Our Staff
Coach Kendra
I was born and raised in Southeast Michigan by my parents, two older brothers, and grandmother. I grew up in a small house on a lake. I spent most of my summers swimming, fishing, and playing in the sand. In the colder months, I found different snow-filled ways to spend my time outside.
I was a competitive gymnast from the age of 5 to 17. I finished my career as a Level 8 at Oakland Gymnastics. Although I chose to step away from the sport at age 17, I knew that one day I would step back into the gym as a coach.
I have experience as a Recreational, Compulsory, and Competitive Director. I have learned that I love all aspects and levels of this beautiful sport. The opportunity to share my love of gymnastics with younger generations is something that I am forever thankful for.
My mission is to provide the maximum level of opportunity for each athlete whom I have the privilege of coaching. I believe that as a coach, it is my duty to inspire each athlete to believe in themselves so that they may set their goals as high as they want without consideration of fear or failure. I believe, deeply, that a gymnast’s career is their own, and that I am simply a helping hand in their journey to reach their potential.
Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
Favorite Event to Coach: uneven bars or strength
Hobbies: hiking
Favorite Snack: guacamole
Fun Fact: I have had many pets including chinchillas and ducks.
Coach Alyssa
My name is Alyssa Brugger, and I am the Recreational and Preschool Director at STARZ. I started gymnastics when I was 4, and I was a competitive gymnast for ten years. I was a member of the first Competitive Team at STARZ as a Level 5 gymnast. I competed up to Level 8 when I decided that it was time for me to explore a new side of the sport – coaching. I have coached everything from Preschool to Recreational to Team since 2015. In addition to coaching, I choreograph floor routines and host Open Gyms and Birthday Parties here at STARZ on weekends.
I graduated in May of 2022 from St. Norbert College with a degree in Psychology and then began my current position in August of 2022. I am passionate about coaching and working with children, not only in watching their success as gymnasts, but watching them grow into amazing and strong individuals. Gymnastics has taught me how to persevere through hardships, how to take the good days with the bad, and how to be open to trying new things. It is my greatest hope that I can share those lessons with everyone who I get to coach!
Hometown: Wrightstown, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: uneven bars
Hobbies: coloring, traveling, and watching television
Favorite Snack: potato chips
Fun Fact: I was born with a partial right hand.
Coach Mickey
Hello! My name is Mickey, and I am a former gymnast. I started gymnastics when I was 5 years old. I was a competitive gymnast for about eight years and then switched to coaching and have been doing so for the last five years. I was part of the first Competitive Team at STARZ. I have coached Preschool, Recreational, and Team, and I am currently the Head Coach for Future Starz and Preteam. Not only do I coach, but I host Birthday Parties on the weekends here at STARZ as well.
I graduated from NWTC in 2019 specializing in Social Media Marketing and in 2022 for Graphic Design. I left my other job in June 2023 to start working at STARZ full-time. I am coaching and doing social media marketing for STARZ. I enjoy coaching and working with the kids to see where life takes them! The sport of gymnastics taught me several life lessons such as – not every day will be the best, but come into the gym willing to try new things. My goal as a coach is to be a positive influence, bring a smile to their faces when they come through the gym doors, and for them to know that with the right mindset they can achieve anything in life!
Hometown: De Pere, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: uneven bars
Hobbies: traveling, hanging out with friends and family, and working out
Favorite Snack: ritz crackers
Fun Fact: I am adopted.
Coach Elizabeth
I was born and raised in De Pere, Wisconsin by both of my parents and one younger brother. At the age of 7, I started my gymnastics journey in the STARZ Recreational program. I then was part of the Preteam group and eventually began competing at the age of 8. I was a competitive gymnast from ages 8 to 15. I finished my career as a Level 7 gymnast. Although I knew my competitive days were over, I was not ready to leave the gymnastics world, so I began coaching.
I coached all ages at STARZ until I left to go to the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee where I am majoring in Healthcare Administration with a focus on Business and Healthcare Informatics. After two years of living in Milwaukee, I had the opportunity to move home. I knew that I wanted to come back to the gym as I missed the STARZ community.
I am a coach because I am passionate about providing a positive environment for young individuals to prosper. I love the sport of gymnastics and am thankful for the opportunities it has given me. As a coach, I am eager to share all the things this wonderful sport taught me.
