USA Aerial Athletics

Our Staff


		Heather Schnelzer, Owner and Head Coach Heather 's passion for gymnastics comes from growing up as a competitive gymnast ,where she competed at the Junior Elite level. She was recruited by the College of William and Mary before transferring to Trinity University, here in San Antonio. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Trinity University. After eight years of serving as Head Coach for several gymnastics clubs, Heather opened Aerial Athletics. In 2007, she received the award for Texas Coach of the Year and Region III Coach of the Year. Heather has one son, Jackson.
		Valerie Oates, Office Manager Val brings twenty-four years of business marketing experience to Aerial Athletics. Since 2006, Val has not only managed our busy office, but has it with a friendly welcome and smile to every customer. Val has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Parks and Recreation from Texas A&M University.
		Jennifer Banowsky, Acro Team Head Coach Jennifer built on her prior experience as a team and recreational gymnastics coach when she began the acrobatic gymnastics program at Aerial Athletics in 2007. A graduate of Trinity University with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, she has also taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten in both public and private schools. She is an acrobatic gymnastics judge and serves as Regional Judges Coordinator. In 2008, she was named Region 3 Acrobatic Gymnastics Coach of the Year.
		Amy Cardwell, Director of Above & Beyond Gymnastics (Special Needs Program) Amy Cardwell has been coaching since 1994 and started Above & Beyond in 2001. She is currently the Gymnastics Program Director for Kinetic Kids, a non-profit group that gives kids with special needs a chance to do a variety of sports and recreational activities. Amy also serves as the Gymnastics Competition Director for the Special Olympics. Above & Beyond has been based at Aerial Athletics since 2003.
		Raechel Espinosa, Pre-School Director, Recreational Gymnastics Instructor, Pre-Team Assistant Coach Raechel graduated with the class of 2010. She has been coaching since 2007. Prior to coaching, she was the captain of the Aerial Athletics All Star Cheerleading team. She is planning to attend NE Lakeview College and wants to pursue a degree in sociology. Her career goal is to become a Youth Minister. She demonstrates her passion for the sport, the kids, and her love of Christ in a very enthusiastic manner. The students always have fun and love Coach RaeRae.
		Gabe Guel, GymKids Manager, Lead Summer Adventures Instructor, Lead Birthday Party Coordinator, Recreational Gymnastics and Tumbling Instructor With over ten years of coaching and cheerleading experience, Gabe has been a High School, All-Star, and Collegiate cheerleader and has coached in Dallas and Oklahoma City. In '07 Gabe had the opportunity of being a member of the NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs: Coyote Crew. Gabe has won numerous titles as Head All-Star Cheer Instructor.
		Henry Hernandez, Recreational Gymnastics Instructor; Summer Adventures Supervisor & Birthday Party Coordinator Henry has been with Aerial Athletics since 2006. Henry moved to San Antonio from the Valley where he coached gymnastics for 5 years. Always with a smile, Henry teaches his students with a contagious energy that ensures that all his students can't wait to come back.
		Christina Jeffrey, Team Coach Christina was a competitive gymnast in New Mexico and at the age of 14 she stopped competing due to the closure of her gymnastics facility. At the age of 16 she began caoching at Twisters Gymnastics in Alamogordo, NM. In December 2007, she was informed that the only gymnastics club in her hometown would be closing. In two weeks over Christmas Break, she bought the equipment, moved it to a new location, and re-opened the gymnastics club. Christina has coached gymnastics for 10 years. She has enjoyed coaching all compulsory and optional levels. She relocated to San Antonio, TX the summer of 2010 with her husband who is in the Air Force and also still owns her gym in New Mexico.
		Jennifer Miller, Recreational Gymnastics Instructor
		Kerry Pagel, Team Coach Kerry moved to San Antonio from Dayton, Ohio where she coached for Twigs Gymnastics for seven years. She was the Director of the Girl’s Program and coached Girls Competitive Team Levels 1-5. She has been dancing for fifteen years and enjoys ballet, modern, contemporary and belly dance. She is now the ballet teacher for all Aerial Athletics Girls Competitive Teams. She has been with Aerial Athletics since 2009.
		Angel Paulson, Team Coach, Recreational Gymnastics Instructor
		Anna Pawlak, Team Coach Anna has been involved with gymnastics her whole life. After representing the Polish National Team she received an athletic scholarship to Northern Illinois University in Dekalb. After graduating from college, she started her coaching career first in Illinois and later in Arizona where she coached for almost 10 years. Anna joined the Aerial Athletics staff in 2009 and she is really excited about being part of the amazing program here in San Antonio.
		Lauren Schwartzman, Team Coach Lauren came to Aerial Athletics in 2007 after serving as the Assistant Gymnastics Coach at the University of Missouri. In her younger years, she was a Level 10 gymnast for South Texas Gymnastics Academy and gained a full athletic scholarship to the University of Missouri. With Lauren's collegiate experience and her own enthusiastic personality, she offers her students exceptional training.
		Ryan Snider, Team Coach; Recreational Gymnastics and Tumbling Instructor A native to San Antonio, Ryan grew up competing in gymnastics. He brings a high level of experience and a friendly approach to all his students. Ryan has been with Aerial Athletics since 2006 and coaches the Girl's Competitive Team Level 5 - 10.
		Kaitlyn Tarjan, Team Director Kaitlyn Tarjan has been passionately invovled in competitive gymnastics since she was 5 years old, as a gymnast, coach and judge. Unfortunately, she had to retire from competitive gymnastics at the Junior Elite level due to a knee injury, but remains dedicated to gymanstics. Kaitlyn graduated from Texas State University in 2009 with a B.S. in Exercise and Sports Science. She has coached for several gymnastics clubs around South Texas and she is now happy to call San Antonio home with her husband.