DEAN & ERIN MORALES - OWNERS
Over forty years of combined coaching experience!

DEAN MORALES

Dean has been a gymnastics instructor for over twenty-four years! He has helped several gymnastics clubs in Albuquerque develop a strong recreational foundation for their boys and girls programs as well as assisted their teams in achieving state and regional recognition. In that time his love for this sport and working with children has only grown. Dean was a competitive gymnast at a private club, and for Valley High School. After a short visit to Los Angeles where Dean used his gymnastics skills as a stuntman, he came back to Albuquerque and turned his focus towards coaching. Over the last twenty years Dean has continued to coach in the state and has been fortunate to witness four local gymnasts become Olympians and work with some of the most knowledgeable gymnastic instructors and clinicians in our nation. In past years, he has developed and increased the size of boys programs at three separate gyms in the city. His teams have acquired and retained the State Titles at all compulsory levels for the past three years in addition to having several athletes qualify to the Jr. National Team. In 2000, 2003, and 2004, he was awarded coach of the year by his peers, and currently holds the position of NM Men’s Program State Chairperson. Dean coaches our advanced boys team, and oversees the entire boys program. He has been married to his wife, Erin, since September 1999, and enjoys drawing, singing karaoke and wrestling with his dogs Maddie (left)& Tyson (right).

ERIN MORALES

Erin has over fourteen years of experience in the field of gymnastics. She began taking classes at a local club and quickly joined their competitive team. During that time, she was asked to begin coaching classes to offset her tuition. Erin developed a comprehensive understanding of gymnastics working with several different gymnastics schools in Albuquerque including two mobile gymnastics businesses. She has held positions that included instruction of preschool, recreational, cheerleading and adult tumbling classes and quickly progressed to assistant Boys Program Director and other various team level coaching positions. Erin also worked in the office of several local gyms and worked at Wells Fargo Bank for four years gaining experience in management, business, and financial matters. Erin now helps with all areas of the gym including preschool, recreational classes, and the competitive teams, but her focus is on managing the office and businees aspects of SAGA.

TIM BEARD

Tim joined our staff as a boys recreational coach after spending a lot of time at SAGA watching 2 of his 4 chilrdren perform gymnastics. Since he is a PE teacher at a local elementary school, he felt it was only natural for him to move towards coaching at SAGA as well! In his free time, he enjoys fly fishing, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities. He coaches Monday and Wednesday boys recreational classes.

LESLIE GREENE

Leslie is an aspiring artist. She is currently taking online classes through Full Sail University and will graduate in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in computer animation. Leslie's next plan is to move to Emeryville, California to work with Pixar Animation Studios. However, in the meantine, she is working as the receptionist here in order to support her goals. Leslie also just welcomed a new baby boy into her family and spends most of her time taking care of him!

KRYSTAL HINZ

Kystal enjoys being out and about and doing things like going to the lake. She really enjoys working with children and helping them learn and develop. She has also been cheering for thirteen years and enjoys being in the cheer atmorphere! She loves to watch sports and is a very active girl. Currently a freshman at UNM, Krystal is studying to major in sports broadcast journalism.

VALERIE HOVDA

Valerie is currently a student at UNM and wants to be a veterinarian. She has worked with children of all ages for over 10 years and loves the energy that they bring to any situation. She is also an active athlete and likes to keep practices fun and exciting to engage every kid, or kid at heart! Valerie coaches girls recreational classes, and is a summer camp counselor as well!

SAM HUFNAGEL

Sam comes from a very athletic background, including martial arts and soccer. He’s played soccer for over ten years, and has three years of MMA/kickboxing teaching experience at Albuquerque Kickboxing. He’s currently enrolled at UNM with a major in Psychology. Sam is also planning on continuing his education by getting his Masters in social work. In his spare time, Sam enjoys reading and working out.

CYNDI LAVASEK

Cyndi is a high energy, positive spirit. She is currently a business major that will be attending Anderson School of Business for health service administration in the future. Cyndi has danced for around ten years and loves to workout. She also likes to be very involved and motivated in all that she does.

DAVID LUDWIGSEN

David is a former collegiate baseball player and an NMSU graduate. He plans on attending law school and is currently studying for the LSAT. He has a dog named Baxter and enjoys anything active or reading a good book. After coaching for a few years in Las Cruces, David joined the SAGA team in 2009 and now coaches boy recreational, boys team and cheer tumble classes.

ANTHONY MOON

Anthony is currently studying criminology and aims to work with the APD in the future. He has attained the first responder license and is CPR certified. Anthony enjoys playing guitar and snowboarding on his free time. He teaches our cheer tumble and boys team classes and has been a great addition to our gym.

VIVIAN MUJICA

Vivian truly loves working with children! She enjoys being involved in their development and has extensive experience with children. During her spare time she spends time with her family and friends, travels and reads Spanish novels. She's interested in working in biotechnology and hopes to return to California someday. Vivian is currently working as a summer camp counselor, receptionist and coach at SAGA.