Hometown: De Pere, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: vault
Hobbies: water and snow skiing, spending time with family and friends
Favorite Snack: popcorn
Fun Fact: I have two dogs at home – Barley and Finn.
Coach MO!
My name is Melissa “MO!” Roberts, and I am a Competitive Team coach at STARZ. I have over 26 years of gymnastics coaching experience! I started coaching Preschool and Beginner gymnastics at the age of 16 for the Oshkosh Recreation Department. My schooling brought me to UW-Green Bay where I studied Business Marketing, Accounting, and Spanish.
Upon graduation, I took a full-time job at a local gymnastics center where I was a Recreational coach, Team coach, Marketing Director, and Officer Manager. My dreams and aspirations pushed me to open my own gymnastics center – Aerial Gymnastics Academy – which I ran and coached from 2006 – 2010. In 2010, I expanded my business, moved locations, and changed the name to STARZ Academy. I was the owner and Team coach from 2010 – 2018. I returned to STARZ as a coach in June of 2022.
I am married and have five children – Tristan (10), Stella (9), Xavier (7), Roman (6), Monroe (4) – most of whom also enjoy being a part of STARZ Gymnastics Academy. Gymnastics is and always has been a large part of my life, and there are so many life lessons that it has given me. Every day I look forward to sharing my love of the sport along with the many lessons that come along the way with young athletes. I am incredibly grateful for the top-notch people that I work with and the amazing vision that I get to be part of here at STARZ.
Hometown: Oshkosh, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: balance beam
Hobbies: being active – I’ll try just about anything once
Favorite Snack: popcorn in the air popper
Fun Fact: After a long, competitive gymnastics hiatus, when I was 29 years old, I competed in the AAU Women’s Division and became the District Champion and National Champion!
Coach Emma
I was born in De Pere, Wisconsin and live with my mom and dad, younger sister, and my dog. My family is very much into traveling, and we have been to many places in the United States including Florida, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Arizona, Grand Canyon, and Alaska. I have also visited other countries including Mexico and Jamaica. If we are not traveling, we like to spend time at our cabin up north. In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends, do schoolwork, or tend to my grandpa who has Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. I cherish the time I get to spend with him!
I started gymnastics when I was 3 years old, but after several months, my parents pulled me out because all I wanted to do was jump and run around. At 5 years old, I returned to gymnastics, and by the age of 8, I had made the Competitive Team here at STARZ. I competed up until age 18 when I had to quit due to issues with my back and hips.
My goal is to provide opportunity for each child I coach and bring joy and smiles to their faces each and every time they walk through the door. I like to provide positivity and cheer each child on to do their best!
Hometown: De Pere, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: floor exercise
Hobbies: track
Favorite Snack: Italian, Mexican, ice cream, hi-chews, anything with peanut butter
Fun Fact: I love to learn about people and help them with their mental wellbeing.
Coach Rayne
I was originally born and raised in Appleton, WI with my parents, younger sister, and an array of pets (3 dogs, 2 cats, and a turtle). At 8 years old, I moved to Park City, UT. At 14 years old, I moved to Cape Coral, FL with my mom. Now I am back in De Pere studying Psychology at St. Norbert College (SNC).
I started dance at a young age, but as I got older, I wanted to learn to tumble. This led me to All-Star Cheer when I was 4, and I continued until I was a freshman in high school. I moved to trampoline and tumbling until I decided to take a break from sports during COVID-19 to focus on school.
Being on the cheer team at SNC, we held a kid’s camp, and that is when I realized how much I enjoyed coaching. I knew I always wanted to coach and give back to the kids, who were just like me when I was younger, an opportunity to grow and develop as they find their love for the sport but they just never had the right opportunities. This is what led me to STARZ.
The environment at STARZ is exactly what you need in a gym – uplifting, supportive, positive, and upbeat with amazing coaches. My goal is for the gym to be a safe space for the kids and to show them that no matter the challenges they may face, we will figure out a way to overcome those obstacles.
Hometown: Cape Coral, FL, but originally from Appleton, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: floor exercise or uneven bars
Hobbies: cooking or working out
Favorite Snack: fruit, salsa/queso with chips
Fun Fact: I am on the St. Norbert Cheer Team (Go Knights!)
