Meet Our Team

Senior Team Members (high school graduates)

amy callan (Cooke)

Head Coach/ Admin / Competition planner and coordinator

• WAG Level 1 certified
• WAG level 2 certified
• WAG Level 3 theory
• Trampoline Level 2
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Coach Developer: Coach Evaluator, training in progress
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from McGill University
• Masters in Physical Education from McGill University
• Primary/Junior Teaching Certificate Queens University 
• Amy opened the gym in January of 1995, creating the legacy that is Gym Stars! 🌟 

Amy is an elementary school teacher and gymnastics enthusiast! Amy trained in gymnastics throughout her youth, and brought her love of the sport to Smiths Falls, giving our little town a BIG gift; Gym Stars! Amy has dedicated her weeknights and weekends to our community for three decades, never wavering on her promise to provide quality recreational programming in Smiths Falls and surrounding areas.  Amy's extensive knowledge of gymnastics, strong grasp of appropriate child and youth participation in sport, experience with leading children in recreational settings,  and event planning skills have made her a inspirational business woman and pioneer in her field. 

jessie goodsell

Senior Competitive Coach/
Digital Creator/
Competitive Program planner​

• WAG Level 1 certified
• WAG level 2 certified
• Artistic Gymnastics Foundations certified
• Certified WAG Comp Intro 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Coach Developer: Coach Evaluator, training in progress
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies with a focus on Outdoor Recreation from Brock University 
• Diploma of Urban Forestry from Fleming College
• Currently volunteering with Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue (among other local rescues when needed)
• Occasional Acro teacher with Redeemer Dance Academy in Smiths Falls
  • Jessie also participates in the adult ballet program with Redeemer.

Jessie was a competitive dancer with the Rideauettes and Flare Dance Studio here in Smiths Falls before venturing into the world of gymnastics.  Through her time with Gym Stars, Jessie developed a strong passion for recreation and the arts. Jessie paired her love of recreation and the natural environment by getting a degree in Recreation and Leisure with a focus on Outdoor Recreation and a teachable in Geography  with Brock University.  Jessie believes recreation is vital for the maintenance of a strong and happy community, and wants to continue working to support the arts and various forms of recreation for as long as possible. 

dylann sumara

Senior Competitive Coach

• WAG Level 1 certified
• WAG level 2 certified
• Artistic Gymnastics Foundations certified
• Certified WAG Comp Intro 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) from University of Ottawa
  • Teachable in Math and Religion

Dylann has been teaching in the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario for five years. In true 'Dylann fashion', she has excelled in her field and has been highly involved in her school and youth group extra curriculars.   We're so thankful we have her plethora of knowledge for working with children and that we have maintained a priority commitment in her demanding schedule.  You will not find a quicker wit or stronger spotter around! You're the best Pickle! 🥒 

Maeve Miskelly

Competitive Coach & Program Planner/
​ recreational coach lead /
​Day camp coordinator

• WAG Competition 1
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• Diploma in Mental wellness and Addictions as of June 2021
• Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology- Entering fourth year in September of 2024
  • Maeve has big dreams of working to become a Behavioural Therapist working with children with behavioural challenges and complex diagnoses!

Maeve joined gym stars as a small child and trained competitively until her 18th year. She started coaching at age 14 and her love of gymnastics paired with her passion for working with children have kept her heavily involved with coaching into her adult life. 

Maeve is a highly competent, diligent and sought after professional. She has consistently been top of her class throughout her academic career, and is awarded first choice of her placements each year as a result. Maeve continues to implement strategic program planning to accommodate and assist every child that dreams to participate in gymnastics, and we value her enthusiasm and ability to teach her fellow coaches best practices for working with a diverse set of children. We are lucky to have her working in our gym!

