"In the past, people were born royal. Nowadays, royalty comes from what you do." - GV
coaching staff
Brie Chuipek - TEAM COACH
kyle dummer - TEAM Coach and tumble instructor
jen dosch - TEAM coach anD class instructor
15+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
Former Collegiate Cheerleader - Sam Houston State; 2018 Collegiate National Champion;
4+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2021 Worlds Finalist, 2021 8th Place Worlds, multiple Summit qualifying teams, 2022 6th Place Summit Finalist, multiple national and grand championship titles including WSF, GLCC, and CSG Super Nationals; 2023 Summit Champion; 2024 4th Place Worlds.
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
Credentialed with USASF and SafeSport.
jen dosch - TEAM coach anD class instructor
kyle dummer - TEAM Coach and tumble instructor
jen dosch - TEAM coach anD class instructor
20+ years competitive cheerleading and coaching experience;
5+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2021 Regional Summit 2nd Place Finalist, 2022 Summit qualifying team, multiple national and grand championship titles including CSG Super Nationals and GLCC; 2023 Top Ten Summit Finalist.
3+ years Head Coach Vernon Hills High School - 2021 Top Three IHSA State Finalist and 2022 Top Ten IHSA State Finalist.
Jen was named a 2022 "Top 20 Under 40" Real Estate Agent by the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors; she was also recently recognized as an "Outstanding Volunteer" for the Make-A-Wish Foundation!
Credentialed with USASF, USA Cheer, SafeSport, IHSA, First Aid & CPR.
kyle dummer - TEAM Coach and tumble instructor
kyle dummer - TEAM Coach and tumble instructor
Gianna Eckhart - TEAM coach and class instructor
11+ years gymnastics and tumbling experience;
6+ years Woodward Tumbling Staff;
7+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2022-2024 Summit qualifying teams, 2022 UCA Silver Champion, multiple national and grand championship titles including CSG Super Nationals, JamFest, and GLCC; 2023 Third Place Youth Summit; 2024 6th Place Youth Summit.; 2024 Summit Bronze Medalist.
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
Credentialed with USASF and SafeSport.
Gianna Eckhart - TEAM coach and class instructor
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
Gianna Eckhart - TEAM coach and class instructor
15+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
2017 World Champion
3+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2021 2nd Place Regional Summit, 2022-2024 Summit qualifying teams, multiple national championship titles including CSG Super Nationals and GLCC; 2024 Summit Bronze Medalist.
Gianna comes from a long line of avid cheerleaders; her mom, Kelly, is a former all star cheerleading coach and sister, Ashley is a 3x Summit Champion!
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
Credentialed with USASF and SafeSport.
cody latimer - TEAM Coach, Music producer, and Choreographer
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
Former collegiate athlete - Football and Track;
10+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2016 Summit 2nd Place Finalist, 2021 UCA Silver Champion, 2021 NCA Silver Champion, 2021 Summit Finalist, 2022 5th Place Summit Finalist, 2022 6th Place Summit Finalist, 2022 Ulta Sponsorship team, multiple Summit qualifying teams, multiple national and grand championship titles including WSF, CheerSport, JamFest, CSG Super Nationals, GLCC; 2023 Summit Champion and Reserve Champion; 2024 Summit Champion and Bronze Medalist; 2024 4th Place Worlds,
"My strength is being able to produce the music, choreograph the routine, and coach the skills."
Credentialed with USASF and SafeSport.
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
Karli Merritt - TEAM coach and class instructor; pilates instructor
10+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
7+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2021 4th Place Summit Finalist, 2022 Regional Summit Champion, 2022 5th Place Summit Finalist, multiple Summit qualifying teams, multiple national and grand championship titles, including WSF, JamFest, CSG Super Nationals and GLCC. 2024 Reserve Champion Cheersport; 2024 Youth Summit Finalist and Top Ten.
Former asst. coach for Vernon Hills High School - Top Ten IHSA State Finalist.
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
Credentialed with USASF, SafeSport, and IHSA.
Karli is also a certified Pilates Instructor, teaching specialized classes at UA.
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
10+ years competitive cheer experience;
6+ years NCA Camp Instructor and Choreographer
3+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2022 Regional Summit Champion, 2022 Top Ten Summit Finalist, multiple Summit qualifying teams, multiple national and grand championship titles, including WSF, CSG Super Nationals, and GLCC; 2024 Summit Finalist teams, 2024 Bronze Medalist.
4+ years as high school coach for Hersey High School and Schaumburg High School - IHSA State qualifying teams.
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
"This will be my fourth year as an all star coach and I have coached levels 1, 2, 3 and 5. I am beyond ecstatic to get the season off with such a positive group of athletes and coaches!"
Credentialed with USASF, SafeSport, and IHSA.
Evan Teague - TEAM COACH, class instructor, choreographer
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
10+ years competitive cheer experience;
5+ NCA Camp Instructor and Choreographer
2+ All Star coaching experience including: 2023-2024 National Prep Champion, 2023 Top Three Division Leader for the Varsity League, multiple division champion and grand champion titles, Youth Summit qualifier, The Summit qualifier; 2024 Summit Bronze Medalist.