Coach Megan
Hi, I’m Megan, and I coach Preschool and Recreational classes. I have been coaching at STARZ since 2019. My sports background consists of softball, basketball, track, and cross country. My favorite part about coaching is getting to see the amazing progress the kids make and how many new friends they meet in the process.
Thank you for allowing your wonderful kids to be coached at STARZ Gymnastics Academy.
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: floor exercise – it gives the kids a chance to show off their tumbling skills they are eager to show.
Hobbies: traveling, swimming, and spending time with my daughter
Favorite Snack: anything sweet!
Fun Fact: I have 13 pets.
Karen
I originally went to school for Court and Conference Reporting at MATC in Madison, WI. I decided to go back to my first love of teaching dance and taught dance for 27 years until I retired in 2012. While teaching dance, I passed my examinations in ballet, tap, and jazz to become a member of Dance Masters of Wisconsin and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. I also worked for over 20 years in retail/customer service at JC Penney, Lands’ End, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Victoria’s Secret.
I really enjoy getting to know the families here at STARZ Gymnastics Academy. I love to see the growth and focus of these young athletes increase as they gain confidence and poise in a positive learning environment and strength-driven program. I feel the coaches here have a unique way of creating a culture of fun, discipline, and strength into all aspects of their classes under the guidance of Kendra. Whether you are a part of our Recreational program or aspire to be on our STARZ Gymnastics Academy Team, I hope I can assist you with whichever journey you are on and welcome you into our family here at STARZ.
Hometown: Janesville, WI
Hobbies: gardening, gluten-free cooking/baking, and training our two newfoundland dogs, Tillie and Bonbon
Favorite Snack: guacamole
Fun Fact: I taught dance for 27 years in Janesville, WI and Baraboo, WI
Joe
Joe is a semi-retired gymnastics coach who enjoys supervising Birthday Parties here at STARZ. He was the owner and head coach of Northstar Gymnastics Academy and Party Gym for 25 years. That gym started in Madison – Sun Prairie, moved to Oshkosh, and finally to Green Bay – Joe’s Hometown. Northstar Gymnastics Academy closed in 2004.
While taking a break from college, he took a job as Office Manager at Madison School of Gymnastics. After taking the adult class, he realized the coaches and kids were having more fun than he was working in the office. He began studying coaching under Head Coach Dave Belknap, and the rest is history.
Career highlights include meeting and studying with Coach Bela Karolyi (Nadia Comaneci’s coach) for a weekend in Hayward, WI and discovering 10-year-old MO! Roberts at a gymnastics birthday party in Oshkosh.
Joe offered a free membership and classes to MO! and her sister if they and their mom would clean the gym once per week. We can all be grateful they said, “YES!” MO! later went on to create STARZ Gymnastics.
Joe really enjoys working with kids and parents at Birthday Parties here at STARZ and strives to keep everyone safe while having a great time.
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Favorite Event to Coach: birthday parties
Hobbies: playing in pool tournaments and golfing in the summer
Favorite Snack: dark chocolate and cherries
Fun Fact: I teach yoga on Zoom.
Mary
I was born and raised in the Green Bay area. My parents built our home in Ashwaubenon where they raised me and my brother Mark. I still live in the same house my dad built in Ashwaubenon with my husband, James, and this is where we raised our two daughters, Leigha and Bethany, who are now young adults.
I attended St. Norbert College and received my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Eventually I went on to earn my Master’s Degree in Education. My first year out of college, I taught 7th and 8th grade at a parochial school in Green Bay and then was hired by Green Bay Area Public Schools as a middle school teacher and have been teaching for over 35 years. I really have a passion for seeing and helping children and teens learn and experience new things, and desire to have a positive impact for today’s youth.
In 2018, I began working weekends at STARZ as a Birthday Party Host because I love being with kids and seeing them have fun! It has truly been exciting watching STARZ grow over these past few years. As a Birthday Party Host, my goal is to make every birthday child feel special and have a party filled with fun memories!
Hometown: Ashwaubenon, WI
Hobbies: reading
Favorite Snack: cheetos
Fun Fact: I did my student teaching in Ireland.