Carlee Lyons

 competitve coach / Recreational coach lead /
​Day camp coordinator /
Gym caretaker

• WAG Competition 1
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Bronze Star in Lifeguarding
• 2017 Kinsmen Club of Smiths Falls and Town of Smiths Falls award recipient for Commitment and Dedications to the Sport of Gymnastics.
• Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a concentration in law.
  • Carlee is interested in pursuing a career in prison reform, and is exploring all that the field involves while discovering and pursuing her passions in life. 

If you look up 'work ethic' on google, a photo of Carlee with pop up.  Carlee started gymnastics as a small child and demonstrated an above average talent for the sport early on. She has been in the competitive program since she was old enough to compete, and actively trains part-time, today.  Carlee is the best inspiration we could hope to have training alongside our competitive team as she is the ultimate testament to the phrase, 'hard work pays off'.  Carlee is highly reliable, dedicated and proficient with both her training and coaching commitments, and is always hungry to put in more work.   Carlee, you are a force!

erin Schmidtke

Recreational & competitive coach

• ​WAG Competition 1
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Certificate & Safe Sport Certificate
• Previously held the day camp coordinator position in the gym
• DELF French Language
• Honours Bachelor of Geography & Geospacial Technologies with minors in French and Labour studies.
• Awarded with the Canadian Association of Geographers list of top 10 graduating students of the year in Canada!
  • Erin is planning a future as a Geospacial Engineer/GIS technician in computer mapping
• Erin was recently promoted as manager of a private medical clinic in Ottawa, ON. Go Erin!

Erin spent two years as a rhythmic gymnast before transitioning to artistic gymnastics at the age of nine.  Erin was quickly scooped up and put into the invitation only, Advanced Recreational program before progressing further and becoming a competitive gymnast by age 11. 

​Erin started her coaching journey at age 15, and the kids immediately fell in love with her quick wit, fun dance moves and extra fun personality. As a gymnast and coach Erin, to this day, is an inspiration to the children and adults around her. Her light hearted nature, work ethic, and resiliency through life's up's and down's makes her one of those rare employees that you can't help but cherish. 

keira macmullin

Coach

• WAG Competition 1 - in progress
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• CPR level HCP
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• High School Graduate with Specialist High Skills Major of Health and Wellness
• Entering 2nd year Paramedic program at Algonquin College
  • Keira is determined to have a career that puts the care and needs of other people at the forefront.  Her work ethic has paid off, and she is now able to put her knowledge and skills to use while interning and studying to become a paramedic; a truly noble career. You rock Keira and we wish you all the best! 

Keira is a former level 6 gymnast with Gym Stars, showing an excess of talent at a young age.  Keira was elegant on the balance beam, explosive on the floor, and powerful on the uneven bars; she was (and still is) an all around talent.  We are happy to have Keira coaching while she continues her educational career and love seeing her join us during the adult program! 

Fraya lalonde cutler

coach

• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Safe Sport Certificate
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Anaphylaxis in child care settings
• Fraya is in her 3rd year at Carleton University taking Honours B.A. in Psychology and a Minor in Neuroscience. She is on the path to graduate in 2027!
  • Fraya loves working with children and helping them grow. She has goals of being a child life specialist so she can help children and families in need.  She is currently working in an elementary school running a summer learning program and helping as a lunch monitor with the hopes of being a supply in the classroom throughout the school year!

Fraya started her gymnastics journey at the age of 11 when she joined our Advanced Recreational program. A year later she joined our Interclub Competitive program and worked up to finishing her gymnastics career at the age of 17 as a level 6 gymnast in the Provincial Competitive program. Fraya trains in our adult program keeping up her gymnastics talents and love for the sport.  Fraya started her coaching journey at 15 years of age and we LOVE that she has maintained her coaching throughout all of her new adventures! If you're fortunate enough to have Fraya as your coach, you will quickly fall in love with her humour, compassion and personability.

