Staff Bios

Linda Young

Linda Young opened Northshore Gymnastics 14 years ago and currently serves as the owner, manager and level 4 girl’s gymnastics coach. Linda has over 25 years experience as a gymnastics coach, coaching both recreationally and competitively. She competed herself beginning at the age of 4 and continuing throughout her first year at the University of Washington. In addition to her work in the gym, Linda holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology (Cal State Fullerton), a masters degree in Psychology (University of Washington) and a teaching certificate from Seattle Pacific University. She taught preschool and in the public education system for twelve years before turning full time to gymnastics. Linda is greatly involved in gymnastics in the state of Washington having served on the board since 1990, attending and helping run clinics, attending local and national congresses, and being a USA Gymnastics Member. Linda continues to have a passion for the sport and enjoys watching kids develop physically and mentally while having fun and staying active. She considers it a privilege to witness the sense of accomplishment children have when learning skills, the joy kids have when entering the gym and pride parents have when their children succeed. In her free time Linda likes to spend time with her children, MacKenzie (23) and Kirby (21), watch sports (Go Hawks, Huskies and Mariners!), read and exercise.

Mike Hedwall

Mike Hedwall is the program director and coach administrator at Northshore. He has been a part of the staff for over 10 years, but has nearly 30 years of experience working with children in various settings. A graduate of Central Washington University, Mike stays current in his coaching by attending as many clinics as he can each year. Mike has a way of making classes fun for all types of kids, be it with his signature “elephant” noise or his ability to relate to children at every age and stage. Mike strives to help kids stay active and healthy all while having a good time. Mike will be coaching preschool, karate/gymnastics, tramp/tumbling and beginning level boys and girls classes and the competitive tramp teams this year at Northshore.

Christy Ely

Christy is in her 3^rd year of coaching at Northshore. Christy has an extensive background working with children, having taught elementary school for 6 years and coaching high school gymnastics for 2 years. In addition, Christy has a background in dance and cheerleading (she cheered at the University of Washington). In her free time Christy likes to garden, bake, read and spend time with her family, including her 3 daughters Allyson, Camryn and Katelyn who all are involved in gymnastics. She decided to coach gymnastics because she loves being active with children! This year Christy will be teaching preschool and girls gymnastics classes.

Sandra Wolff

Sandra Wolff is yet another of our coaches that came to Northshore because of her daughters involvement in the sport. Her daughter, Jaci, competed for many years at Northshore, having only recently moved to cheerleading. Sandra has been involved with children for over 20 years, as a mother to 3, a preschool teacher and a coach. She stays active by playing softball and training in taekwondo. Sandra loves coaching because she enjoys helping kids work through their challenges and eventually succeed. She loves to see a child’s happy face after hearing praise for a job well done! This year Sandra will be coaching preschool, girls beginning and tramp/tumbling classes.

Kylie McElrath

Kylie McElrath is yet another McElrath on staff at Northshore. She has been involved with gymnastics since the age of 4 and is a current member of the Northshore competitive trampoline program. Kylie, who attends the running start program at Shoreline Community College, enjoys working with kids in the gymnastics setting because she wants to help children achieve their goals and realizes that a good coach is essential to a child’s development. Over the last year Kylie has attended clinics to strengthen her coaching abilities, learn spotting techniques and gain motivation tools. Kylie will be coaching preschool and tramp/tumbling classes as well as the tramp/tumbling team this year.

Sarah McElrath

Sarah McElrath, the matriarch of the McElrath family, has been working at Northshore for the last 5 years. Sarah, the mother of 5 children – Charles (20), Kylie and Kaitlyn (16), Kathryn (14) and Kellee (5) has been coaching and administrating the tramp/tumbling team for the last 3 years as well as coaching preschool classes and working the front desk. In addition to being USAG certified, Sarah has attended state clinics for both trampoline and gymnastics. Sarah will continue to work the desk and coach preschool, gymnastics and tramp/tumbling classes.

Michael Ritchie

A 2010 graduate of Bothell High School, Michael Ritchie has over seven years of gymnastics experience. He has been part of the competitive and noncompetive sides of gymnastics having taken both recreational classes as well as being a current member of the competitive trampoline team at Northshore. Michael enjoys working at Northshore because he likes to see the fun that the kids have while they are in the gym. This year Michael will be coaching boys recreational and tramp/tumbling classes.

Shelly Sykes

Shelly is a veteran among the staff at Northshore having coached at the gym since its inception fourteen years ago. In addition to working with children at Northshore, Shelly has spent years coaching soccer, teaching Sunday school and raising foster children and her own child, Taryn (21) who participated in competitive gymnastics. Shelly enjoys playing soccer, traveling the world, walking and doing volunteer work in her free time. She has continued to work at the gym because she enjoys the work hard, have fun philosophy and loves to watch kids learn and succeed at different levels. Throughout her years at Northshore Shelly has coached everything from parent tot classes to competitive teams. This year Shelly will be coaching the level 4 girl’s team.

Trina Kelly

Trina Kelly has been involved with gymnastics for the last 10 years because of her children (Shannon 19 and Shawna 17), who took classes and competed at Northshore Gymnastics. Trina has worked at the gym for 9 years coaching preschool classes and working at the front desk. She continues to enjoy teaching young children because she loves seeing kids faces when they master a skill for the first time and seeing them progress to the next level. Outside of the gym Trina enjoys spending time with her daughters as well as her 14 year old son Kevin. This year Trina will coach preschool and parent tot classes.

