Gymnastics Lessons: GYMkids USA!

Brianna Hernandez
Gym and Dance Instructor
Joining our team in 2012, Bri Hernandez teaches gym and dance, receiving many raves from parents. She brings years of dancing, choreography, varsity cheer, and nanny experience. She is currently studying education and dance. According to Bri, "I like working with kids because they brighten my day and they are always so positive!" In her free time, she likes doing crafts and cooking.

Danny White
Gym and Aquatic Instructor
Danny White attended Mesquite High School, the oldest of three siblings (his sister Sami works here too). He joined SWIMkids USA in 2010 as a gym and aquatic instructor and loves helping kids to increase their strength, confidence, and abilities. He has attended Chandler/Gilbert Community College, University of Hawaii, and Arizona State University, working on a degree in Exercise Science. He enjoys staying active by doing martial arts and sports as well as meeting new people.

Eva Brocki
Gym Instructor and Booking Manager
Eva Brocki was born in the Czech Republic and came to the United States in 1998. In high school, she participated in volleyball and gymnastics. She worked as a nanny for seven years and now works as a preschool teacher. She joined SWIMkids USA in 2008 as a gym instructor. She says that "working with children is her passion. I like to see their faces when they accomplish a new skill or move up." She has a son and likes to work out at the gym and eat healthy.

Jay Wimmer
Gym Instructor
Jay Wimmer joined SWIMkids USA in 2012 as a gym instructor, bringing seven years of gymnastic experience including competition. Jay says, "The best part about working with children is that the environment is always changing, no two classes are ever the same which keeps it fun. Every child has their own personality and brings it with them to class. It also is preparing me for when I have my own children." He is currently attending Arizona State University, possibly to major in Russian. He also likes to model, act, hang out with his friends, and play board games. Watch out - he's extremely competitive when it comes to board games.

Katie Lachvayder
Katie Lachvayder danced at a dance studio for 18 years, dancing competitively for 8 years including in high school and now in college at Grand Canyon University studying dance education. She has done choreography for seven years. She joined SWIMkids USA as a gym and dance instructor in 2012. "Everyday is different, which makes working with them more fun," she says about working with kids.

Marie Carter
Gym and Aquatic Instructor
Marie has been charming the hearts of children and parents alike here at SWIMkids USA since January of 2011. A job in the water was only natural after being a swimmer for 12 years. Prior to saving lives as an aquatic instructor in our pools, Marie saved lives as a lifeguard at Big Surf. Marie has always been a very active person, she did cheer for six years, tumbling, and dance. This lead her to teach cheer and dance for four years which translates well into teaching somersaults and back flips in our gym program. Marie is still as active as ever and in her free time she can often be found at the gym working out or doing yoga. She loves the weather in Arizona because it allows her to spend time outside hiking the trails or wakeboarding at the lake. You might start to see Marie outside of her role as an instructor, as she just finished her training to be an assistant deck manager. Marie is currently a student at MCC and plans to transfer to ASU to receive her bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Spanish. Her love of the Spanish language led her to study abroad for a summer in Spain!

Matt Jordan
Director of Performance Arts, Gym and Aquatic Instructor
Matt Jordan joined the SWIMkids USA family in June of 2007. He has taught in the gym department, in the pool, briefly worked on the front desk and currently is a deck manager. He began coaching gymnastics in December of 2003 at Southwest Gymnastics where he himself trained. Having done gymnastics since the age of 5, he is proud to say that he accomplished several milestones such as participating in many state and regional championship competitions as well as attending the national championships twice. When Matt began going to school at Arizona State University, where he later completed a degree studying Sociology, he joined the cheer squad for two years. Following those two years Matt joined the mascot program and played a role as Sparky for the second half of his college career. He currently works with the Cardinals football club as game day entertainment and has a role in community relations in addition to his devotion to SWIMkids.

Shana Edmundson
Gym and Dance Instructor
Shana started working at SWIMkids USA as a dance instructor in 2003. Since then, she has worked in nearly every department, teaching dance, gymnastics, swimming, and coaching. As a child, Shana began swimming at three years old and dancing at seven. She spent eight years competing in gymnastics and two years competing in swimming & diving. With her prolific dance experience, Shana is proficient in Tap, Jazz, Ballet/Pointe in both the French and Russian/Vaganova styles, Modern, Musical Theater and Hip Hop. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater Arts - Dance and a minor in business management. She has three wonderful children: a Marine, an Army Ranger, and a SWIMkids USA dancer/swimmer.