Meet The Staff
Nicole Gould-Owner, Manager, Head Coach of Craze and Rampage
Coaching Experience: All-star cheer coach for 10 years, Drake University Cheerleading coach for 2 years, coached various middle school and high school cheerleading clinics. During her 10 years of all-star coaching she has worked with ages 3-18. Has also judged several regional competitions.
Awards and Rocognitions: coached teams to multiple regional and national Championships, including 2005 and 2010 UCA National Champions.
Coaching Credentials: AACCA Certified, USASF Certified through level 5 in stunting, tumbling and tosses, and USA Gymnastics PDP Level 1.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Helping an athlete reach their goal in the gym or outside of the gym.
Favorite Quote: "Champions are made at practice."
Hobbies outside of the gym: Nicole loves spending time with her family; which includes her husband, John, daughters, Charlotte and Katie, and dog Oliver. nicole.gould@apexathletics.net
John Gould-Owner, Gym Manager
John is currently the gym manager for Apex Athletics, Inc. He is responsible for maintaining the faclity and making sure that Apex Athletics is providing the best client experience possible. He is also responsible for all technology and photography aspects in the facility. You will often see him wandering the facility making sure everything is running smoothly. John.Gould@apexathletics.net
Laura Sondag-All Star Program Director, Head Coach of Sabotage and Obsession
Coaching Experience: All star cheer coach for 7 years with a previous extensive dance background. During her 7 years in the all-star industry, has coached all ages and now enjoys her role as All-Star Director, overseeing all aspects of the competitive program while also head coaching multiple teams in the gym.
Awards and Recognitions: Coached teams to multiple regional and national championship youth teams, including 2011 COA National Champions.
Coaching Credentials: AACCA Certified, USASF Certified through Level 5 in Stunting, Tumbling, and Tosses, and USA Gymnastics PDP Level 1
Favorite Part of Coaching: Getting to know the individuals, not just the athletes.
Favorite Quote: "I know the price of success: dedication, hard work and unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen" - Frank Lloyd Wright
Hobbies outside of the gym: Laura spends her days enjoying her job at an architecture firm in downtown Des Moines.
Laura.Sondag@apexathletics.net
Ariana Duax-Head Coach of Toxic and Assistant Coach of Sabotage
Coaching Experience: 4 years coaching competitive cheerleading with athletes 6 to 18 years old. Cheered 4 years Varsity High School in Chicago, 2 years at Drake University, and at Apex Athletics its debut season.
Awards and Recognitions: COA and UCA 2010 National Champion, Head coach of Chaos Junior Level 2 National Champions 2011, coach of mulitple National Champion Individuals at youth and junior levels.
Coaching Credentials: USASF certified levels 1 through 4 stunting, tumbling, and tosses.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Being part of an experience that will last a lifetime.
Favorite Quote: “If you want something, get it yourself. Chances are someone else wants it, too.” – J. G. Lencioni
Hobbies outside of the gym: Spending time with friends and family, cooking, dancing in my apartment and having crazy manicures!
Amy Richter - Assistant Coach of Rampage & Tumbling Coach
Coaching Experience: 13 years of coaching experience in competitive and recreational tumbling, 5 years of All-Star Cheerleading coaching
Awards and Recognitions: USTA judge for 6 years, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer for 9 years
Coaching Credentials: USA Gymnastics PDP Level 1, Positive Coaching Alliance: Double-Goal Coach Certified, USASF Certified Level 1 thru Level 5 in Stunting, Tumbling, and Tosses.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Watching an athlete gain a new skill after teaching it to them. Seeing the sense of accomplishment in their faces makes it all worthwhile. Also seeing the team come together on the competition floor!
Favorite Quote: “People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.”
Hobbies outside of the gym: Amy enjoys working out, and spending time with her Boxer Reece, and husband Joe.
Monica Vail -Head Coach of Frenzy
Coaching Experience: This is Monica’s second year coaching a competitive team.
Awards and Recognitions: Although this will be Monica's first year of coaching she has many years of cheering experience. She became a all-star cheerleader at the age of 10 and has been on many different all-star teams and also cheered at Valley High School. She has won two state championships and a national title in 2007.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Seeing the excitement and joy on her girls faces when they accomplished a new skill.
Favorite Quote: "Teamwork is the ability to work as a group toward a common vision, even if that vision becomes extremely blurry." ~Author Unknown
Hobbies outside of the gym: Monica loves hanging out with her family and friends and enjoys rollerblading.
Angie Guddall - Director of Recreational Programs and Assistant Coach of Craze
Coaching Experience: Worked for UCA, state competitions judge, coached high school for 5 years, competitive cheerleading for 2 years.
Awards and Recognitions: State Champion!
Coaching Credentials: USASF certified levels 1 through 4 stunts, tumbling, and tosses.
Hobbies outside of the gym: Spending time with her 2 kids Jackson and Ellison, and her super nice husband Justin!
Shelby Jones - Head Coach of Mayhem
Coaching Experience: Competed as an all-star cheerleader for 5 years, cheered for Iowa Central College for 3 years, coached all-star cheerleading for 2 years with children ages 3-18, instructed many middle/high school cheer camps/clinics, and choreographed individual and team routines.
Awards and Recognition: Voted captain of college cheer team, coached many teams to regional championships, coached mini level 1 team to a national championship, and assistant coached a youth level 3 team to a national championship.
Coaching Credentials: Completed 4 accredited athletic training courses at Iowa Central. USASF certified levels 1 through 3 in stunting, tumbling, and tosses.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Sharing the passion of cheerleading with kids.
Favorite Quote: "Everyone has the desire to win, but only champions have the desire to prepare."
Hobbies outside of the gym: Shelby works part-time in the Boone County ER as an EMT and enjoys spending her free time with her family on their boat at Saylorville.
Kirsten Ingersoll - Assistant Coach of Craze
Coaching Experience: Coaching tumbling for three years and have coached cheerleading for two years. She has worked with ages 5-18 through various classes.
Coaching Credentials: USASF certified through level 2 stunting and tosses and through Level 4 in tumbling.
Favorite Part of Coaching: Seeing the kids get excited about what they are doing.
Favorite Quote: "It's not the things in life that matter, it’s the people."
Hobbies outside of the gym: Kirsten enjoys hanging out with her friends when she’s not at Apex!
Taler Grier- Assistant Coach of Toxic, Assistant Coach of Obsession
Leigh Van Dis- Tumbling Coach
Tera Watson - Evening and Weekend Receptionist
Work Experience: Member of the front desk staff. Tera answers all the parents questions about our programs and is really good at making the students (especially new ones) feel comfortable.
Awards and Recognitions: If there was an award for an energetic receptionist, she would definitely win it.
Favorite Part of Front Desk: Having the advantage of getting to know every student that comes in the door.
Favorite Quote: "Dance like no one is watching"
Hobbies outside of the gym: Spending time with her husband and three daughters.
Lucy Suvalsky - Day time Receptionist and Billing
Work Experience: In and out of the school settings Lucy has worked with all ages of children and adults. Work experience includes Information Management, Customer Service, Coaching, Collegiate Official, Children and Family Services, Education and Full Time Mom.
Favorite Part of Working at Apex: Getting to be in a children’s fitness environment that is so family orientated.
Favorite Quote: “Don't let what you can't do stop you from doing what you can do”. John Wooden
Hobbies outside of the gym: Lucy loves being a mom to Becca, Max and Zack. As well as sharing fun with her husband Steve and hanging outside with family dog Annie.