ROBERT OVERMEYER

Robert joined our staff as a coach in 2010. He competed gymnastics up to his graduation in 1992. From 1992 to 2003, Robert coached both compulsory and optional team boys, alongside Coach Dean starting in 1999. Together, they produced state championship teams for levels 4, 5, and 6 in 2001, 2002 and 2003! During the day, Robert is a structural steel detailer and checker and has worked on projects such as Isotopes Stadium. In his free time, he enjoys crewing for hot air balloons and spending time with his daughter! We are glad to have Robert join our staff as a boys recreational and team coach! He coaches level 5/6 boys.

BRANDON ROBINSON

Brandon has been with SAGA since they first opened their doors and has coached competitive gymnastics for over 6 years! He prides himself on pushing each individual athlete to reach their fullest potential and exceed set goals in and out of the gym. He feels gymnastics can aid in teaching important life skills such as perseverance, motivation, and work ethic. He graduated from UNM with a degree in Exercise Science and will be opening an adult fitness class at the gym soon. Away from the gym, Brandon is a personal trainer and likes to ride motocross and wake board.

KELLY SHELTON

Kelly is a mother of three wonderful children. She taught elementary school for three years and has a masters in social work. She enjoys watching her son do fencing and her other children doing gymnastics at SAGA. Kelly also enjoys scrapbooking in her spare time. Although Kelly has only had one class of gymnastics while she was in elementary school, Kelly has decided to get back in the field by coaching our summer camp this year.

AMANDA SKOTCHDOPOLE

Amanda is from a small town in Northern New Mexico and is currently attending UNM. She is studying Print Journalism and Spanish. Fitness and nutrition are very important to Amanda and she loves to cook healthy foods. Amanda was a camp counselor at Hummingbird Music Camp for several years before joining SAGA’s staff. In her spare time Amanda loves to read and work out.

BRIAN SKOTCHDOPOLE

Brian is a seventeen year-old from Las Vegas, New Mexico. He is a senior at Robertson High School. Brian loves being around kids and loves to watch them laugh and grow most of all. Art, music and skateboarding-- these are just some of Brian's favorite pasttimes. During the summer, Brian returns to Albuquerque to work as a summer camp counselor at SAGA.

CHANTELLE SOTO

Chantelle started working with our Summer-Sault Day Camp in 2008 and decided to join our staff permanently in the fall. She has completed her first year at UNM and is studying Emergency Medicine to become an Emergency Room Physician. She has just received her EMT certification and is looking forward to receiving her NM State license in June. Besides cheerleading throughout her high school years, Chantelle also played softball and T-ball, and is now playing slow pitch ball.

KELLY STOUT

Kelly joined SAGA in 2008 and coaches recreational girls’ classes. After graduating from the University of Minnesota and completing her gymnastics career with a Big 10 championship, Kelly returned home to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2006. Currently, Kelly is an associate attorney at Martinez, Hart & Thompson, P.C., where her practice focuses on representing injured individuals as well as victims of child abuse and sexual assault. Kelly continues to coach because she loves to work with kids and to get a dose of their energy and enthusiasm.

MEGAN STOVALL

Megan competed as gymnast on SAGA's competitive team until 2008. Megan teaches preschool, girls recreational and girls team. Megan graduated from Cibola High School and is now enrolled at UNM. She is interested in studying to be a nurse. When Megan isn't at SAGA she enjoys writing stories and working out.

JOEL THORNBERG

Joel is a coach for our Boys Recreational program, teen tumble and our Level 4, 5 & 6 Boys Teams. He trained as a gymnast under Coach Dean for 5 years before leaving the sport (for a while). His nickname on team was "Peanut", although he is no longer the tiny 6 year old gymnast he used to be! Joel is currently home schooled and taking a few courses at CNM. Joel enjoys paintballing, working on his Volkswagon bus and playing video games.

SYDNEY TRICARICO

Sydney is a new graduate from El Dorado High school. She did gymnastics for about 10 years, which helped her to make the cheer team in high school. She cheered on varsity for all four of her high school years and won two state championships as well. Starting the fall semester, Sydney plans on attending UNM where she will continue cheerleading. She is currently a receptionist here at SAGA.

ANN YAMAMOTO

Ann is a level nine gymnast here at SAGA. She has been doing gymnastics for most of her life. She graduated from Valencia High School and will be attending UNM starting this fall. Ann hopes to graduate from UNM and work as a doctor in the future. Aside from gymnastics, Ann also loves working out and staying fit, shopping, swimming and traveling. She also works as a camp counselor for our Summer-Sault Day Camp during her summer break.

YANA ZEMKOVA

Yana joined the SAGA staff as front desk personnel in the Summer of 2010. At the moment, she is attending UNM to get her degree in Biology and then go to Med School, with a focus in Psychiatry. When not working or dealing with classes, Yana likes to read, play tennis, and go swing dancing. She is always open to try new things and gain new experiences.

Current Events

Next Open Gym: Wednesday, February 1 Mobile to 5 years and homeschool kids: 11:00am - 12:30pm Next Kid's Night Out: Near Valentine's Day! Saturday, February 18 All Ages 6:00pm - 10:00pm Body Bootcamp! We've started another session of our adult fitness Body Bootcamp class to help you all with your new year's resolutions! See our classes page for more information!

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