Midwest Training and Ice Center

Amy lives in the tri-town community with her two sons. She attended Purdue University and received both a Bachelor and Masters degree through Purdue. Before joining Midwest Training and Ice Center as Dyer’s Office Manager, Amy was a teacher for 21 years where she spent 18 of those years in special education.

Kathy has been with Midwest Training and Ice Center since 2007. She has 28 years of experience in office work; billing, scheduling, and as an office manager. Her first week at Midwest she was in awe of all the kids here – from the tiniest of hockey players to the smallest gymnasts. Kathy says “They are all awesome in what they do – they are all so talented!” Kathy, herself, is a talented artist who has done many shows and enjoys decorative painting. Her other hobbies include gardening, home canning, and to bake and cook.

Lisa has been with Midwest Training and Ice Center since the first day it opened in 2006! She was a secretary for over 30 years and is married with 4 kids. Outside of Midwest, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family and camping.

Mary lives in Schereville with her mom, two sisters, brother, and dog named Gigi. As an athlete, Mary did tumbling for 5 years and dance for 16 years, spending 8 of the 16 years as a competitive dancer. During this time, she was a part of two National Championship Dance Teams and was an All-American Scholar for 4 years. She graduated from Lake Central High School, and she is currently attending Indiana University Northwest as a marketing major. After graduating from college, Mary hopes to work for a children’s foundation working in their marketing department.

Michelle is Midwest Elite All Star Cheerleading Program Director. She is currently the Clark Middle School (Saint John, IN) Cheerleading Coach, as well.

She has over 25 years experience in cheerleading, gymnastics, and tumbling, in addition to over 10 years coaching experience. Michelle was a competitive Artistic Gymnast for 8 years.

Michelle was a cheerleader in pop warner, cheered at Marian Catholic High School, made the Illinois All-State Cheerleading Team, Participated in Allstar Cheerleading with Cheer Command (formerly known as Windy City Rockets). She attended Purdue University where she competed with the Purdue Cheer & Stunt Club as well as Cheer Express All Star Open level 6 team.

Venissa joins us as a Front Office Staff Personnel! Venissa studied at both Indiana University and Loyola Business. Venissa has worked in administration and office management for over 15 years, which gives her experience to maintain the office. Venissa has worked withMidwest since June 2013, and works in our Crown Point Office. Venissa is married with a teenage daughter who excels in Artistic Gymnastics, Cheer, and tumbling. Thanks in a large part to the coaches and staff at Midwest. Venissa is the coach for WheelerMiddle School Cheerleaders for Crown Point School Corporation.

Ashley has been skating over 16 years and has competed in synchronized skating, freestyle and solo ice dance competitions. She was a member of the Chicago Jazz for 11 years and represented Team USA at competitions in Switzerland, Italy, and France. She won the bronze medal in 2012 at the National Solo Dance Championship in Pre Silver Pattern and placed in the top five for Pre Gold Pattern in 2016. Ashley has passed the following tests: Senior Moves, Pre Gold Dance, and Intermediate Freestyle. She has been coaching at Midwest since 2013.

Carrie has been skating over 20 years and has been involved with ISI since 1993 and U.S. Figure Skating since 2002. She skated competitively as an individual through ISI for 13 years and U.S. Figure Skating for 7 years. Carrie was a member of the Homewood-Flossmoor Icettes for 8 years. She is currently a member of Chicago Radiance and has been skating with the team since 2016. Carrie has been coaching since 2008 and coaching at Midwest since 2011.

Jenna has been skating over 20 years and competed as an individual, synchronized & pair skater. She was a member of the Homewood Flossmoor Icettes for 8 years and a member of the Notre Dame Figure Skating Team in 2004. Jenna is an ISI Professional Member, Gold Certified Judge, and has a USA Hockey Level 2 coaching certification. She is a figure skating and hockey power skating coach. The majority of her hockey coaching experience is bantam and high school level. Jenna has been with Midwest since 2006 coaching both group classes and private lessons for both figure skating & hockey. She is happily married with two kids and she loves being able to teach something she is so passionate about!

Shannon has been skating over 20 years and has 14 years of experience in synchronized skating. She was a member of the Homewood Flossmoor Icettes for 3 years and a member of Radiance on Ice for 11 years. She currently is a member of Creative Ice Theatre and has been skating with the team since 2016. Shannon has been coaching since 2009 and coaching at Midwest since 2012.

