Meet The Coaches

          We are confident the experience and  enthusiasm of our coaches will empower any child to progress in and enjoy the sport of gymnastics.

Owner/ Program Director

Kari has been involved in the sport of gymnastics since 1975. She competed both nationally and internationally for 12 years. She qualified to state, regional and national competitions. She was also awarded a scholarship to University of Massachusetts for gymnastics. She has coached both recreational gymnastics and competitive gymnastics in many different settings. Most recently she has coached the All Stars competitive acro company which has been recognized on both regional and national level. In addition she has a passion for general health and wellness. She is an accomplished dietitian where she was the senior nutritionist at Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires a world renown health resort.

She has spoken on the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship as well as numerous programs sponsored by Shape Magazine. She is the proud mother of 2 children and wife to Frank DeMarinis, P.E. Frank is a nationally accomplished wrestler as well as owner of Sage Engineering ,LLC. Her daughter Sierra, age 7, recently won a national title for acro dance and a regional title. She truly enjoys all aspects of the sport of gymnastics and hopes to inspire children of all ages.

Team Manager

Pam Pryor brings with her 20 years of teaching experience as a gymnastics professional. After managing a very successful start-up gymnastics center in Ohio, Pam moved to the local area where she has been the program manager and head coach for several of Massachusetts’ most competitive team programs. In addition to handling the administrative and programming aspects of these businesses, Pam is continually recognized by her peers for her consistent success in the coaching and motivation of young athletes. Regardless of level or ability, Pam’s innovative approach resonates with each student with whom she interacts to create a strong and lasting bond of mutual respect.  Pam is married to Root’s coach Steve Pryor and they have five children of their own – Christie, Danielle, Patrick, Stephen and Riley. This unique personal/professional perspective helps them stay committed to the healthy physical, emotional and social development of all the children that they teach.

Team Manager

Steve Pryor brings 20 years of gymnastics experience as both an athlete and a coach at all levels. He showed an early interest and involvement in the development of children when he began teaching pre-school gymnastics at age 15, and he has progressively been able to combine his joy of teaching with his technical knowledge of the sport to coach state, regional and national caliber athletes. Steve was a 4-year varsity letter winner in gymnastics at the University of Massachusetts and attained his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science to augment his technical understanding of the kinetic and physiological training effects for athletics. During his tenure as an athlete he was a three-time captain and selected as finalist for the prestigious Nissen-Emery Award, which is presented to the nation’s outstanding senior gymnast for performance, academics and sportsmanship. Upon graduation, he was the assistant coach for the nationally ranked UMass program while pursuing his MBA with a concentration in Sport Management. He has been coaching professionally in western Massachusetts since 1998.  Steve is married to Root’s coach Pam Pryor and they have five children of their own – Christie, Danielle, Patrick, Stephen and Riley. This unique personal/professional perspective helps them stay committed to the healthy physical, emotional and social development of all the children that they teach.

Birthday Party and Special Event Coordinator

Previously a level 10 gymnast, Christie has coached and choreographed gymnastics routines for five years.  She was salutatorian of the Windsor Locks class of 2006 and has continued her academic interests at the University of Connecticut , pursuing a BS degree Psychology with a Neuroscience Minor.  She organizes the Birthday Parties at Roots and coordinates special events.  She is also the resident photographer.

Roots Class Instructor/Pre Team Coach

 Kylie attends Westfield State College as a Criminal Justice/Psychology major.  She was trained in Gymnastics for 13 years formally and was part of the Westfield High School gymnastics team for 3 years while doing track and field for 4 years with the position of captain her Junior and Senior year.  She has worked for Roots Gymnastics since they opened in March 2008.  Kylie assists the Petite Elite Program as well as coaching the Pre team.

Roots Class Instructor

Amy currently attends Westfield High School where she is a member of the varsity soccer team.  She coaches all ages of recreational gymnastics.  She has been an instructor for the Westfield Park and Rec gymnastics camp for the past 4 years.  She truly loves working with children. 

