About Arlington Aerials
The Arlington Aerials is a competitive women's gymnastics team operated by the Arlington County Parks and Recreation Department. All program staff and coaches are employees of the County. The Arlington Aerials facility is located within the Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center.
FacilitiesOur facility consists of two full gyms with a mezzanine viewing area.
Location4200 S Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington, VA 22206
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EquipmentVault
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Available Gymnastics Programs & Tryout Information
Arlington County provides a range of offerings including Development Program, Xcel Program, and recreational gymnastics.
Tryouts are required for both the Development and Xcel Programs. Click HERE for more information on team tryouts.
- The Development Program (DP) is a competitive, time-intensive program that requires a heightened level of commitment with strict requirements, consisting of compulsory and optional levels. For Aerials, DP includes Levels 3 through 10, and pre-team (Dynamites).
- The Xcel Program provides equal competition opportunities with less of a time commitment. More relaxed requirements allow gymnasts to develop routines that best fit the their strengths. For Aerials, Xcel includes Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire.
- The Recreational Program includes a broad array of gymnastics offerings focused on beginner to intermediate skill levels, with a non-competitive focus. For more details on the recreational classes offered by Arlington County Parks and Rec including registration, please visit Arlington County Gymnastics.
Tryouts are required for both the Development and Xcel Programs. Click HERE for more information on team tryouts.
Staff Profiles
MANAGERS
Alex Asante-Dean - Arlington Gymnastics Program Manager
Alex was a Level 9 competitive gymnast in the state of Georgia and competed Level 10 in club gymnastics during his early college years. He brings 13 years of coaching experience across public and private gymnastics settings, in recreational and competitive gymnastics for both men and women. Prior to his 2022 start with Arlington County, Alex was the Head Coach of the Gymnastics Unlimited competitive team, where his love for the sport began. Alex holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and a Master’s degree in Sports Administration. In his free time, Alex enjoys action movies, music, and spending time with family. |
Sonja Hird Clark - Aerials Team Manager
Sonja loved gymnastics as a child. She started when she was five years old and continued through the beginning of high school. While in college at San Francisco State University, she instructed gymnastics for the City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department. After college, she moved to Washington, DC for graduate school at American University. In 2002, Sonja returned to California and instructed gymnastics for the City of Stockton Parks and Recreation Department. Upon moving back to Washington, DC in 2004, Sonja found a new home coaching gymnastics for the Arlington Gymnastics program. Sonja founded the Arlington Tigers competitive team, coached the Aerials pre-team through Level 4, coordinated lesson plans for the pre-school program, managed the award-winning Adapted gymnastics program and taught recreational gymnastics classes. Sonja is USA Gymnastics Safety Certified and serves on the Virginia Men’s Gymnastics Board of Directors. She lives in Falls Church with her husband, Chris, and twins. Sonja loves travel, art, culture, hiking, and adventures with her family. |
COACHES
Carly Meyer - Lead Coach Levels 7/8/9
Carly started gymnastics at the age of five training at Gymstrada (1982 – 1987), Hill’s (1987 – 1991), and Aerials (1993 – 1995) then continued the sport competing at the collegiate level. Carly graduated from West Chester University with her M.B.A in sports administration and a B.S. in computer science with a minor in athletic coaching. Carly was the assistant coach of the WCU gymnastics team and ran the athletic department’s website while in graduate school. Carly started working for Arlington County in 1994 becoming a full-time permanent employee in July 2004. Carly has been coaching the competitive team since July 2001 making this year her 23rd season with the Arlington Aerials. She is USA Gymnastics Safety certified, Safe Sport certified, Meet Director certified, KAT certified, and MELPD certified, and continues her education by attending USA Gymnastics events. Outside of work, Carly enjoys hiking, water activities and traveling. 
Kassandra Lopez - Levels 7/8/9
Kassandra was a competitive gymnast for 15 years competing through Level 10 and continuing gymnastics at the University of Utah. She holds a BS in Health, Society, and Policy, a BS in Sociology, and a masters in Public Health. Kassandra has coached both artistic gymnastics and tumbling since 2016. Since joining the Aerials in 2023, she has been coaching Levels 6 through 9. Outside of the gym, Kassandra enjoys reading, hanging out with her dog, and volunteering. She loves being back in the gym, helping girls accomplish their goals and being able to give back to the sport and community that gave her so much. 
