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The Hardt's Phyllis' gymnastics started in high school in Colorado with state championship titles and earned her a place on the then prestigious Southern Illinois University Women's Gymnastics Team (1969-73). Division I SIU was the center of Women's Gymnastics in the U.S. during these years under the direction of Mr. Herb Vogel. Numerous national team championships, elite gymnasts and Olympians were expected elements of the SIU program. As a many time National All-American, Phyllis was selected alternate to the World Games in 1973. She was one of, if not the, first women to ever do a Toe-Front dismount off uneven bars and a handspring front on vaulting...not too bad considering the equipment of the day. Upon graduation, a few years later, she found herself in Oshkosh with husband Dale and accepted a coaching job at Division III University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh. Together with Dale, UW Oshkosh would win 12 State Championships, 2 Division III National Championships and one Division II National Championship. In the process, scores of UW Oshkosh women gymnasts would become All-Americans on the road to winning numerous individual state, regional and national titles. As if this wasn't enough, Phyllis and Dale started the Oshkosh Gymnastics Club for girls through the Division of Continuing Education. In essence, OGC is a continuation of this program. While at the University, the Oshkosh Gymnastics Club would send girls to state, regional and national championships. Still wanting to contribute more, the Hardt's began the Oshkosh Summer Gymnastics Camp at the University. This camp would extend over the 15 years the Hardt's coached at the university and would grow to over 200 young athletes visiting the university for one week every summer. Phyllis is now the President/Owner, the Girls Program Director, The Girls Head Coach and an instructor at OGC. Most recently, Phyllis was inducted into the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Athletic Hall Of Fame AND the Colorado High School Hall Of Fame. Dale, from Skokie, Illinois was also a high school state champion on trampoline and tumbling. Competing on these events, he made a name for himself competing skills rarely done while inventing still others. Competing triple twisting back somersaults on tumbling in 1963 and multiple twisting double somersaults on trampoline, he attended the then prestigious Southern Illinois University from 1965-1968. Since SIU had both numerous men's and women's National Championship Teams through the 60's, at one point it was declared the Gymnastics Capitol of the U.S. After his second year of teaching high school, not yet quite done with competition, Dale qualified for and competed in the 1970 World Trampoline Championships. Taking Third, this experience would remain one his crowning achievements. Returning to graduate school at SIU from 1970 to 1974, Dale would complete a Ph.D. in Health Education, Assist with the Nationally Ranked Women's gymnastics team and start a small gymnastics club in Carbondale, Illinois called Tumble Town. Accepting an Assistant Professorship in Health Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1975, Dale & Phyllis settled in Oshkosh. The rest as we say is the beginning. While now an Associate Professor Emeritus at UW Oshkosh, Dale assists Phyllis with the OGC competitive program. In 2007, Phyllis & Dale were recipients of the Wisconsin State Coaches of the Year Award. Additionally, they were also recipients of the Region 4 Coaches of the Year Award. In 2009, Phyllis and Dale were once again the recipients of the Wisconsin State Coaches of the Year Award. Permanent Staff Members Debbie Marchiando Russell was on the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Women's Gymnastics Team from 1980 to 1984. She was a member of four WWIAC University State Championship Teams as well as the first Division III National Championship team in 1980. Among Debbie's titles were All-Conference status, State Balance Beam Champion, and a National All-American. Debbie taught preschool and basic gymnastics for the University age group program before leaving the university to come coach for OGC. With over 14 years of experience instructing children and adolescents, she is currently a professional member of USA Gymnastics, is USA Safety Certified and is OGC's Preschool Program Director. OGC is proud and lucky to have someone with Debbie's background, knowledge and enthusiasm. Dave Russell was a 1984 UW-Oshkosh graduate and former member of the 4 time National Champion Men's Gymnastics Team; 3 time National Parallel Bar Champion and National All-American; former Director and head coach for the Boy's All-Around and Competitive gymnastics program at UW-Oshkosh, coaching individuals to state, regional and Junior Olympic National Championships. Over 15 years of experience instructing and coaching children and adolescents. He is currently a Professional Member of USA Gymnastics, is Safety Certified and is also the Boys Head Coach. Trisha Geddes: Head coach for Compulsory Levels 5 & 6 and Coach of Optional Levels 7 - 10. Elena Agler is an Instructor and Team Coach for Compulsory Levels 4 - 6 as well as the Head Coach for Compulsory Level 3. She started her gymnastics career at the age of 6 in Novosibirsk, Russia. She was trained by her aunt and uncle, the head tumbling gymnastics coach at the Siberia Gym until she was 14. During that time she competed all over the Soviet Union for the Novosibirsk Gymnastics team. She worked as an acrobat in the Novosibirsk Circus starting when she was 18 for 2 years and began her coaching career at the age of 20. She was a tumbling coach for children at the Siberia Gym for the next 15 years. She immigrated to the United States in 2005. She taught tumbling to students at the Rocky Mountain Gym and the University of Utah, before moving to Oshkosh and joining the team at the Oshkosh Gymnastics Center. With an undergraduate degree in Child Psychology, she has extensive experience teaching beginning gymnastics to children. She combines technical expertise with an understanding of children and is able to make it fun for kids of all levels. Additional Staff: It is our policy and practice at OGC to secure additional staff members who are qualified, experienced, knowledgeable and have the capability to work with children of all ages and ability levels. All staff are safety certified by USA Gymnastics, the National governing body, and are encouraged to attend continuing education seminars yearly. Continuing long term staff include:
Linda Dorsey: KAT certified; OGC Preschool Instructor. Nancy Alf: Administrative Staff; Receptionist. Julie Brady: Administrative Staff; Instructor |
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