Paul Comstedt
Co-owner/ Gym Manager/ Competitive Girls Gymnastics Director and coach
USAG CERTIFIED JUNIOR OLYMPIC TEAM COACH and AMPLIFY MASTER LEVEL COACH
Paul grew up in the foothills of Longmont, Colorado. Paul has been involved in gymnastics for over 30 years and has taught gymnastics for over 17 years in Colorado, Missouri and China! In both Colorado and Missouri, he has coached multiple state, regional and national champion gymnasts. He has a degree in Biblical Literature and TESOL from Ozark Christian College and is a certified personal trainer through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). Paul has a passion for kids, and it is his desire to see every child grow into a well rounded adult.
Derek Hammeke
Co-owner
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Derek was trained in gymnastics while growing up in Kansas City. He originally came to Joplin to attend Ozark Christian College. He has a degree in Biblical Literature and an Associate's Degree in Art. He owns Key Productions, a video production company in Joplin. He has received many awards for his wedding videos, documentaries and short films. He has always had a love for the sport and the lasting virtues that it instills in students. He also loves the community that the gym environment fosters.
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Kelsey Comstedt
developmental program director and coach/girls gymnastics team coach
USAG Certified, Amplify Master level coach
Kelsey has been coaching for 7 years. In her spare time, she enjoys watching videos and reading about new skills to teach and new methods to make coaching kids fun. Her favorite aspect of the sport is the relationship building with kids. Kelsey loves to have fun and is serious about helping kids grow into well rounded adults. She graduated in 2012 from Harding University with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. She has always wanted to work with kids and to be able to mentor them! She loves what she does so much! Kelsey states, "Being with the same kids for multiple years now, I love being a role model to each kid I work with and being someone that they trust. Gymnastics is a great way to build trust and you need to have a mutual respect with each other. I want to be a stable adult figure for these kids and coaching them gymnastics is a great way to do that. There is never a dull moment when coaching, seeing kids smile, and having fun keeps that fire burning for me."
Sonya Carrell
Office Manager
Sonya is a proud wife and Momma of 3 amazing kiddos. She has been working at Amplify for over 5 years. She loves getting to know the kids and families. Sonya says, "Amplify has become our home and our family. The high level of character and huge hearted staff is one of a kind. I couldn't have been more blessed to have all the staff and families influence my kiddos and set huge standards for them." Sonya was a Highschool Cheerleader, and has spent the last 9 years of her life surrounded by gymnastics, cheer, and trampoline & tumbling. All 3 of her kids have been involved in the competitive spectrum. "Competitive athletics is great for kids and helps them to be successful in many aspects of life." Sonya has also coached the pre-elite cheer team and Youth Level 1 competitive team. She loves all 3 sports, but has really grown to favor cheer. Sonya says, "The sport is seriously underrated for the amount of work, discipline, strength, agility, bravery, and teamwork involved. It has grown into such an impressive sport and now has been inducted into the Olympics. I cannot wait to see this happen!"
Rick Duckworth
Facility Manager
rick was born in Butler, MO in 1951 and spent his childhood growing up in Southern Kansas City. In 1963, he moved to Joplin, MO where he finished his schooling at South Junior High, Parkwood High, and at Missouri Southern. He worked at various businesses in Joplin where he was in management and inventory control. Rick also had a hobby/career in custom leather work that led him to become an employee at Silver Dollar City where he obtained the title of Master Leather Craftsman. During his employment there, he taught classes for the Boy Scouts and worked with many young adults to encourage them to attend School of The Ozarks in Branson, MO. Working in the entertainment industry, he was able to work with many well known celebrities. He left Silver Dollar City to work with his wife, who was a general Manager of a 60,000 square foot shopping center and he attained the title of Facility Manager where he oversaw the management of several demonstrating craftsman and the total care of the building and grounds. After 8 years, he retired and moved back to Joplin, where he accepted a part time position as Facility Manager at Amplify Gymnastics.
Shayla Blair
Girls Gymnastics developmental/Team coach
USAG CERTIFIED, AMPLIFY LEVEL 3 COACH
Shayla is from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a co-op student at Ozark Christian College and MSSU. She is majoring in Middle School Math Education. She absolutely loves working with students whether it be at church, in a classroom, or in the gym. Gymnastics has been a big part of her life and "It has been an absolute joy getting to play the role of coach." Shayla started gymnastics when she was 2. She began competing at Ultimate Gymnastics in Tulsa, Oklahoma when she was 6 years old and continued through her senior year of high school. She began coaching at Amplify her freshman year of college. Shayla's favorite events are beam and floor. She loves all that gymnastics teaches aside from the skills. There are so many life lessons that can be gained through this sport including the value of work ethic and teamwork. Her favorite part of coaching is getting to witness an athlete get a skill that they have worked so hard for. "Gymnastics is just as much mental as it is physical, and I love being able to help athletes gain the confidence it take to overcome both parts."