Stephanie has been skating over 18 years and has competed in freestyle and solo ice dance competitions. She earned two medals at the National Solo Ice Dance Championship. She earned gold in 2012 for Gold Pattern Dance and silver in 2016 for International Pattern Dance. She has passed the following tests: Gold Dance, Senior Moves, Novice Freestyle and 5 international ice dances. Stephanie has been coaching private lessons since 2011 and has been Midwest’s Figure Skating Director since 2012.

Yvonne skated with “Holiday on Ice” for 1 year. She was the head skating instructor for 6 years at the Glenwood Ice Lodge/Park Forest South Ice Lodge. Yvonne also was the Skating Director at Homewood-Flossmoor Ice Arena for 30 years! She is a member of U.S. Figure Skating, ISI, and is an ISI Gold Certified Judge.

Zachary played minor professional hockey for 4 season after players two seasons of Division 1 Hockey at RIT. He made stops in the ECHL, MAHL and AAHL during his hockey playing career. Zachary currently instructs the off-ice program for the Blackbirds youth hockey program and officiates for Midwest.

Alicia currently lives in Crown Point, IN. She is a graduate of Lake Central High School where she was a 4 year Varsity Cheerleader. Her Senior year she was the Cheer Captain and was also nominated by her team “Most Likely to Come Back and Coach”. After high school, she went on to Cheer in college for 1 year. This former Midwest Athlete also won a Sportsmanship Award and 2009 Athlete Standout Award at Lake Central.

As a coach with 10 years experience, she lived up to her team nomination and went back to be the Asst. Cheer Coach for 1 year at Lake Central. Most of her coaching years have been spent training athletes at Midwest!

Alicia is an animal lover and truly has a passion for coaching. Everyday she brings tons of enthusiasm to her job and keeps a fun and energetic personality and a positive attitude!

Eriana is a gym coach at our Crown Point location.

Hannah lives in Crown Point, IN, with her dog named Willow. She started gymnastics when she was three years old and started competing when she was five working her way all the way up to the Junior Level on Trampoline. She attended Lake Central High School where she was a Varsity Cheerleader. Hannah has a Business Degree in Marketing & Entrepreneurship from Purdue University Calumet, and she plans to go back to get her Masters Degree. Hannah has been coaching at Midwest since 2010.

Irina Siruts was a Belarusian female gymnast where she represented her nation at international competitions. She was a participant of the European Championship, 3 time World Champion (2003, 2004, 2005), 12 time National Champion, and she was a member of the National team Belarus from 2002-2008. Irina also coached the National team of Belarus from 2014-2016. Irina will be taking and assisting in some of our artistic classes and team and we could not be more excited. Her knowledge and excitement for this sport is exemplary!!!

Jaide is a Senior at Lake Central High School and is an animal lover owning 1 dog and 2 cats. She is a Varsity Cheerleader at LC and 2017-2018 is her third year earning a letter. Jaide plans to graduate from Lake Central and go to college to become a Pediatric Radiologist.

Judy is a degreed Physical Educator with over 30 years of experience in the sport of gymnastics – club owner, head coach (club & high school), judge, and administrator. She is the former Illinois USA (USGF) Gymnastics State Chair, Junior Olympic Chair, and current Level 5 Chair. She is a wife of over 40 years, mother of 3 (all successful gymnasts), and grandmother of 4. She brings the winning attitude of “Best Effort” to Midwest!

Kim lives in Lansing, IL, and has a dog named Prince and a cat named Boots. She comes from a big family, having seven sisters.

Kim has seen a lot of success in her career. She was 1st Place AA at Level 7 State in the Junior Olympics and 1st Place AA at Level 8 State in the Junior Olypics. In college, she attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where she was MIC Conference Specialist of the Week, took 1st Place numerous times on Vault, and placed in the Top 3 several times on Bars.

During her time at UIC, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Law and is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Criminal Law with a focus in Legal Studies at Grand Canyon University. In the future, she plans to attend law school.

Lisa lives in St. John and has a boyfriend named Max and dog named Hugo. She started in gymnastics when she was three years old and one of her favorite memories and accomplishments is when she competed in Russia for Trampoline. She is a graduate of Lake Central High School, and she is currently in the Dental Hygiene Program at Indiana University Northwest.