Joy Engram - Lead Coach Level 6
Joy's gymnastics journey began as a young athlete, progressing from Level 4 through Level 10. Although she had to pause her competitive career due to a back and hip injury just before her Level 10 season, her passion for the sport never left. At 16, she started her coaching career with summer camps, and from there, transitioned into teaching recreational classes, from babies to advanced athletes. At 19, Joy became the head coach for the compulsory levels, which opened the opportunity to coach at a competitive level. Over time, she expanded her role, coaching Level 7 gymnasts and assisting with Levels 8-10. Today, she is excited to be part of the Arlington Aerials coaching team. She is committed to helping each athlete reach their potential, with an emphasis on technique, strength, and joy for a sport that brought her so many great memories and opportunities as a child. When not at the gym, Joy enjoys spending time with my family, cooking, and exploring new places. 
Jade Goss - Lead Coach Levels 4/5
Jade started taking gymnastics classes when she was 3 years old. She did a few years of artistic gymnastics before switching to rhythmic gymnastics for the next 6 years. Jade grew up in DC and attended college in Pittsburgh. She has worked in other private gyms with all levels of recreational classes as well as Levels 2-4 and Xcel Bronze through Gold. She began working with Arlington County in 2022. She is a USAG certified women’s and men’s coach and is a certified women’s meet director. Jade is currently the lead coach for Levels 4, 5, and 6. She is also a founding member of the Barcroft book club, whose favorite genres are mysteries and thrillers. Her favorite part of coaching is watching the gymnasts grow and learn new skills. |
Lorrie Robson - Lead Coach Level 3, Co-Lead Coach Dynamites/Xcel Silver
Lorrie took dance/gymnastics classes for 12 years. She began teaching at a young age at the local YMCA. She has taught at multiple dance/gymnastics studios over her 40-year career. She has been an award-winning choreographer and has coached a high school dance team as well. Lorrie began working for Arlington County in 2009. In addition to coaching, she has taught all levels of recreation classes, worked birthday parties and parent night out events, and coached summer camp. In 2017, Lorrie took a full-time role as a Lead Instructor/Recreation Program Coordinator and in 2023, became a Lead Instructor for the Teams program. Lorrie has enjoyed coaching the entry level gymnastics teams as she feels her strength is in setting a strong foundation for gymnasts to build upon. She has coached Pre-Team and Levels 3, 4, 5, and 6, and has worked with Xcel Silver and Gold. Lorrie is USA Gymnastics Safety certified, CPR/first aid certified, and Safe Sport certified, and continues her education by attending USA Gymnastics events. She is also certified in Pilates MAT/Reformer, TRX, Barre and Zumba. Lorrie has always been active, which led her to her chosen career. Outside of the gym, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, biking and just being outdoors (especially on a beach). 
Becca Hantman - Co-Lead Coach Dynamites
Becca grew up competing for Classics Gymnastics Center, a private club in Charlottesville, VA, where she started shadowing her coaches at age 11 and was hired at age 14. Becca graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor of Science. She is USAG Safety Certified and has over 20 years of coaching experience at all recreational and competitive levels with a specialty in women's compulsory gymnastics. She began coaching with Arlington County in 2009. Becca is the former Level 4 head coach with the Aerials and currently subs for all levels. She enjoys coaching because she finds empowering others to surpass their own expectations to be such a rewarding experience and finds that gymnastics builds an unparalleled confidence that young girls especially benefit from, shaping their future endeavors into adulthood. 
Vanessa Cox - Lead Coach Xcel Gold/Platinum, Co-Lead Coach Xcel Silver
Vanessa is a former gymnast and graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a BS in Business Administration. She also has an Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from the Culinary Institute of America. Vanessa started coaching with Arlington in 2007 as an instructor and then began coaching the Aerials in 2010. She implemented the Xcel program at the Aerials when it debuted nationally in 2013 and has run the Xcel program since the beginning. She currently coaches Xcel Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Sapphire. In her spare time, Vanessa enjoys hanging out with her 2-year-old, reading whenever she gets the chance, baking, and cooking. More important than gymnastics, Vanessa enjoys having the privilege of teaching "adults-in-training" how to be good humans. She is inspired watching young women realize how truly capable they are. 