Little Sprouts Instructor

For over a decade, Sheri has been working with preschool aged children in various settings. She obtained a degree in Early Childhood and has maintained her certification as an infant, toddler and preschool teacher.  In addition, she continued her professional development by completing special workshops in early childhood education.  Sheri is native to Montgomery and has firmly established roots in the community.  She is first Aid, CPR, USAG safety certified and has also earned her Preschool Fundamentals certification through the USAG.  Sheri is married with two wonderful children, Ryan, and Peyton.  Her passion for teaching creates an interactive, fun filled experience for your children.

Roots Little Sprouts Instructor/Ballet Instructor

Laura trained in classical ballet since the age of 6.  She trained and performed extensively with Dance Arts Ballet, Berkshire Albany Ballet, Pioneer Valley Ballet and The Boston Ballet.  She attended college at the University of Mass Amherst as a dance major and was a student ballet instructor for UMass.  After graduation she married her high school sweetheart Timothy and had three children, Trent, Payton and Brooke.  She worked in 2000 at Daggett Gymnastics as the Team Ballet Coach and Pre-school Director.  She has coached at All Star Gymnastics and Whip City Gymnastics coaching Level 3 – 10.  She joined Roots Gymnastics in December 2008 as a Little Sprouts Instructor and Team Dance Instructor.

Compulsory Team Coach/Roots Gymnastics Program Analyst

Jennifer started competing in the sport of gymnastics in 1976. For 14 years she was a competitive gymnast for the Westfield YMCA, the Springfield Turnverein, and WHS Gymnastics team. During her years on the WHS, the gymnastics team won the regional title. After her High School Gymnastics career Jennifer pursued her college education at Westfield State College and continued her dedication to the sport of gymnastics coaching competitive levels and recreational classes at a local gymnastics facility while obtaining her degree in accounting. Jennifer has been the coach of the competitive acro company at All Stars Dance Studio since 1996 which has been recognized on both regional and national levels. Jennifer has had a successful career in bank accounting. She is the proud mother of 2 children Jennifer enjoys the sport gymnastics and wants to share her enjoyment in the sport by teaching children and watching them grow within the sport and within themselves.

Roots Instructor/Team Coach

Christina is currently attending Springfield College for Business Management, Accounting and Marketing with an Athletic Coaching minor while being a member of the Women’s Gymnastics Team.  She has been doing gymnastics for 16 years during which she was a member of the WHS gymnastics team and captain in 2007. She has been at Roots since September 2008 coaching the Level 4-6 competitive team and enjoys teaching children of all ages and abilities. 

Roots Instructor/Prep Op Coach

Heather is currently attending Springfield College for Applied Exercise Science with a minor in Business.  Heather has been dancing for 17 years and has done gymnastics since she was 12.  She joined the Roots family when Roots opened in March of 2008.  She enjoys teaching all levels, ages and abilities. Recently she began assisting the Prep Optional Competitive team.  She has also been teaching tumbling at All Stars Dance Center since 2003.

Roots Class Instructor

Rachel has been doing gymnastics for seven years.  She is a student at Westfield High School and graduating in 2010.  She was a counselor at many gymnastics camps including the YMCA of Greater Westfield and Westfield Park & Rec.  Currently, she is a member of the Westfield High School Gymnastics Team and is a co-captain who helped the team win the Western Massachusetts title of 2008.  She trains at Roots Gymnastics Competitive Team and hopes to continue her gymnastics career in college. 

Little Sprouts Instructor

Amy has been working at Roots since the Spring of 2009.  Most recently she was the owner/operator of the Westfield Mill End Store where she was an interior decorator.  Before moving back to the area, she was the General Manager of the Boston Sports Club in Andover.  Amy was a Synchronized Swimmer for 18 years and swam for Canisius College in Buffalo, NY where she graduated with a BS in Management, Marketing, and Psychology.  She has coached beginner to national level competitors in synchronized swimming for 15 years in the Springfield and Buffalo areas.