2+ years as high school asst. coach for South Elgin Cheer - IHSA state qualifying teams;
*Veteran Worlds athlete with the former Ultimate Athletics
Credentialed with USASF, SafeSport, and IHSA.
ashley thompson -TEAM coach and class instructor
Tyler Teague -TEAM coach, class instructor, and choreographer
ashley thompson -TEAM coach and class instructor
20+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
Former Collegiate Cheerleader - Lewis University;
Former Cheer Coach for South Elgin High School; IHSA Top Ten State Finalist;
4+ years as former Head Cheer Coach - Hersey High School; IHSA State Qualifying team.
3+ years All Star coaching experience, including: 2021 Summit qualifying team; 2022 Summit qualifying team; 2022 Prep National Champion, multiple national championship titles including CSG Super Nationals and GLCC; 2024 Summit Finalist.
In 2022, as Director of the half season program, Ashley grew and managed over 60 additional athletes and successfully led several of the teams to an undefeated season! Her 2022 and 2023 half season teams were Prep National champions and undefeated!
Credentialed with USASF, SafeSport, and IHSA.
taylor gissendaner - TEAM DIRECTOR
taylor gissendaner - TEAM DIRECTOR
ashley thompson -TEAM coach and class instructor
15+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
8+ years All Star coaching experience, including: D2 Summit Winner, multiple Summit Finalist teams, multiple Summit qualifying teams, multiple Top Three NCA placements, 2021 NCA Silver Champion, 2021 UCA Silver Champion, 2021 Summit Finalist, 2022 Ulta Sponsorship team, 2022 Regional Summit Champion, 2022 5th Place Summit Finalist, 2022 Top Ten Summit Finalist, multiple national championships including JamFest, CheerSport, and WSF. 2023 Third Place Youth Summit and 2023 Summit Reserve Champion; 2024 Summit Champion, 2024 Bronze Medalist; 2024 6th Place Youth Summit.
Credentialed with USASF, SafeSport, and USA Cheer.
"My goal is to help athletes find their passion for this sport like I was able to 14 years ago. I aspire to give athletes the same experiences that I had as an athlete, allowing them to grow in confidence, mindset, and also physically. The original Ultimate Athletics first sparked my love for cheerleading. I am excited to see other athletes flourish as a part of the Royal Family just like I did."
Diana tomaino - gym manager
taylor gissendaner - TEAM DIRECTOR
Diana tomaino - gym manager
20+ years competitive dance, gymnastics, and cheer experience;
Former competitive dancer and gymnast;
20+ years retail and fashion supply chain experience;
real estate broker with @properties;
Daughter is a former Team USA cheerleader and ICU champion, 2023-2024 Summit Champion, 2024 4th Place Worlds Finalist, and current athlete.
Credentialed with USASF and SafeSport.
jessica conner - Owner
taylor gissendaner - TEAM DIRECTOR
Diana tomaino - gym manager
35+ years competitive cheerleading experience;
Former Collegiate Cheerleader - St. Norbert College;
Former NFL Cheerleader;
30+ years coaching experience in recreational, IHSA, and WIAAWI sects;
15+ years All Star coaching experience, including: multiple Summit and Worlds Finalists, multiple Summit Top Ten Finalists, multiple Summit Top Five Finalists, 4th Place Summit Finalist, multiple national and grand championship titles including WSF, CheerSport, JamFest, CSG Super Nationals, and GLCC.
Former accredited Varsity and IHSA judge; Credentialed with USASF, AACCA, AAU, SafeSport, and USA Cheer. First Aid & CPR Certified; M.S.S. in Sports Coaching.
"I have dedicated the majority of my life to Cheerleading and the truest rewards are not in the form of accolades nor trophies. They are rooted in the results of the experience - in the fundamental basis for youth sports and the emphasis on character, contribution, community, and healthy competition. The coaches and I recognize the importance of our role in your athletes' lives and the need to provide an environment that coaches the mind, body, and spirit of our athletes."
coaching staff CONTINUED
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
.FULL BIO COMING SOON!
CAITLIN CONNER - TEAM COACH AND CLASS INSTRUCTOR
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
FULL BIO COMING SOON!
NICOLETTA TOMAINO - TEAM COACH AND CLASS INSTRUCTOR
GREG WILHELM - TUMBLE INSTRUCTOR AND 1/4 SEASON COACH
JOSIE ANDINO - TEAM COACH AND TUMBLE CLASS INSTRUCTOR
FULL BIO COMING SOON!
JOSIE ANDINO - TEAM COACH AND TUMBLE CLASS INSTRUCTOR
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
JOSIE ANDINO - TEAM COACH AND TUMBLE CLASS INSTRUCTOR
FULL BIO COMING SOON!
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
FULL BIO COMING SOON!
SAMANTHA HOUDEK - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
MICHAEL KNIESEL - TEAM COACH AND STUNT CLASS INSTRUCTOR
FULL BIO COMING SOON!
make excellence your habit.
CONGRATULATIONS, LADY SHADE!
2024 SUMMIT CHAMPIONS