of the Year and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year. His gymnasts’ achievements include over 70 NCAA Academic All-Americans, 80 Conference Academic Honor Roll honorees, 4 conference Gymnasts of the Year, 4 conference Freshmen of the Year, 3 conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, 11 NCAA Gymnastics All-Americans and 2 NCAA Woman of the Year nominees. He earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education, as well as a master’s degree in Biomechanics from the University of Kentucky. The Kentucky native has been married for over 30 years and he and his wife, Rachelle, have two adult sons – Parker and Griffin. Parker lives and works in Fort Myers while Griffin is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army currently stationed in Germany with his wife, Courtney. In their free time, the Thompsons love to ride their bikes and go to the beach.
Chesney Adair
Coach
Coach Chesney was born in California and moved down to Florida before the age of 5. She has been coaching for 4 years and enjoys working with the girls to get new skills. This is her first year as a team coach and she strives to bring confidence and dedication to our Xcel Silver gymnasts. She is currently a third year student at FGCU in plans of becoming a Sports Psychologist.
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Cathie Lowell
Coach
Cathie comes from NH, where she owned a gymnastics club after selling her Human Capital Solutions business and working professionally as a management consultant. She has over 25 years of coaching experience, starting part-time and eventually growing her own 15,000 sq. ft. club to include a JO, Excel, and Developmental team of over 120 athletes, winning hundreds of team and individual state championship titles, as well as regional and national titles, including a year of winning every level of JO and Excel state team titles. Many of her gymnasts went on to NCAA college gymnastics. She was named coach of the year in 2011 and Club of the year in 2014. She has coached developmental through level 10 and was a USAG Judge for many years. Cathie has worked at Gymnastic World at various times since 2015, introducing the Stars, Excel, and the developmental programs, and revamping the office systems and processes. She has a BS in Business and a Masters in Organizational Development. She spends her summers in NH with her husband Drennan, four children, and soon-to-be four grandchildren, and plays league tennis as her pastime. She is currently a FL realtor and spends time in volunteer organizations, including Guardian At Litem. Cathie has returned to coaching because she has a true passion for the girls and the sport of gymnastics.
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Tori
Coach
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