Rachelle Valel
Head Coach
Rachelle has been employed at Springers Gymnastics since 2005. Rachelle is NCCP Level 4 certified in artistic gymnastics, and Level 2 in trampoline. She has been coaching for over 20 years, and has worked with all levels and ages of gymnasts. Rachelle has coached athletes to the National Championships every year since 2001, including several medalists. Rachelle has been to two Canada Games as a coach (2007, 2011), has had athletes at the past three Canada Games, past two Western Canada Summer Games and represented Canada at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia as a team coach. Rachelle has a Kinesiology degree and a master's of science degree from the University of Manitoba. She is also an NCCP foundations course facilitator, and is CPR and first aid certified.
Brooke Merrifield
Athlete Development Director
Brooke has been a coach at Springers Gymnastics for over 20 years. She is NCCP Level 3 certified and has represented Manitoba as a coach at Western and National Championships for several years. As athlete development director, Brooke is responsible for identifying young athletes with the ability to pursue competitive gymnastics, and helping those athletes reach their goals. Brooke is also the primary coach of a group of pre-national athletes and develops and coaches the national level bars program. Brooke is a fully certified physiotherapist, providing on-site physiotherapy services to athletes in the competitive program. She has additional certification in acupuncture and CPR/first aid.
Candace Janzen
Recreational & Compulsory Program Manager
Candace has been employed at Springers since 2010. She is NCCP Gymnastics Foundations and Competition 1 certified in artistic gymnastics. She is also certified in Trampoline Gymnastics Foundations and CPR/first aid. Candace was a previous competitive gymnast at Springers for many years and has since coached in our recreational and competitive programs. She is passionate about coaching and helping her athletes achieve their goals. After over 10 years of coaching in various programs and taking on a leadership role amongst staff, Candace has assumed the role and responsibility of managing all of our recreational programs, as well as our JO level 2-5 competitive program.
Debra Olson
Office Manager
Debra is Springers Gymnastics' office manager. She brings with her 25+ years of administrative and customer service experience. Debra came to us because she was interested in working in an environment that helps promote strength and confidence in young women. She is responsible for the daily operations of the office including but not limited to the bookkeeping, member database management and event planning.
Carla Clegg
Daytime Coordinator
Carla is Springers Gymnastics' daytime program coordinator, and is NCCP Level 2 certified. Carla has been coaching gymnastics for 25 years, and is also an early childhood educator who has worked with pre-school children in a daycare for nine years. She has a bachelor of Physical Education degree from the University of Manitoba, a bachelor of arts with a major in English from the University of Winnipeg, and standard first aid CPR/AED (HCP) Certification.