ALPENA GYMNASTICS COACHING STAFF
Elizabeth Storey
Buffy is the founder of Alpena Gymnastics, Inc. Buffy also coaches the majority of the classes Alpena Gymnastics offers!
After receiving her degree in Anthropology at Michigan State University, she followed her entrepreneurial sprit and joy of exercise. Over the years, Buffy created Adult group exercise programs in Connecticut, Virginia, and Minnesota. Upon moving back to Alpena, her home town community, Buffy coached soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and tennis. Buffy finds joy from a child's smile and athletics. It only seems natural for her to develop this program of over 200 happy children doing gymnastics.
Buffy brings FUN to the program and develops self esteem within our gymnasts.
After receiving her degree in Anthropology at Michigan State University, she followed her entrepreneurial sprit and joy of exercise. Over the years, Buffy created Adult group exercise programs in Connecticut, Virginia, and Minnesota. Upon moving back to Alpena, her home town community, Buffy coached soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and tennis. Buffy finds joy from a child's smile and athletics. It only seems natural for her to develop this program of over 200 happy children doing gymnastics.
Buffy brings FUN to the program and develops self esteem within our gymnasts.
Leah Stafford
Leah was 6 years old when she took her first gymnastics class. It was terrifying, she went back crying to her mother's arms and refused to participate. Next class she was in love with the sport! By 8 years old Leah joined the local circus club in her home town of Bloomington, Indiana. Over the years Leah has performed High Flying Trapeze, Trampoline, Aerial Silk, and Spanish Web in circuses such as The Royal Hanniford Circus, Sterling and Reed Brothers Circus and a few others. She lived in Japan for 6 months when she was 16 and performed in a super hero circus as a Power Ranger and Sailor Moon! All of these adventures would not have been a possibility without Leah's strong gymnastics background. After High School Gymnastics where her team broke the school record, Leah competed in Indiana University's Gymnastics Club while achieving a her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education, Science.
Leah began coaching in 2001, in Indiana, for Bloomington United Gymnastics School, then for Rising Star Gymnastics before moving up to Alpena with her husband Rob in 2006. Within a week of moving to Alpena she became immersed in this gymnastics program!
Leah brings to this organization her full out adoration for the sport of gymnastics! No other sport will give you the foundation, that will bring benefits to any activity one decides to do in the future! Lets all do gymnastics!
Leah began coaching in 2001, in Indiana, for Bloomington United Gymnastics School, then for Rising Star Gymnastics before moving up to Alpena with her husband Rob in 2006. Within a week of moving to Alpena she became immersed in this gymnastics program!
Leah brings to this organization her full out adoration for the sport of gymnastics! No other sport will give you the foundation, that will bring benefits to any activity one decides to do in the future! Lets all do gymnastics!
Geri Samp
Geri has been involved in gymnastics since she was 6 years old. She started her career in the Holland Recreation Summer Gymnastics Program and quickly gained a love for the sport. At 9 years old, she began competing for O.A.K. gymnastics club in Holland, MI and continued competing until her freshman year in high school. She has won the Team Runner-up State Championship twice as well as the Team State Championship during her senior year. Geri also had the honor of winning the State Championship on the uneven parallel bars that year!
She attended Central Michigan University and was on the varsity gymnastics team until she was chosen to be the head coach of Mt. Pleasant Gymnastics Center. She coached teams there for 5 years then returned to Holland where she taught Special Education at West Ottawa High School, and coached gymnastics at Holland High School. During the 10 years she coached, Geri took their teams on to win four more Team State Championships and one Runner-up Championship!
Geri and her husband moved to Alpena in 2005 and she has been with Alpena Gymnastics since 2009 taking our top gymnasts to the next level. Geri brings to the program mental determination, physical fitness, and the skills to perform with top notch gymnasts.
She attended Central Michigan University and was on the varsity gymnastics team until she was chosen to be the head coach of Mt. Pleasant Gymnastics Center. She coached teams there for 5 years then returned to Holland where she taught Special Education at West Ottawa High School, and coached gymnastics at Holland High School. During the 10 years she coached, Geri took their teams on to win four more Team State Championships and one Runner-up Championship!
Geri and her husband moved to Alpena in 2005 and she has been with Alpena Gymnastics since 2009 taking our top gymnasts to the next level. Geri brings to the program mental determination, physical fitness, and the skills to perform with top notch gymnasts.
Jeffrey Toland
Jeffery took his first gymnastics class at the YMCA when he was 4. Later, he competed at International Gymnastics in Power Tumbling and Trampoline under Olympic Gold Medalist Natalia Kuchimskya. Once he aged out he moved to Alpena and starting coaching with Alpena Gymnastics the summer of 2014.
Jeffery took his first gymnastics class at the YMCA when he was 4. Later, he competed at International Gymnastics in Power Tumbling and Trampoline under Olympic Gold Medalist Natalia Kuchimskya. Once he aged out he moved to Alpena and starting coaching with Alpena Gymnastics the summer of 2014.
Student Coaches
Starting from the Bottom and going counter clockwise:
Rachel, Lola, Emara, Fiona, Sadie, Hallie, Emmie, Britany, Ericka, Tayler, Samantha, Sarah, Gabe
All of our student coaches have been gymnasts for many years and attend a coaches training before starting to coach classes. These student coaches do a wonderful job of demonstrating skills and encouraging the next generation of gymnasts!!
Rachel, Lola, Emara, Fiona, Sadie, Hallie, Emmie, Britany, Ericka, Tayler, Samantha, Sarah, Gabe
All of our student coaches have been gymnasts for many years and attend a coaches training before starting to coach classes. These student coaches do a wonderful job of demonstrating skills and encouraging the next generation of gymnasts!!
Roberta Storey
Roberta has been with this program from the beginning, you could even say she was the spark for this program! Roberta was 4 years old and there was no place for her to tumble. Buffy decided there was a need for tumbling in this area for her daughter and other youth thus, the program was born. Needless to say Roberta not only partook in every class in her age group, but she has also taught every class that she was not currently in!
Besides gymnastics Roberta has a great love of dance. The combination of the two landed her a spot in a dance team at the University of Michigan. Roberta is currently working toward a degree in pharmacy at U of M. She plans on still being a big part of Alpena Gymnastics every summer.
Besides gymnastics Roberta has a great love of dance. The combination of the two landed her a spot in a dance team at the University of Michigan. Roberta is currently working toward a degree in pharmacy at U of M. She plans on still being a big part of Alpena Gymnastics every summer.