About Us

KC Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics

ABOUT OUR FAMILY

Elite Gymnastics is proud to support

serving Johnson County since 1973!

Gerald Carley

Owner
Gerald, the owner of Elite Gymnastics Club, Inc., holds a Bachelors of Science in Elementary and Secondary Education. Following a few years teaching in the Shawnee Mission School District, Gerald decided to open Elite.

Gymnastics colleagues in the Kansas Gymnastics Association recognized Gerald for as Coach of the Year in 1984 – 85 and 1986-87. He has served as a member of the USAG Kansas State Board since 1978 and was honored with the “Kansas Outstanding Contribution to Gymnastics Award” in 1986. He currently is a safety-certified Professional Member with USA Gymnastics.

Since its opening in 1973, Elite has trained numerous gymnasts who have performed well at State, Regional and National competitions, as well as obtained athletic scholarships at various colleges and universities. Two former Elite gymnasts went on to become NCAA National Champions. In 1985, Elite was the first team in the state of Kansas to place first at all competitive levels for the State Meet.

Levels 4-10

Kristi Sharp
Kristi is a Compulsory and Optional Coach at Elite. She holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Kansas and has been working with children since 1989. Her experiences range from inner-city social issues (Minneapolis,MN) to CASA to Lansing State Penitentiary’s JAIL (Juvenile Assistance Information Liaison - "Scared Straight") to juvenile detention and probation. She has worked closely with many youth outreach programs beginning with the Salvation Army Youth Camps at the age of 16, with truancy programs and with gangs in inner city Minneapolis. She has given many hours on behalf of children and young people and one thing is for certain, she truly enjoys the kids.

Kristi started gymnastics in 1975 at the age of four. She competed through high school and started coaching while in college.

Kristi is a safety-certified Professional member with USA Gymnastics. She has attended conferences, both Regional and National Congresses and has continued to educate herself in gymnastics.

She has coached athletes to State Championships, Regionals, Westerns and Nationals.

Levels 4-10

Emily Carney

Director of Recreational Gymnastics

Naomi Mayekawa

Naomi is the dance instructor at Elite and has been working with Elite since 1998. She has choreographed optional routines and worked with compulsories. Naomi has been coaching gymnastics for more than 20 years and has an extensive backround in dance. Naomi has been a Region I Congress Consultant for many years.

Levels 4-10

Olga Simpson

Compulsory coach

Kortney Smithwick

Lindsey Barquist

Becky MacAuly

Kristina Pederson

Kristie Cash

Jennifer Boch

Kelli Ridgeway

Patrick Ballard

Brianna Awad

Nichole Reed

Halie Hungerford

Office Department

Gina Skiles is currently the Office Manager as well as the Aquatics Director for Elite Gymnastics & Aquatics. She came to Elite six years ago when her daughter started attending gymnastics. Within a few months she was helping out at the front desk and later went on to become the Office Manager. In the spring of 2007 she took on the responsibilities of the Aquatics Director, and continues to run the department as well as manage the front desk.

Director of Billing

Special Events Department

Kortney Smithwick

Kortney is the Director of Special Events. She also teaches gymnastics and is the lead swim instructor in Aquatics. She graduated from Paseo Academy in 2005 and has completed EMT training from Blue River Community College making her a certified EMT. During the summer Kortney helps manage a water park in Raytown, MO where she has been since 2001. Kortney has been with Elite since 2007.