Mary lives in Schereville with her mom, two sisters, brother, and dog named Gigi. As an athlete, Mary did tumbling for 5 years and dance for 16 years, spending 8 of the 16 years as a competitive dancer. During this time, she was a part of two National Championship Dance Teams and was an All-American Scholar for 4 years. She graduated from Lake Central High School, and she is currently attending Indiana University Northwest as a marketing major. After graduating from college, Mary hopes to work for a children’s foundation working in their marketing department.

Maya lives in Schererville, IN, with her mom, dad, brother, and pet tortoise. She is a 2017 graduate of Lake Central High School where she graduated with honors and was on the National Honor Society. She also was on the Gymnastics Team all four years winning numerous improvement and leadership awards.

Maya currently attends Purdue University Northwest and is pursuing a degree in Business Analytics. She hopes after college she can work for a major corporation.

Michelle is Midwest Elite All Star Cheerleading Program Director. She is currently the Clark Middle School (Saint John, IN) Cheerleading Coach, as well.

She has over 25 years experience in cheerleading, gymnastics, and tumbling, in addition to over 10 years coaching experience. Michelle was a competitive Artistic Gymnast for 8 years.

Michelle was a cheerleader in pop warner, cheered at Marian Catholic High School, made the Illinois All-State Cheerleading Team, Participated in Allstar Cheerleading with Cheer Command (formerly known as Windy City Rockets). She attended Purdue University where she competed with the Purdue Cheer & Stunt Club as well as Cheer Express All Star Open level 6 team.

Michelle joins us as a Midwest Elite Cheer Coach. She has her cosmetology license from Don Roberts Beauty School, and is pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Kaplan University. Michelle has 5 years coaching experience in Dance and Cheer combined.She is married to her husband Matt, with whom has 3 children. Matt, Niko, and Gianna. The reside in Crown Point.

Michelle joins us as a Midwest Elite Cheer Coach. She has her cosmetology license from Don Roberts Beauty School, and is pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Kaplan University. Michelle has 5 years coaching experience in Dance and Cheer combined.She is married to her husband Matt, with whom has 3 children. Matt, Niko, and Gianna. The reside in Crown Point.

Master of Sport Russia, comes all the way from Varonezh, Russia. Misha started taking Acro-Classes at 7 years old, and continued moving through the ranks. From 2001-2006 he competed professionally with a Mens Team in his hometown of Varonezh. Some of his achievements include placing 2nd and 3rd Russian Cup Tournament and was a finalist in 2006. Misha worked with the Ukraine National Circus as well as the Ringing Brothers. He was a Gymnastic’s Judge for the disabled in his hometown Varonezh for the City Cup and Coached Junior-Pre-Team classes.

Nicole Roethle joins Midwest Training and Ice Center from New Jersey. She has been a competitive trampoline and tumbling coach for 15 years. Nicole has been a nationally ranked judge for 13 years and an international judge for 7 years. As a competitive Senior Elite trampolinist, Nicole had the honor of representing her country on the national and international podium. She was chosen to compete at the Olympic Trials in 2004 and judge at the trials in 2012. She has a passion for coaching and takes pride in the growth and development of her athletes. Coaching state, regional and national champions, along with having athletes on the JumpStart and Elite Development Program (EDP) national team are a few coaching accomplishments Nicole has achieved. She is a great addition to the trampoline and tumbling program, as well as the preschool program.

Certifications: USAG Professional Member, USAG Safety Certified, Red Cross First Aid Certified, CPR Certified, Ropes Challenge Course Facilitator, USAG Trampoline, Tumbling and Double Mini Level 1 rated judge, Federation of International Gymnastics (FIG) Trampoline and Double Mini judging certified

Judging Accomplishments: Level 1 USAG Trampoline, Double Mini Trampoline and Tumbling judge. Judged over 10 national championships. Judged Olympic Trials in 2012. Judged at World Age Group Games in 2014.

Oleg lives in Cedar Lake, IN, with his cat named Bingo. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Moscow University of Physical Culture and Sport.

As an athlete, he was a Master of Sport USSR International Level, and from 1980 – 1990, he was a member of the USSR National Team. During his time, Oleg saw a lot of accomplishments. He was part of numerous championship teams including: the World Championship Team of 1986 and the Senior European Championship Team of 1987. He also was on the 3rd Place Junior European Team of 1984 and was part of many teams that placed on a World Cup from 1983 – 1990.

