leaders of the pack


Travis Walczynski
Owner/Head Coach
Hometown:  Wauconda, IL
Years with Saluki:  4
Experience:  8 years of competitive gymnastics and 11 years coaching gymnastics
Education:  BA in Flight and Airport Management, SIU

Why I coach gymnastics:  I like working with kids to improve their abilities. It's a lot of fun to see their progress and the enjoyment they get from it. Talking them through a skill and seeing it click in their head is a lot of fun. It's also different with every kid which is always a new challenge. I always like a new challenge, which is why I have been putting real effort into improving my coaching. I want to be the best coach I am capable of. Finally you develop a real connection with the kids based on trust and respect. For some reason, gymnastics attracts genuinely good kids and its awesome to see them grow into great people. I feel like, as their coach, I get to help them turn into those better people, which feels great.
Lauren Hansen​
Sara Baer
Amanda Lowery
INSTRUCTOR
ADULT & GIRLS
TEAM INSTRUCTOR
INSTRUCTOR
Hometown:  Vienna, IL
Years with Saluki Gymnastics:  1
Experience:  22 yrs of Gymnastics and Cheer Leading.  Lauren teaches Tumble Pups, Mighty Muts and Xcel Bronze

Why I coach gymnastics: Since I was 5 years old, I have been in gymnastics and have loved EVERY minute of it.  My 5 year old daughter started gymnastics 2 years ago and helping her through her own gymnastics journey has brought us closer together.  Within this last year of watching her learn and grow, I realized I wanted to be more involved with this process.  Not just for her, but for other children who want to be a part of the gymnastics world!
Hometown:  Palo Alto, California
Years with Saluki Gymnastics:  3
Experience:  Participated in gymnastics since childhood.  Has coached gymnastics on and off as an adult.
Currently:  Mother of 2 teenagers and the Chair of the Plant Biology Department at SIU.  Sara is also the faculty advisor to the SIU Gymnastics Club.

Why I coach gymnastics:  I love coaching the Bronze and Silver girls at Saluki Gymnastics, but my other goal is to inspire adults to try gymnastics and discover an alternative form of physical fitness that is both challenging and fun; you are never too old.
Hometown:  Carbondale, IL
Years with Saluki Gymnastics: 1
Experience:  Grew up doing gymnastics.
Currently:  A busy homeschooling mom to three great kids.  Amanda is also teaches music and is an active member of the local chapter of Team Red, White and Blue, an organization promoting veteran engagement within the community through physical and social activities.

Why I coach gymnastics:  I love the beauty and strength in gymnastics and love to watch the joy that the kids feel as they learn new skills!
Matt Ruiz
Kari Scott
Julie Michael
NINJA INSTRUCTOR
Hometown:  Mt. Prospect, IL
Years with Saluki Gymnastics: 1
Currently and un-derclared major at SIU with hopes of becoming a stunt double.
Experience:   2 years of competitive high school gymnastics and a Parkour coach for 3 years.

Why I coach gymnastics:  I teach gymnastics because the kids keep it interesting.  No day is the same.  It is never a boring day.  The kids keep me feeling young and full of energy to do what I like doing.
FRONT DESK MANAGER
Currently lives in Carterville and is the Front Desk Receptionist.  I'm married and have four children.  In the past I was in dance and cheer.

I chose to work here because children and athletics are two of my passions and with my history in office work, I knew that I would be a great asset to the gym.  Also, because all four of my children have a love for gymnastics and are enrolled here!
INSTRUCTOR
Dog groomer by day and gymnastics coach by night.  This mother of two is multi-talented!  Growing up in south Florida, Julie trained as a competitive figure skater form age 8-18 along side her twin sister who was a competitive gymnast.  Julie also competed in collegiate Water Skiing Nationals.  She has degrees in Art and Interior Architecture and has coached figure skating in Florida, New York and Illinois.  Julie started coaching gymnastics when she moved to Carbondale in 2011.  Now she enjoys watching her son and daughter in their gymnastics classes and running her own dog grooming business.

Julie love coaching gymnastics because it instills life lessons in students such as dedication and determination.