Meet the Coaches!

Get to know the dedicated and passionate coaches behind Panther Paws Gymnastics. All three coaches were competitive gymnasts and are united in their love for all things gymnastics! Each coach is different and plays a unique role in your gymnastics experience. Read more about our individual coaches below.

Coach Traci

Co-Head Coach

Hello everyone!

MY FAMILY:

My name is Traci Schwarzrock & I am the Panther Paws Gymnastics Co-Head Coach (this will be my 10th year & the Co-Head Coach, Trisha, is my identical twin sister). Other than Gymnastics, I am a stay at home mom & I live in the country by the Biscay landfill with my husband, Cale, & our 3 children; 3.5 year old boy/girl twins (Remy & Riva) & 18 month old daughter (Winnie). Up til last year, I was the Supervisor & organizer of the GSL Community Education Gymnastics program (8 years) & assisted with coaching and spotting the MAGA Tumble West Gymnastics team (previous Panther Paws Team).

EDUCATION:

I graduated from college in 2010 w/ Honors & w/ a major in K-12 Physical Education Teaching & minors in Special Ed, DAPE, & Coaching.

GYMNASTICS CAREER:

*1st gymnastics class at age 4 - quit due to asthma attacks.

*Taught myself gymnastics on my trampoline & sisters helped spot skills in the house. I've always loved spotting skills & flipping!

*Very athletic & enjoyed 4 sports a year: GSL High School Gymnastics from ages 12-18 JV/Varsity & competed all-around, as well as, GSL Varsity Cheerleading squad, Varsity Softball, and performed on the Southwest All Stars Competitive Cheerleading team (attended Nationals in Orlando, Florida and placed 6th in the Nation).

*In college, I coached the Marshall High School Gymnastics team. I performed on the college SMSU Cheerleading team in 2004, coached gymnastics at the YMCA, coached the Southwest All Stars Cheer Team and took them to Nationals. Volunteered to coach the MAGA Tumble West Gymnastics team (Glencoe).

*Coached at the Hutchinson Dance and Gymnastics studio at age 24 yrs old.

*Coached at New Prague Gymnastics Club in 2012, before accepting a position for the Co-Head Coach for the MAGA Panther Paws Gymnastics teams at age 27 (2013). Won our first of many SPORTSMANSHIP awards and COACH OF THE YEAR awards in 2017-2018 season!!

Interesting Tidbits About Me:

*My favorite color: Blue

*Shoulder surgery in 2017

*I am ALWAYS thinking or doing GYMNASTICS

*I love cats & live on a hobby farm

*I grew up in Glencoe & attended the GSL School District

*I love the beach & anything beach themed

Coach Trisha

Co-Head Coach

Hey there everyone!!

MY FAMILY:

I am Trisha Fenske & I am the Panther Paws Gymnastics Co-Head Coach (this will be my 10th year & the Co-Head Coach, Traci, is my identical twin sister). Other than Gymnastics, I have been married for almost 7 years and have an almost 6 year old daughter, Aspen & 2 year old son, Oakston. I live in Hutchinson, MN. I work full time at the Glencoe-Silver Lake High School as a paraprofessional for my nephew with Angelman Syndrome, as well as his PCA in his home.

MY EDUCATION:

I attended GSL School District. I graduated from college in 2010 w/ Honors & w/ a major in K-12 Physical Education Teaching & minors in Special Ed, DAPE, & Coaching.

GYMNASTICS CAREER:

*Started first gymnastics class at age 4. Had asthma attacks frequently, so quit taking classes.

*Worked on gymnastics skills at home with our sisters spotting us from ages 5-12. Achieved 12 standing back handsprings by age 10.

*As a very athletic teen, I joined the GSL high school gymnastics team from ages 12-18 & competed 7th and 8th grade on JV, competed 9th-12th grade on Varsity on all events. Competed on the GSL Varsity Cheerleading squad, Varsity Softball, and performed on the Southwest All Stars Competitive Cheerleading team; also attended Nationals in Orlando, Florida and placed 6th in the Nation and received All Star Tumble trophy. I also worked as a gymnastics coach for the GSL Community Education Gymnastics program (since I was a high schooler until my daughter was born 5.5 years ago) & assisted with coaching and spotting the MAGA Tumble West Gymnastics team (previous Panther Paws Team).

*From ages 18-24 years old, I performed on the college SMSU Cheerleading team for my freshman year, coached gymnastics at the YMCA, coached the Southwest All Stars Cheer Team and took them to Nationals. Coached the Marshall high school gymnastics teams. Still helped coach the MAGA Tumble West Gymnastics team (Glencoe).

*Coached at the Hutchinson Dance and Gymnastics studio at age 24-26. Continued to assist with coaching and spotting the Tumble West Gymnastics team (Glencoe).

*Started and became lead coach at Mara's All That Gymnastics studio in Hutchinson in 2018 (age 31) and still coach there on Monday evenings.

Interesting Facts About Me:

*I love anything pink!!

*I can cross one eye, curl my tongue into a 3 leaf clover, flare my nose downward, and moved my eyebrows simultaneously.

*I have had 2 Shoulder surgeries and a knee surgery since 2013 & still need more shoulder surgeries! I can't stop coaching! It's my passion!!! Even though my body tells me to quit 🤣

*Gymnastics is ALWAYS on my brain! I'm kinda obsessed with gymnastics!

*I live in Hutchinson, but I am originally born and raised in Glencoe, MN.

* My favorite event as a GYMNAST: Floor

My favorite event as a COACH: Floor!

Coach Shawna

Assistant Coach

Hello, I am coach Shawna! This upcoming year will be my 2nd full year with Panther Paws Gymnastics! I have been loving it so far! I was a former Tumble West (Pre-Panther Paws MAGA Team) and GSL High School Gymnast. My favorite event is bars! I started Coaching Community Education gymnastics about 9 years ago when I was in high school then coached at Kenwood Gymnastics Center in St. Louis Park while I was in college. While I loved coaching at Kenwood, it's so great to be back at my home gym doing what I love! I have a degree in Photography and Digital Imaging as well as Graphic Design: Print Media and currently work full time at Creek View Images. Fun Fact: Traci and Trisha coached me in community ed. classes back in the day! (See Photos Below!)

Coach Alysha

Assistant Coach

Hey everyone, I am coach Alysha (a.lee.sha)! I was an assistant coach with Panther Paws Gymnastics about 5 years ago and had to put a end to it because of college! Now, I have graduated with high honors from Lake Superior College with a degree in Physical Therapy and in Massage Therapy! This will be my first year back coaching with Panther Paws Gymnastics! Other than coaching, I work as a Certified Nursing Assistant on the weekends and a Physical Therapist Assistant during the week! My fiancé and I got engaged in May and will be having a wedding in September of 2023, we also welcomed a new puppy into our family, she is a 14 week old Miniature Sheepadoodle, named Charlee.

While I was at college, I became a coach through The Gymnastics Academy and coached multiple ages and classes: skills and drills, community Ed, preschool, and advanced skills. I started my gymnastics career at a very young age and continued until I had my second knee surgery at 16! I was involved in Laketown Gymnastics until I could join the highschool team, where I was a varsity gymnast for HLWW Gymnastics. I was an all-around gymnast so I enjoyed every event, but my most favorite would have to be floor!

I am very excited to be back coaching again for Panther Paws Gymnastics!

The PPG Coaches: Meet the Coaches