Sheila Bath - owner

I started my life in Bozeman, Montana on a farm outside town where we raised cattle and various crops.  When I was a child I used the corral fence as a balance beam and the swing set and tree for bars.  I went to Rosary Catholic School until eighth grade and then went to Bozeman High School.  I was on the gymnastics team and excelled at bars with the help of my friends on the team.  I started coaching at the age of 15.  I went to college at Montana State in Bozeman, where I earned a degree in English and studied dance.  I spent a year in France on an exchange in 1984.  I moved to Seattle in 1986 and met my husband David, in 1987.  We were married in 1989 and bought the gym in 1990.  I had Lauren, my pride and joy, in 1993 and she started doing gymnastics at about 6 months old.  I had Lily, my most recent pride and joy, in September of 2002.  She will be starting gymnastics soon.  I am KAT, Safety, Skill Evaluator, First Aid, and CPR certified.  I have done boot camp for gym owners and the Egoscue clinic for physical conditioning.  I have coached numerous state champions from their preschool days on.  My goals for gymnastics are to see our gymnasts compete at the national level, get college scholarships and assist every child I encounter to do their best!

David Bath - owner

I grew up in Laramie, Wyoming, and lived in the same house for twenty years, where my parents still live.  I started gymnastics in 1979 in high school.  I got good at it fast and graduated my senior year as state all-around champion in 1982.  I had a high school honors scholarship with the University of Wyoming, which did not have gymnastics so I stopped competing and started working on my mechanical engineering degree.  I did Cheerleading my senior year in college to keep active in the sport.  I moved to Washington in 1986 after being hired by Boeing to be a structural engineer on the 777.  I met Sheila in 1987 and married her in 1989 in Bozeman, Montana, her hometown.  We bought the gym in 1990 and moved to our current location that same year.  We had Lauren in 1993 and bought the Bellingham gym and the gym bus somewhere between Lauren and today.  I started coaching in 1983.  I am Safety, Skill Evaluator, JO Judging, First Aid, and CPR certified.  I have coached state and regional champions in boys and girls gymnastics.  My gymnastics goals are to make northwest known for gymnastics the way it is known for coffee, software and airplanes.  I would like to have national team members and I would like Lauren to go as far as possible in the sport.  I want every child that comes to LEGA to experience big gains in ability and their love for the sport!

Kelle Riley

I grew up in Lehi, Utah on a farm where we raised, bred and raced Quarter Horses.  I am the second oldest of six daughters and grew up as a tomboy.  My dad was the high school football and track coach as well as the school principal.  I graduated Lehi High School in 1980 where I was a member of the state champion gymnastics and track team as well as a varsity cheerleader.  My favorite event was the vault!  I went to Utah State University on a cheerleading scholarship where I studied Elementary Education and psychology.  I married my husband Steve in 1983.  Steve is a government contractor superintendent and is currently working at the Bremerton Naval Base.  We have a 21-year-old son who was an all around athlete in high school.  He focused on track and football and was first team all state football on offense and defense.  Our daughter is 20 and was a level 4 and level 8 state champion in gymnastics.  She excels in track and is the 2002 and 2003 WA State 400 meter Hurdle Champion.  She is attending Central Washington University on a full track scholarship.  We moved to Port Townsend, WA, in 1987, where we still live.  I started coaching gymnastics as a high school sophomore.  I opened Kelle’s Gymnastics in 1988 with 25 students and in two years it grew to 450 students.  I coached 7 state champions in 4 years then closed the gym in 1999 and came to work at LEGA.  My goal in gymnastics is to convince every child to follow their dreams and believe in themselves.  I would like to instill in every one of my students, be safe, have fun, do your best, and appreciate and respect their parents.

Tony Ammons

 I was born in Oakland, California and today I have a lovely wife that I met in the Philippines and married in Bellingham, Washington.  We have two wonderful kids, Janna who is 15 and plays volleyball at Cascade High School, and AJ who will be 5 in December and loves to play at the gym.

I have over 25 years experience coaching women’s artistic gymnastics.  In the course of my coaching career, I have worked with multiple female Olympians including Missy Marlowe, Hope Spivey, Tracee Talavera, and Julianne Mcnamara.  From 1987 to 1990 I coached the women’s Philippine National Team, leading the team to two southeast Asian games.

We took the silver both times and the team also earned numerous medals for individual events and one all around gold. Additionally, I have been involved with Flips USA Gymnastics as a coach and consultant since 1990.  In 2003, I coached two national champions in the sport of Trampoline and Tumbling. I am certified as a judge in power tumbling as well as safety certified with USAG.  Over the years, I have coached at clinics and camps as well as gymnastics seminars.  I look forward to working with your children here at Leading Edge.

Colleen Swinger

I grew up on Bainbridge Island, WA, where my mom still lives.  I have a younger and an older sister.  I graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 1986.  I competed for the Kitsap County Tucks in Silverdale and finished as a class I gymnast.  I then attended Seattle Art Institute and got an AA in visual design.  I married my husband Brad in 1994 and moved to Arlington.  We have two daughters, Mackenzie, who is 12 years old and Mikaela, who is 10 years old.  Mikaela enjoys participating in gymnastics and Mackenzie is a level 8 gymnast.

Tiffany Shelford

I grew up in Snohomish, Washington and graduated from King’s Christian High School in Edmonds, WA in 2000. While in high school I cheered for two years but decided that dance was more important to me. I started taking ballet lessons at 6 years old and continued until I was 18. I attended Ballet Academy of Performing arts in Edmonds and excelled on pointe. I danced in B.A.P. A.’s Nutcracker annually, danced in many company performances, taught young ballet classes, hosted ballet birthday parties and did special events. While in ballet, I also attended hip hop classes for four years. After high school I worked at Nordstrom as a cosmetic line manager for three years and now I am back doing what I love. Teaching dance! I am currently a level 7 choreographer, team dancing coach and work with the team on their floor and beam routines. I am also a full time student and plan on majoring in Psychology at the University of Washington.

Paul Pinter (bio coming soon)

Tracy McKenzie (bio coming soon)

Bob Levesque (bio coming soon)

Kestle Reilly & Kadence (bio coming soon)

Arzu Karaali

I was born in Bulgaria and moved to Turkey after I finished middle school.  I studied at the M.E. B. N. Bekiroglu School of Ballet as well as getting a Bachelors degree in Physical Education and Sports from University of Izmir in Turkey.  I have been a Rhythmic gymnastics coach since 1985 with some of my students going on to join the National Team. I have had the opportunity to be the Ballet Program Designer for the National gymnastics team in two countries.  I have also experienced many international competitions and camps working with some of the world’s best coaches like Neshka Robova from Bulgaria. I was married in 1993 and studied writing with my now-ex-husband.  The book I wrote, “Sport of Rhythmic Gymnastics,” published in 1996 is currently being used as a study guide in the Sport. We moved to Atlanta in 1996 where I worked with Rhythmic world competitors and Olympic gymnasts.  My students here in WA are two time recipients of W State best choreography of the year.  I believe that my strength is to teach my athletes that their abilities are greater than they think. Then they are discovering the secret power in their heart to be the best they can be.