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Our Staff | |
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KARI BARNES Kari has been involved in gymnastics since she was 9, which makes her, politely said, “seasoned.” She finished her competitive years in West Virginia, where she continually placed a very distant third behind Mary Lou Retton and her talented sister, both of whom were on Kari’s team. She is a Bethany College (WV) graduate, and worked for several years in the toy industry before having four wonderful sons. She has never gone very long without teaching in the gym, and now enjoys coaching United’s Level 4 team, facilitating Parent-And-Tot classes, and choreographing floor routines. |
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MLADEN STEFANOV Mladen’s impressive gymnastics resume begins when he left home at age 8 to become a student-athlete at the National Sports Academy in his native Bulgaria, and culminates at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where he helped the Bulgarian national team to a 12th place finish. Along the way, he racked up individual medals in many international competitions, including the prestigious European and World Championships. Still, Mladen is just as comfortable teaching seat drops to preschoolers as he is coaching complex technique to our national competitors. Since 2002, boys and girls of all skill levels at our gym have benefitted from his extensive experience and playful instruction, a combination that keeps his students constantly learning… while having great fun. |
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VADIM BINDLER Vadim’s love of this sport is evident in his gentle enthusiasm with our youngest students. As a competitor in Belarus, he won multiple World, European, and Soviet tumbling championships, and was the first person ever to perform a triple back flip on the tumbling floor! He has been passing along this expertise to the award-winning Tumble-And-Tramp Team at United since 1995. Vadim enjoys traveling, and has visited 37 states in the U.S., four Canadian provinces, as well as nations in Europe and the Middle East. His most memorable trip is one he took with the Soviet National Acro Team to Australia and New Zealand, where he got to hold a live koala in his arms. |
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VALENTIN VASILEV Coach Val has been heading United’s boys team program since 2009. A highly respected athlete and coach originally from Bulgaria, Val comes to us with a plethora of awards and accolades --- Master of Sports, author and lecturer on physical development in young children, international judge, member of the Bulgarian Gymnastics Federation Technical Committee, and many competitive national rankings… plus he was also United owner and Olympian Mladen Stefanov’s coach! Val first love is coaching the competitive track, but also firmly believes in the fun and fitness that recreational classes provide for both boys and girls. He enjoys his time teaching preschoolers and beginners just as much as training team kids! |
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SCOTT CLINGAN Scott has been a familiar face at United Gymnastix since 1995. He has worked at the gym in every imaginable capacity ---teaching literally every class at one time or another!--- and was the gym manager from 2001-2007. Recently, he has returned his focus to obtaining a degree in engineering, which he began to pursue at Virginia Tech. There, he was an All-American gymnast and finalist at the NAIGC Nationals for three years while earning his B.S. in Sports Management. Scott likes to backpack, citing trips through the Inca Trail, Grand Canyon, and Three Sisters Volcano in Oregon as highlights… but now his favorite thing is to play with his adorable new son. |
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CARIN MILLER CLINGAN Carin has been teaching classes at United since 2002, and previously was an instructor at several gymnastics camps. An active fitness and figure competitor, she offers a dynamic combination of gymnastics skills and total body conditioning to her students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, with minors in coaching and sports studies. Her years working with United’s Parent-And-Tot classes (our tiniest students, starting at 18 months) not only make her a favorite with our moms and dads, but helped her prepare for her biggest “teaching” challenge of all --- motherhood! She and fellow staff member Mr. Scott welcomed their first child in 2008. |
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TONI TAYLOR You can find Ms. Toni in the office almost as often as out on the gym floor… she is often the friendly voice that answers the phone, as well as a much-loved teacher for the younger students in United’s recreational classes. Her sports experience as a diver converts naturally to gymnastics, and she was also a competitive swimmer and soccer player. She continues to be athletic; enjoying snow skiing, mountain biking, golfing and riding horses. Toni graduated from Auburn with a degree in marketing, and has three children in United’s team programs. She practically lives at the gym! |
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KATRYN VALADARES A McDaniel College graduate, Katryn not only works at United, but coaches diving for University of Maryland Baltimore County’s (UMBC) club team. Her 20 years of teaching experience in both gymnastics and diving has made these two sports more than just a job, but rather, a way of life. She’s not only a staff member, but also a parent to one of United’s Level 4 gymnasts, and she enjoys cheering at both of her children’s many athletic competitions. (As well as her husband’s soccer games!) Katryn also works at a law office and during the summers, at the Padonia Park Swim Club. In her “spare” time, she trains and competes in running and sprint-distance triathlon events. |
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WESLEY PARLETTE Wesley is in his sophomore year at Stevens University, where he is majoring in middle school education. He was involved in gymnastics throughout his childhood. He enjoys church, is active in volunteer work, and loves playing Taboo and Scrabble with friends. Wesley’s list of favorite foods includes loads of fruits and vegetables ---very healthy!--- but he also partakes in pasta, pizza and ice cream sandwiches. |
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