Samantha Callan

Recreational & Competitive coach

• WAG Competition 1
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Safe Sport Certificate
• Personal Fitness Trainer Certification - ISSA
• Exercise Therapy Association:   Lower Body Mastery
• Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma Algonquin College
• Attending 1st Year at Algonquin College pursuing a ​Business Management Diploma
  
• ​Anytime Fitness as personal fitness trainer,  group class instructor and office administrator 2024
• ​Recently hired as a Performance Coach at  Movati Athletic Kanata
  

Samantha began her gymnastics journey as soon as she could put on a leotard and walk into the gym.  She was fortunate to get to attend classes with her mom, club founder, Amy Callan, and showed a mutual love for the sport of gymnastics. Samantha competed as a level 7 gymnast in the Provincial Competitive program in her final years of competing, earning a silver medal on vault in 2022. Sam began coaching at the age of 13 developing her passion for the fitness world. She is working to meld gymnastics coaching with her fitness industry learnings while continuing on a personal journey of health and wellness growth.  She is currently training to compete in the Natural Bikini division of Body Building in May in Sudbury.



 

Lyndsay Fleming

coach

• WAG Competition 1
• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Safe Sport Certificate
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• NCCP Emergency Action Plan E-Learning
• Lyndsay is in her 2nd year studying Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (co-op) at the University of Guelph. 

Lyndsay came to us as a young child and immediately showed great potential for the competitive program. Lyndsay demonstrated great work ethic with a strong connection between physical commitment and mental conditioning. Lyndsay reached Level 7 in the Provincial Competitive Program and continues to train when she is home or near a gym. When Lyndsay was a teenage she joined our coaching team and the children were immediately drawn to her calming presence and fun character. We are thrilled Lyndsay is still active with our gym while she works to achieve her dreams in the environmental sector. 

Camryn affleck

CoacH

•  Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Camryn is in her first year at the University of Guelph studying Sociology.
  • Camryn hopes to work towards a career ranging from anything in child studies, family studies or human development; her options are endless!

Camryn has been a gym star since the age of three when she started with our parent & tot program. Camryn is a stunningly elegant dancer and artistic gymnast (she is the star photo on our home page!), and always wowed her audiences with her beautiful performances. Camryn is currently taking dance classes with her university to explore her talents and stay connected to artistic recreation. Camryn started coaching as soon as she was of age and became a fun and compassionate coach the kids all loved. We have greatly missed her presence this year while she is away at school, which just reinforces her value to our gym!

Abby Cooke

Coach

• Artistic Foundations trained 
• Trampoline Foundations trained
• Safe Sport Certificate
• NCCP emergency action plan E-learning
• WHIMIS certified
• Standard First Aid - On Site
  FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING - LEVEL C 
• Completed a certificate in Performing Arts at Algonquin College 
• Abby is in her second year of Early Childhood Education at Algonquin College after transferring there following a year at Fleming College.
  • Abby hopes to become an early childhood educator and educate young children in the preschool-school age setting.
  • Abby is considering pursuing teaching in her future, possibly in the arts. 

Abby comes from a background of competitive dance. Her journey started at just three years old and by the age of eight she joined the studios competitive dance team!  Abby is trained in ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, and Acro dance.  Abby's passion for gymnastics began with summer camps as a child with Gym Stars and her time training as a gymnast in Carleton Place from ages 12 to 14.  Abby has recently joined the coaching staff at Gym Stars and has been a joy to welcome to the team since day one! Her positive and happy attitude with her artistic background is a great asset to the gym. Welcome Abby!

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we have an amazing team of dedicated and enthusiatic junior coaches (ages 14-17) who start(ed) as coaches in training with the intention of being trained by their later teenage years. We could not run our recreational programming without them!
Sara Lyons, Ava Malette, Haileigh Brown, and Maddie Dowdall

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OUr essential support team

Robyn O'neill

photographer

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Jeff Sumara

Retired coach / Equipment handyman

Jim Cooke

Handyman

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Jim Warner

Coach / on-call muscle

Ichabod Crane Goodsell

mascot

Your Coaches through the years!

Videos of coaches Jessie and maeve from way back when!