Juliana Truska
Girls Gymnastics team coach
USag certified, amplify level 2 coach
Juliana is from good old Memphis, TN, "where you don't have to ask a restaurant if they have sweet tea or not". Juliana began gymnastics at the age of 3 in Memphis, TN. She started competing in gymnastics at 6 years old and continued through her senior year of high school as a level 9. She qualified for Regionals, 3 years in a row as a level 9 gymnast. Juliana began coaching while still competing at the age of 16 at her home gym. She went to Auburn University, and coached compulsory at the Auburn Gymnastics Academy. Juliana has coached at Amplify for 2 years and has coached kids from 2 years old to 17 years old. She currently is the Level 3 head coach and she assists with the optional team. Juliana's favorite aspect of the sport is the fact that kids are able to thrive mentally, physically, and spiritually, through one of the most difficult and fascinating sports there is! She has been involved in the sport for 19 years. Juliana and her husband both attend Ozark Christian College. Juliana says "Amplify is my second home here in Joplin and is like my family away from family." Her favorite part of working at Amplify is seeing gymnasts faces light up when they conquer fear and grow not only as a fearless gymnast, but also as a fearless person. There are so many lessons that can be learned in the gym that the students are able to carry with them throughout every part of their lives.
Tate Simmons
Trampoline and Tumbling Program director, trampoline and tumbling team Coach
usag certified, amplify level 2 coach
Tate is currently a competitive trampoline and tumbling athlete and has been competing for four years. I has been a trampoline and tumbling coach for three years. He loves to coach tumbling and has coached many cheerleaders with tumbling. His favorite event is tumbling on the rod floor. He is currently a student at Crowder College in Neosho and he is on his way to become a registered nurse. He has always loved science and wanted to help people, it is for this reason why he loves coaching! Tate says, "I love to see a child's face light up after working so hard to learn a new skill and then finally getting it." He fell in love with trampoline and tumbling the second he bounced on a trampoline. Tate says, "It has shown its challenges but because I love it I work through them." Tate wants to help kids develop or accomplish anything they want in the sport and to help them grow as an athlete to love the sport and as a person to love themselves and others around them.
Kelly Kleespies
Girls gymnastics team coach
USAG certified, amplify level 3 coach
Kelly is 21 years old and recently married. She has been in Joplin for about a year and a half and she loved it! Kelly says, "Its a great place with a great community". When she is not working, she loves to paint and to be outside doing really anything! Kelly competed in gymnastics for 11 years and has been coaching for about a year and a half. Kelly says, "I absolutely loves coaching! I would love to do it until I'm an old lady!" Kelly thinks coaching is awesome because it allows her to invest in kids' lives and encourage them to be the best they can be, and she loves that she can still be involved in gymnastics even though her own gymnastics days are over! Her favorite events are beam and floor. She loves the work ethic it builds into the kids, and how proud they are of themselves when they get a new skill. Kelly says, "It's an amazing sport that shapes you into the person you'll be for the rest of your life".
Savanna Jones
OFFICE
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Savana has three children, Lucas, Layla and Lucy. They have all been involved in the activities at Amplify. Her daughters are currently on the level 4 Gymnastics Team. She is so thankful for the staff and for the patience of all of the coaches. Savanna loves seeing kids active and doing things they enjoy. She enjoys watching them gain their confidence as they master skills that are more difficult. Savanna's favorite aspect of the sport is learning self-confience and trust.
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Hannah Walker
Girls gymnastics team coach
USAG certified, amplify level 2 coach
Hannah has been involved in the sport of gymnastics for about 22 years! She started coaching when she was 15. At first, she coached a boys team and then moved on to recreational girls gymnastics and team. Hannah states, "I love learning about the kids! Each child is so unique and special, I love showing them how capable they truly are and they can overcome obstacles!" When Hannah is not coaching she is hanging out with her two kiddos and her awesome husband! Hannah says " We are usually trying to come up with some way to explore and be outside! We live on a farm and love all our quirky animals."
Brittney Rothwell
Preschool AND GIRLS GYMNASTICS COACH
USAG CERTIFIED, AMPLIFY LEVEL 2 COACH
Brittney was a competitive gymnast for 9 years and has now been coaching for almost a year. She also did competitive cheer for 4 years during high school. Brittney's favorite event in gymnastics is floor because she liked to tumble and show off her outgoing side. Brittney is attending MSSU and is planning on double majoring in Biology and Health Wellness and Promotion to eventually become a Physical Therapist. Brittney says, " I am coaching because even though I can no longer compete in the sport, I still love it and I love being able to share my love of the sport with others." Brittney also dances at Solomon's Dance Studio in Neosho and loves being able to be creative and dance with others who have the same passion.
Chase Kraft
Urban coach
USAG CERTIFIED, AMPLIFY LEVEL 1 COACH
Chase was born and raised in Joplin, MO. He graduated with a degree in Economics from Harding University. He is a licensed insurance producer at Kraft Insurance Services. Chase has 7 years of Urban Gymnastics experience, along with 4 months of coaching experience. Chase has a passion for kids; he loves being a part of their athletic and spiritual growth.