Staff

Meet Avery

Hi! My name is Avery Carroll, and I am currently a student at Fairfield High School. Cincinnati Gymnastics has been a big part of my life—I have been a gymnast at CGA for around nine years, and I love having the opportunity to teach kids the same skills and lessons I have learned along the way.

I have been a competitive gymnast at CGA for the past five years and have also been teaching Pre-School and Classroom gymnastics for around three years.

As an instructor, I want every child to leave my class feeling encouraged to work hard and proud of what they have accomplished. I love helping kids build their skills while also developing confidence in themselves.

A few fun facts about me: I love all things arts and crafts, and I have two dogs! When I’m away from the gym, I enjoy spending time outdoors and hanging out with my friends and family.

I love being able to share my gymnastics experience with CGA students and help them learn new skills, work hard, and feel proud of everything they accomplish!

Meet Sarah

Hi, my name is Sarah Day! Gymnastics has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in the gym, which sparked my lifelong love for the sport. I’ve also always had a passion for working with children. One of my favorite things is watching kids learn new skills, gain confidence, and have fun in the gym.

My parents owned a gym where I did gymnastics for 16 years, and I was a competitive cheerleader for 18 years. I have now been coaching for 21 years and have enjoyed working with children of all ages.

I want every child who leaves my class to feel loved, supported, and, most importantly, that they had fun!

A few fun facts about me: I love Starbucks, chocolate chip cookies, fall weather, bonfires, and being outside. My favorite Disney movie is Cinderella.

When I’m away from the gym, I love spending time with my husband, my daughter Annie, our dog Chicken, and our loved ones. We enjoy going to the zoo, Kings Island, seeing the 75, and playing Mario Cart together!

Meet Macy

Hi! My name is Macy, and working with children is one of my favorite parts of my day. I love seeing their happy smiles, and I’m excited to share my love of gymnastics with your child!

I am currently in my third year of Diamond and my ninth year on Team. I’m also in my third year of teaching classes, which has given me the opportunity to share my gymnastics experience with younger athletes.

My goal is for every child to leave my class feeling like they had fun and were given an equal opportunity to learn and grow.

A few fun facts about me: I love doing my own nails, watching horror movies, and I have a cat and a dog. I’m the oldest of three siblings, and I’m currently a senior in high school. My favorite gymnastics event is floor, although bars is my strongest event, and my favorite skill is a double back on bars.

When I’m away from the gym, I enjoy learning at school. My favorite animal is a flamingo, and some of my favorites include Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and anything with potatoes!

I love being part of Cincinnati Gymnastics and helping kids learn, grow, and have fun!

Meet Luciana

Hi, my name is Luciana Diaz Zarpa. I cheered for six years, competed in gymnastics for one year, and did ballet for four years. I also earned swim honors.

What I enjoy most about coaching team gymnastics is getting to know the kids and helping them grow and learn what they are capable of doing.

One lesson I hope every gymnast learns is to always try again and give their best effort. Even when something is difficult, it is important to keep going and not give up.

My coaching philosophy is to be someone my athletes can trust and rely on. I want them to feel comfortable talking to me when they are struggling or need encouragement.

Outside of the gym, a fun fact about me is that I have a bunny!

Meet Leah

Hi! My name is Leah Simpson, and I’m currently a junior in high school and a member of the Varsity Cheer Team.

Gymnastics has been a big part of my life. I was a gymnast for 11 years and also spent two years as an All-Star cheerleader. I enjoy being able to use my experience to teach children new skills and help them have fun while learning.

As an instructor, I want every child to leave my class feeling like they learned something new and had fun doing it! Creating a positive and encouraging environment where kids can enjoy learning is very important to me.

A fun fact about me is that I have a little brother! When I’m away from the gym, some of my favorite things to do are relax by the pool and go out for ice cream.

I love sharing my gymnastics experience with CGA students and helping them learn new skills, build confidence, and have fun!

Meet Sarah

Hi, my name is Sarah Day! Gymnastics has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up in the gym, which sparked my lifelong love for the sport. I’ve also always had a passion for working with children. One of my favorite things is watching kids learn new skills, gain confidence, and have fun in the gym.

My parents owned a gym where I did gymnastics for 16 years, and I was a competitive cheerleader for 18 years. I have now been coaching for 21 years and have enjoyed working with children of all ages.

I want every child who leaves my class to feel loved, supported, and, most importantly, that they had fun!

A few fun facts about me: I love Starbucks, chocolate chip cookies, fall weather, bonfires, and being outside. My favorite Disney movie is Cinderella.

When I’m away from the gym, I love spending time with my husband, my daughter Annie, our dog Chicken, and our loved ones. We enjoy going to the zoo, Kings Island, seeing the 75, and playing Mario Cart together!

Meet Rachael

Hi, my name is Rachael! I’m married and have two daughters, Leah and Lucy, and two Goldendoodles.

I was a gymnast growing up and taught gymnastics classes in high school. I then started coaching team shortly after. Right now, I coach Levels 8, 9, 10, and Elite. I love coaching all events, but bars is my favorite!

I hope to help every gymnast become the best they can be while enjoying the process along the way.

A couple of fun facts about me are that I love baking and doing escape rooms!

When I’m away from the gym, my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family.

Meet Susan

Hi, my name is Susan Holloway! I absolutely love the sport of gymnastics and working with and teaching children. Being in the gym is my happy place! I competed in gymnastics for both club and high school. My husband and I also owned our own gym in Washington. I have coached gymnastics for over 37 years and taught high school health and physical education for 30 years.

I want every child in my class to feel a sense of success as they progress in their skills, while also having fun along the way.