Lindsey Bott

Lindsey Bott is a first year coach at Northshore, having 13 years competitive gymnastics and four years cheerleading experience. Lindsey graduated from Snohomish High School in 2004 and Washington State University in 2008 with a BS degree in history and a minor in political science. Throughout college she taught gymnastics classes for children between the ages of 3 and 13 and was a cheerleader at WSU her freshman year. Lindsey has come back to coaching because she has a passion for helping kids to succeed and passing her love of the sport on to others.

Nancy Hershgold

Nancy Hershgold loves coaching gymnastics because she enjoys being a part of the excitement a gymnasts has when they learn or perfect a new skill. She has grown up around gymnastics and cheerleading, competing and coaching for over 30 years. Nancy grew up in Utah and graduated from the University of Utah in SLC Utah in 1985 with a degree in Health Education. Growing up, Nancy competed at the Utah Academy of Gymnastics and was a member of the University of Utah’s nationally ranked cheer team in her college days. Now, Nancy coaches girl’s levels 1-3 at Northshore Gymnastics and enjoys spending time with her husband, children (Brandt 22, Sam 14 and Megan 10) as well as her giant schnauzer and parrot. Nancy continues to stay in the sport because she wants to give back to the sport she enjoyed in her youth and due to the friendships and emotional support she can provide to the gymnasts as well as what she gets back from them in return.

Breanne Eberli

Breanne began taking gymnastics at the age of 3 and since then she has been involved in the sport as both a coach and a competitor. She had to retire from competitive gymnastics due to a back injury, however she decided to switch to coaching because she loves to help kids learn and achieve their goals. Breanne is currently attending Everett Community College working towards a degree in Medical Assisting. Breanne will be coaching girls level 3 team.

Taegen Kitchens

Taegen Kitchens has a great deal of gymnastics experience having been a member of the boys competitive team at Northshore for 8 years. Currently a junior at Woodinville High School, Taegen loves coaching at Northshore because of the great environment and the happiness he experiences from working with kids as they learn new skills. Outside of the gym Taegen enjoys snowboarding. This year Taegen will be coaching boys and tramp/tumbling classes.

Alina Muller

Alina Muller has a vast athletic background, enjoying dance, pole vaulting, gymnastics, and skiing. Alina has experience in competitive gymnastics (9 years) and dance (12 years). Her background has allowed Alina to draw from her prior experiences to be a better coach because she can relate to the kids she is coaching and can draw upon the traits that helped her learn the most. Alina is currently a senior at Woodinville High School and is a member of the gymnastics team there. She enjoys coaching because she believes it teaches courage and determination for other sports and future endeavors. At Northshore this year Alina will be teaching preschool and girls level 1 and 2 classes.

Kaitlyn McElrath

Kaitlyn McElrath has been around Northshore for many years. She began taking classes at the age of 4, participated in the trampoline team between the ages of 12 and 15 and now at 17, is coaching. Kaitlyn enjoys working with children and getting to know them and watch them develop throughout their time at the gym. In her free time Kaitlyn enjoys reading and playing soccer and basketball. She is well connected at Northshore – her mom, twin sister and brother all have worked, or are currently working, at Northshore. This year Kaitlyn will be teaching preschool, girls gymnastics and tramp/tumbling classes.

Annette Puccio

Annette Puccio has been involved with gymnastics for over 16 years. She and her 3 sisters have all taken classes and competed in gymnastics since the time they were very young. Other than gymnastics, Annette has competed in tennis, diving and pole vaulting. Annette has a great passion for the sport, a passion she tries to pass on to her students. She finds it rewarding to pass on her love of gymnastics to young children and see the impact the sport makes on their lives. In addition to working at the gym, Annette is attending Lake Washington Technical College, aiming to earn a degree in Physical Therapy. This year Annette will be coaching girls gymnastics and levels 4, 5, and 6 team.

Shawna Kelly

Shawna Kelly has been around gymnastics for over 11 years, having competed at Northshore until just recently. Shawna is currently a senior at Inglemoor High School, where she is a member of their gymnastics team. She made the transition to coaching because she remembers the thrill of learning something new and the feeling of accomplishment that is felt when a new skill is mastered. She enjoys being around kids and helping them to be excited about gymnastics. Shawna will be teaching preschool and girls gymnastics.

Mary McIntosh

Mary McIntosh is another former competitive gymnast that has made the leap to coaching in the last few years. Mary is a senior at Archbishop Murphy and has been involved in the sport since she was 4 years old. With her years of experience Mary is able to draw from her background to see what worked and didn’t work in regards to coaching – helping her to be a better coach. She loves working at Northshore due to the positive environment that is dominated by praise and laughter. Mary will be teaching preschool and girls level 1 and 2 gymnastics this year.

Courtney McBroom

Courtney McBroom has been coaching at Northshore for 5 years, teaching everything from preschool classes to competitive teams. Courtney, who is currently a senior at the University of Washington, was a competitive gymnast for 9 years and has been a member of the Hot Dogs competitive jump rope team for the past 9 years. She enjoys coaching because she loves the challenge gymnastics represents – she loves watching kids conquer their fears and master skills that few people can do. This year Courtney is coaching the level 5 and 6 girl’s competitive teams.

Lauren Bruun

Lauren Bruun is a senior at Bothell High School. This is Lauren’s third year coaching at Northshore, where she coaches preschool and girls level 1 gymnastics. Lauren competes for the Bothell High School gymnastics team and is also a member of the cheerleading team. She loves coaching gymnastics because she likes to help kids learn new skills.