2022 Coaches

carly meyer

donnise bragg

As an ex-gymnast, Donnise has been involved in the sport for over 20 years. She has over 10 years of experience as an instructor/coach and has been at Arlington Gymnastics since 2001. She has experience in many aspects of gymnastics including preschool, recreational classes, trainer groups, and team. Donnise has completed three years at Trinity University, where she is pursuing a degree in Psychology. She hopes to finish her degree in the near future. She is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified, MELPD Certified, and KAT Certified and will be coaching Levels 3 & 4 this season.

Vanessa Blaney

Vanessa did gymnastics throughout her youth until she moved to South Africa. Vanessa graduated from The University of Mary Washington in 2007 and received a B.S. in Business Administration. While attending UMW Vanessa was a competitive cheerleader all 4 years and flyer for the squad. Vanessa also attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where she earned her Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. Vanessa began working at Barcroft in 2007. Vanessa instructs preschool, Levels 1-4, Boys classes, and loves coaching! She is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and will be coaching Xcel this season.

rebecca hantman

Becca has been passionate about gymnastics since she started at the age of 3. She competed in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia through Level 8 and began coaching at age 14. She then competed for the club team at James Madison University where she graduated in 2010 with a B.S. in Psychology. When not at the gym, you can find Becca teaching flying trapeze at the Trapeze School of New York in Washington, DC. Becca is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified, coaching Level 4 and recreational classes this season.

Dannie Vardian

Dannie started gymnastics at age 7 training at Heartland Gymnastics Training Academy in Johnstown PA. She finished her career at Level 9 States her senior year of high school. Dannie graduated from West Chester University with a B.S. in Forensic Chemistry. While in school she coached preschool through level 4 at the local YMCA. Dannie is currently a chemist for a Navy base in Indian Head Maryland. Dannie is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and will substitute as needed.

Tim mengering

Tim is a co-founder of the Arlington Aerials (1979). He graduated from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio with a B.A. in Psychology and has done graduate work in child development, physical education, elementary and secondary education, and athletic training (The College of William & Mary, UVA, VA Tech, Shenandoah University). Tim taught physical education in Arlington County Public Schools from 1971 – 2003. He is a USA Gymnastics VA Board member, a certified USA Gymnastics Meet Director, and has been USA Gymnastics Safety Certified since the inception of the program. Tim will be coaching the optional levels this season.

melissa Kemmerer

Terina smith

Terina has been an instrumental team player instructing recreational gymnastics classes for Arlington Gymnastics for over seven years. Terina has been a lead class instructor since that time having experience in all areas (preschool classes, level classes, birthday parties, and special events). Most of the gymnastics participants know her as Mrs. “T.” She has also instructed at the Arlington YMCA. A former gymnast herself, Terina began taking gymnastics in the 7th grade. She quickly joined the YMCA gymnastics team and competed for Yorktown High School through her senior year. Terina is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and will be coaching level 3 this season.

Sue Walton

Sue has been involved in gymnastics for nearly 40 years. She was a competitive club and high school gymnast in York, PA, 1977-1986 and competed for East Stroudsburg University from 1986-1990. She taught gymnastics classes at the YWCA throughout high school, and worked summers at International Gymnastics Camp from the age of 15, through college as an instructor/counselor and Master Staff member. In the mid '90s she coached high school gymnastics at North Brunswick High School, North Brunswick, NJ, while stationed at FT Monmouth, and later at Supreme Gymnastics Club, Jakarta, Indonesia (Australian Levels 4-6) in 2000. Sue moved back to the Virginia area in 2007 and coached at George C. Marshall and McLean High Schools. She joined the Aerials staff in 2010, coaching the All-Stars (now Xcel) program. In 2012 she moved to Bangkok, Thailand, for three years where she coached the Bangkok Patana School Gymnastics Team, Australian levels 4-6. The team competed against schools throughout Southeast Asia. Sue is married and has a 13 year old son. She serves in the Army Reserve; is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified; and is returning to the Aerials this year as a coach for the Xcel program.