After his competition days, he was in the Cirque du Soliel Show from 1997 – 2003. He then found himself entering into the coaching world. In 2003, he coached the National Olympic Qualifier, Jennifer Perilla, and he severed as the USA National Team Coach that same year, along with 2009 and 2013. In 2007, he coached Olympic Qualifier, Brittany Dirk. Along with Perilla and Dirk, Oleg coached numerous Senior Champions on Trampoline throughout his coaching years including: Ryan Weston, David Ford, and Hayley Butcher.

Oleg plans to continue coaching and wants to use his knowledge and experience to continue to help athletes win National and International Championships.

Quincy lives with his family in Griffith, IN. He has won numerous awards throughout his Cheerleading career. To name a few, Quincy is a 10x National Champion, has been to the World Championship for Cheerleading at least 6 times, and has even won a Tumble-Off.

Rob started coaching in 1988 as a volunteer at a local YMCA. In 1991, he moved to Lakeshore Gymnastics where he stayed until purchasing the company in 2005. From 1994 to 1999 Rob also coached high school gymnastics at Portage High School and then from 2000 through 2005 he coached Chesterton High School seeing them through two State Championships and one Runner Up.

From 2005 to 2013, Rob built Lakeshore Gymnastics into the second largest gymnastics and cheer teams in the state and some of the most talented athletes in the region. Since 1988, Rob has coached over 30,000 kids, hundreds of State Champions and many Regional and National Qualifiers and Champions along with seeing over 30 of his athletes compete at the Collegiate level.

Rob has traveled the country coaching at multiple camps, training thousands of children to attain their goals.

Rob has served on the State Committee since 2010 both as the Level 7/8 Representative and currently on the Banquet and Hall of Fame Committees.

Rob’s accreditations through USA Gymnastics include but not limited to:

• National Coach: School of Competitive Gymnastics
• National Coach: Women’s Artistic Gymnastics
• Instructor: USA Gymnastics University
• Director: School of Recreational Gymnastics
• Executive: School of Business Certified Meet
• Director Rob joined Midwest in April of 2013 as the Head Team Coach in the Crown Point location.

Rob joined Midwest in April of 2013 as the Head Team Coach in the Crown Point location.

Attended Chesterton High School, Ivy Tech Community College, and Purdue University – West Lafayette. Roby was a Cheerleader for 4 years. Roby has been coaching for 8 years now, formerly of Lakeshore Gymnastics, and now at both Dyer and Crown Point Midwest locations. His favorite part of coaching is when an athlete finally gets a skill they have been working on in forever! His favorite skill is a Layout!

Tara lives in Crown Point, IN. She is one of two girls in her family, along with her sister Julia, and she has a dog named Chloe.Tara started competing in Tumbling when she was 5 years old. Along with Tumbling, she grew up playing basketball, as well. She graduated from Lake Central High School, where she was a 4 year Varsity Basketball player, and she received a scholarship to play basketball in college at Indiana University Northwest, where is is currently attending and studying Business and Economics.

Tom comes to Midwest Training from Indianapolis, IN. In his college years, he was a cheerleader for Indiana University – Bloomington. After college, Tom went on to own and be the Head Coach of Indiana Gymnastics Training School from 1986-1996. Along with owning his own gym, he has many other coaching accolades. He is a USA Gymnastics certified National Coach, has served on the Indiana USAG State Board of Directors, has been the Head Clinician at State & Regional Training Camps, and was the Assisitant Clinician at USA Gymnastics National Congress. He’s also had several athletes win State & Regional Championships, 3 AAU National Championships, and has had 1 “National Elite” Gymnast.

As a USA Gymnastics certified National Judge and a National Collegiate Athletic Association Women’s Gymnastics Judge, Tom has also scored many competitions. Some of these include the USA Gymnastics State & Regional Championships, NCAA Regional & Conference Championships, and the YMCA National Championships. He served on the Indiana NAWGJ State Board of Directors and was the Head Clinician at the USAG State & Regional Training Camps.

A few fun facts about Tom is that he was hired as a Technical Expert & Extra for the movie “Stick It” (2009). Also, his family farm was named to the Indiana Historical Society’s Top 10 Indiana Farms for the Indiana Bicentennial.

Deb has been with Midwest Training and Ice Center for 3 years. She is AED and CPR certified. Deb enjoys working out and spending time with her family.

Karen has been with Midwest Training and Ice Center since 2010. She is married with 2 children. Outside of Midwest, she enjoys spending time with her family and working out.