A fun fact about me is that I love M&M’s and scrapbooking! My daughter, Sarah, and her brother, Brad, grew up in the family gymnastics gym. Now Sarah is my boss at CGA!

When I’m away from the gym, I enjoy being outside working in the yard and going camping with my husband, Mark.

Meet Bri

Hi! My name is Bri Forney, and I teach Classroom Levels 2 & 3, RCP, Trampoline & Tumbling, and Aerial Silks at Cincinnati Gymnastics.

I am a former CGA gymnast, and my gymnastics background eventually led me to explore trampoline and tumbling and aerial arts as hobbies throughout college and beyond. I have been teaching recreational gymnastics for 13 years, and I still love being able to share my experience and passion with my students!

My goal is for every child to leave my class feeling confident, happy, and proud of themselves. I love helping students learn new skills, recognize their accomplishments, and build confidence along the way.

Outside of the gym, I enjoy painting, arts and crafts, and visiting my local library. I’m also an animal lover and have a dog named Mango and a cat named Beef Stew!

I love being part of Cincinnati Gymnastics and helping students learn, grow, have fun, and feel proud of what they can accomplish!

Meet Ali!

Hi! My name is Ali, and I am a coach at Cincinnati Gymnastics. I teach Levels 1, 2, and 3, and I also substitute for Levels 3–7.

Gymnastics has been a big part of my life. I was a gymnast for 12 years and have now been coaching for 6 years. During that time, I have worked with gymnasts ages 5–18 and have enjoyed coaching children at all different skill levels.

My goal as a coach is for every child to leave class feeling accomplished and proud of something they did during class. I love helping gymnasts build confidence while learning new skills.

Outside of the gym, I am a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati studying Audiology. I also have a one-year-old Golden Retriever named Cody, who keeps me busy and entertained!

Meet Alex Carson

Gymnastics has been a major part of Alex Carson’s life, both as an athlete and as a coach. As a competitive gymnast, Alex competed as a USAG JO Class I Junior Elite and was a State and Regional Champion.

Alex brings 30 years of coaching experience, working with gymnasts from USAG Level 4 through Elite. Throughout his career, he has coached State, Regional, and National Champions, along with athletes who have competed at the American Classic, U.S. Classic, U.S. Championships, and U.S. Olympic Trials. He has also assisted with Pan American and World medalists, World Champions, and Olympic Alternates.

What Alex enjoys most about coaching is developing talent and empowering young athletes to become confident, high-achieving individuals. He believes the lessons learned through gymnastics can have a lasting impact well beyond an athlete’s time in the gym.

One of the most important lessons Alex wants his athletes to learn is that there are ZERO things impossible in this life. Hard work and intentional, quality repetition beat talent every day. He encourages his athletes to explore what is possible, challenge themselves, and discover what they are truly capable of achieving.

Alex’s coaching philosophy begins by asking: What can you do now? What is your end goal? What is possible for you and your gymnastics? From there, he helps each athlete identify the progressive steps needed to reach their goals and put those pieces together at their own individual pace. For Alex, watching that process unfold is a beautiful thing.

Outside of the gym, Alex treasures spending time with his wife and daughter. He also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving, snow and water skiing, kayaking, cats, and just about every kind of music—except country!

Meet Kara

Hi! I’m Kara, and I have been involved in gymnastics for many years, both as an athlete and a coach. I competed as a Level 10 gymnast for four years and began coaching in 2003. Since then, I have had the opportunity to coach gymnasts of all levels and ages.

One of the things I love most about coaching is watching athletes grow, improve their skills, and learn lessons that go far beyond gymnastics. I believe the sport teaches dedication, perseverance, and the strength to work through tough times—skills that athletes can carry with them throughout their lives.

My coaching philosophy focuses on building confidence through repetition, corrections, encouragement, and hard work. Above all, I want every gymnast I coach to develop the confidence to believe in themselves in everything they do, both inside and outside the gym.

Outside of gymnastics, my family and pets keep me busy! I have three amazing kids, a husband, two exotic cats, a dog, and two lizards.

I love being part of Cincinnati Gymnastics and helping our athletes become strong, confident gymnasts and individuals!

Meet Hailey

Hi, my name is Hailey Metz! I grew up in the gym and competed in gymnastics for 10 years. I have now been coaching for over five years.

What I enjoy most about coaching is watching my gymnasts grow throughout the season. It is so rewarding to see a skill they once struggled with become something they are confident doing.

I hope every gymnast learns that progress is more important than perfection. I want my athletes to trust themselves, keep going when things are difficult, and be proud of how far they have come. These are lessons that carry over into every part of life.

My coaching philosophy is to challenge my athletes while making sure they feel supported and valued. Every gymnast learns differently, so I try to understand what motivates each athlete. I believe in setting high expectations while also celebrating the small improvements along the way.

Outside of the gym, one of my favorite things to do is go to church. I love leading people and worshiping with my loved ones!

Meet Kerrigan!

Hi! My name is Kerrigan Piche, and I am a 15-year-old Level 7 gymnast in 11th grade. I have three sisters and two dogs, and I am homeschooled.

I have been doing gymnastics since I was 2 years old and have competed since I was 8. Gymnastics has been a big part of my life, and I have also enjoyed working with children through three years of babysitting.

When I’m coaching, my biggest goal is for every child to have such a great time that they can’t wait to come back! I love creating a fun and positive environment where kids can enjoy themselves while learning and growing.

When I’m away from the gym, I still love doing gymnastics and spending time with my friends. I also have two dogs and love anything sweet!

I’m excited to be part of the Cincinnati Gymnastics staff and look forward to making gymnastics fun for every child!