Tim O'Neill - Lead Coach Xcel Diamond/Sapphire
Tim has a background in both gymnastics and classical dance. He began doing gymnastics at the age of seven in Natich, Massachusetts. After his family moved to Maryland, Tim continued with gymnastics training. After attending an American Ballet Theatre performance at the Kennedy Center, he was inspired to start training in ballet and modern dance. From 1987 to 1994, Tim danced professionally with a variety of ballet, modern and opera companies within Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Tim is a USAG certified coach and has over 25 years of experience coaching women’s gymnastics at the Optional levels (7-10). He began coaching with the Arlington Aerials in 2022 and currently coaches Xcel Silver, Platinum, Diamond and Sapphire teams. In his spare time, Tim enjoys drawing and painting. |
Employment
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Information on job opportunities with Arlington County Gymnastics can be found here.
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Program History
In 1971, Arlington County Physical Education teachers, Tim Mengering and Steve Garman, began incorporating gymnastics instruction into after school recreational programs at Randolph and Custis Elementary Schools. In the late 1970's, this nascent after-school recreational gymnastics program moved into an auxiliary gym at the vacant Gunston Middle School. In 1979, Tim and Steve formed Arlington Aerials (competitive) gymnastics team of 20 girls at Gunston Middle School to compete in Women's Junior Olympic (JO) program. Tim and Steve chose the name
“Aerial” for the team to signify that this was a competitive gymnastics team, as an “aerial” is a somewhat advanced gymnastics skill that is required of those competing in the Junior Olympic gymnastics program.
As the gymnastics program continued to grow, the program was allowed to expand into another auxiliary gym at Gunston. The facility was remodeled again in 1989 and the program continued to grow. Soon after, Arlington County reopened the middle school to students and the hunt was on for a new site for the Arlington Aerials. In 1997, after three long years of meetings, the decision was made to begin work on the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center which would be the new home of the Aerials. The gymnastics program moved to Barcroft in 2000, and has expanded to its current size. What started out as an informal afterschool program for 20 girls nearly 45 years ago has grown into a center of excellence that serves nearly 6000 Arlington youth per year. There are now more than 200 recreational gymnastic classes offered at Barcroft, the Tigers JO team, and the Aerials girls team comprised of both a JO program and a thriving Xcel program.
Steve has retired from teaching and coaching, but continues into his third decade as the Virginia State Chariman for USA Gymnastics. Tim has also retired from teaching, but continues to work as a physical educator on the Aerials' coaching staff. In 2012, Tim Mengering was inducted into Arlington County Sports Hall of Fame.
“Aerial” for the team to signify that this was a competitive gymnastics team, as an “aerial” is a somewhat advanced gymnastics skill that is required of those competing in the Junior Olympic gymnastics program.
As the gymnastics program continued to grow, the program was allowed to expand into another auxiliary gym at Gunston. The facility was remodeled again in 1989 and the program continued to grow. Soon after, Arlington County reopened the middle school to students and the hunt was on for a new site for the Arlington Aerials. In 1997, after three long years of meetings, the decision was made to begin work on the Barcroft Sports & Fitness Center which would be the new home of the Aerials. The gymnastics program moved to Barcroft in 2000, and has expanded to its current size. What started out as an informal afterschool program for 20 girls nearly 45 years ago has grown into a center of excellence that serves nearly 6000 Arlington youth per year. There are now more than 200 recreational gymnastic classes offered at Barcroft, the Tigers JO team, and the Aerials girls team comprised of both a JO program and a thriving Xcel program.
Steve has retired from teaching and coaching, but continues into his third decade as the Virginia State Chariman for USA Gymnastics. Tim has also retired from teaching, but continues to work as a physical educator on the Aerials' coaching staff. In 2012, Tim Mengering was inducted into Arlington County Sports Hall of Fame.
aDDITIONAL considerations
Fee Reductions
The Arlington County Fee Reduction Policy bases discounts on total household income and size relative to the currently-published HUD’s Section 8 income limits. If your household income is below the threshold, most of Parks & Recreation fees could be reduced. Any member in a household that has qualified for a fee reduction can receive a fee reduction.
Access and Inclusion
Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to the Americans with Disabilities Act which guarantees non-discrimination and equal access for individuals with disabilities in all programs, services, and activities. We will assess all requests for program modifications. Advanced notice for modification requests are welcome. More information can be found here.
The Arlington County Fee Reduction Policy bases discounts on total household income and size relative to the currently-published HUD’s Section 8 income limits. If your household income is below the threshold, most of Parks & Recreation fees could be reduced. Any member in a household that has qualified for a fee reduction can receive a fee reduction.
Access and Inclusion
Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to the Americans with Disabilities Act which guarantees non-discrimination and equal access for individuals with disabilities in all programs, services, and activities. We will assess all requests for program modifications. Advanced notice for modification requests are welcome. More information can be found here.
