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Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744

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COACHING BIOGRAPHIES

BRUCE BURNS: GIRLS' CO-HEAD COACH

Bruce is the girls' co-head coach for competitive level 5 and higher.  However, he also periodically helps coach girls' level 4, the other pre-team levels, and recreational classes.  He works at Kokokahi 6 or 7 days a week, for about 50 hours a week.

    Bruce started in gymnastics at the age of 15 in Southern California.  After high school, he competed for 2 years at Golden West Junior College, making it to the Nationals in both years.

    However, Bruce started coaching gymnastics at a very early age (even in high school), and soon found that coaching was his main interest.   Early in his career, he coached for 5 years at Jete in Westminster, California, and during this time was involved in coaching two girls who were in the top 10 in the world, as well as one female Olympian.  After additional short stints at Scats Gym and Kips Gym, Bruce was recruited to become an assistant gymnastics coach at UCLA.  During his first year in that position, the UCLA Women's gymnastics team took second in the NCAA championships, missing out on the NCAA title by only 5/100 of a point.  After 1 year, Bruce took a position as an assistant girls' gymnastics coach at Arizona State for 3 years.  During each of these 3 years, Arizona State took second in the NCAA championships, with Bruce coaching all events except uneven bars.  While at Arizona State, Bruce also coached with two private clubs, Twister's Gym and the Desert Devils.   During this time period Bruce was fortunate to coach with the Stormy Eaton, whom Bruce considers to be one of the greatest motivators in the sport of gymnastics.

    After a five year hiatus from gymnastics during which Bruce went into business for himself, Bruce returned as an assistant Women's gymnastics coach at UCLA for 2 years.  Then he was recruited to move to New York to work with the famous Chelsea Piers Club, which work eventually involved designing and building a gym, coaching gymnastics, and building the largest rock climbing wall in the world (the entire club was a $120 million project).  (Bruce is also an avid mountain and rock climber).   After that, Bruce returned to coach at Twister's Gym for one year, again coaching with one of the best coaches in the world.  He left Twisters to come to Hawaii and Kokokahi.

SUZIE GAMBLE: GIRLS' CO-HEAD COACH

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Suzie achieved early success in competitive gymnastics.  Working her way up, she was eventually selected to be on the Canadian Junior National team (which includes Canada's top twelve junior gymnasts).   She competed for the Canadian Junior National Team between 1981 and 1983, including competitions in the World University Games.

    She later competed on scholarship for the Arizona State Women's Gymnastics Team, before transferring to Cal State - Fullerton, again on scholarship with the Women's Gym Team.  At ASU, Suzie and her teammates finished fifth at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships.  During her three years at Fullerton, Suzie and her teammates qualified for three NCAA championships, achieving a fifth place finish.

    After completing her collegiate competitive career, Suzie graduated from Cal State - Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development in May 1988.   She took a break from gymnastics between 1986 and 1991.  She moved to Hawaii and began coaching gymnastics at Kokokahi in June 1991.  Also, she was the girls' varsity gymnastics coach at Punahou in 1996-97.  Currently, in addition to being the Girls' Co-Head Coach, she instructs the girls in an Elite Gymnastics program, as well as being a choreographer for balance beam and floor exercise.

GABE IRONO

Gabe found gymnastics when he took it as a P.E. requirement for high school. He joined and competed for his high school team in Chicago, Illinois. He continued to stay in the sport as an athlete and instructor through his studies at the University of Chicago. After a term with the U.S. Army as a Military Intelligence Specialist, he moved to Hawaii and coached recreation and competitive girls at the Hawaii Gymnastics Academy in Honolulu. In 1998 he began coaching at Hawaiian Island Twisters, where he coached for several years before they made a move out of Kaneohe. He came to Kokokahi Gymnastics, where he has become a very integral part of the competitive girl’s team. He specializes in teaching gymnastics to adults and members of Drill Team Hawaii since 2002 and is a USA Gymnastics safety certified and professional member. Kokokahi is fortunate to have his enthusiasm and knowledge.

KATIE WIDA

Katie moved to Hawaii in 1997 and shortly after came to Kokokahi to impart her love and knowledge of the sport to those she teaches. Katie is the senior coach of the recreational classes as well as head coach of the level 4 team. She comes from the Desert Devils in Arizona, coached by the late Stormy Eaton, a coach of high regard among the gymnastics community. Katie competed for 10 years, and was a part of her high school team that became state champions in 1987. Katie likes to help gymnasts learn skills and see them become successful in their efforts. Seeing gymnasts start at the lower levels and move to the higher levels is very rewarding for Katie, as she knows she has helped them advance their skills. As a coach, Katie wants to instill in her gymnasts the love of being in the gym as much as she did. Katie is married and a USA Gymnastics safety certified and professional member.

KIM YOW

Coming to coach at Kokokahi after almost 17 years with the University of California at Berkeley’s Junior Olympic Program was a real change for Kim. She brings to Kokokahi her knowledge and experience of administrative duties and teaching recreational classes, specializing in preparing gymnasts for competitive team, as well as coaching level 4 gymnasts during her time with UC Berkeley. During her time with the University she was a coach, administrator and parent. She developed many of the manuals and policies that are currently used. Kim learned about gymnastics during her junior high school days, when she needed to pick a sport to do. She was not going to play field hockey and was already a lifeguard, so gymnastics it was. It was a natural sport for her. She fell in love with all aspects of the sport. Competing at the highest level of her time, she has remained active in the sport she loves for more than 3 decades. Kim is a USA Gymnastics safety certified and professional member, certified skill evaluator, KAT and MELPD certified.

MONICA HARA

Inspired by Mary Lou Retton in the 1984 Olympics, Monica started gymnastics at Kokokahi at the age of 3. Born and raised on the island, Monica completed her career at Level 10, representing Kokokahi at many Regional and National Championships. She was coached by Suzie and Bruce for her last 8 years before becoming a coach here at Kokokahi Gymnastics. Said to be a tough competitor, she instills that in the gymnasts she coaches as she imparts her knowledge and love of the sport. She coaches recreational classes as well as our compulsory girl’s team. She is a USA Gymnastics safety certified and professional member.

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