ABOUT

OUR JOURNEY
Preloader
  • 1975

    1975

    THE TRAINING

    Kathleen Brady studied Gymnastics Coaching Specialization at Alt’s Gymnastics Teaching Academy, operated gymnastics schools and camps during the years 1971-1981, primarily in New Jersey.

    Founder Kathleen Brady practicing gymnastics

  • 1982

    1982

    RISING STAR GYMNASTICS IS ESTABLISHED

    Kathleen Brady founded Rising Star Gymnastics at Sunset Center in Carmel, California. Its programs were designed to provide kids the opportunity to develop discipline, coordination, and self esteem through the wonderful sport of gymnastics.
    Rising Star Gymnastics at Sunset Center, Carmel, CA
  • 2001

    2001

    A NEW HOME

    Rising Star Gymnastics moved to a new and bigger location on Del Monte Boulevard in Monterey, California, at the same lot where the Del Monte Gardens Skating Arena stood from the early 1950s until its demolition in 2012. Rising Star expanded to offer tumbling and trampoline, acrobatics and eventually, ninja programs

     

    Del Monte Gardens Skating Arena

  • 2015

    2015

    A NEW APPROACH

    Kelly Brady-Favaloro, Kathleen’s daughter, took over ownership. Kelly received the Salute to Small Business Award for the best Woman-Owned Business, which recognizes the important contributions these businesses make to Monterey County. In the same year, she incorporated the Ninja Zone® to the ever growing program.

    Rising Star Gymnastics: Best Woman-Owned Business

  • 2019

    2019

    SERVING THE COMMUNITY

    For the second year in a row (2019 and 2020), the Monterey Bay Parent Magazine Family Favorites recognizes Rising Star Gymnastics as the best Gymnastics Center, serving the Monterey County youth for the past 38 years.

    Rising Star Gymnastics: Best Gymnastics Center in Monterey County

  • 2020

    2020

    OUTDOOR GYMNASTICS

    Rising Star Gymnastics adapts to the Covid-19 pandemic by providing a place for youngsters to train in the way they always have, but opening an opportunity to move in a new direction. A portion of the parking lot became room for outside classes, shielded by a tent.

    Rising Star Gymnastics opens outdoor spaces

OUR TEAM

KELLY BRADY-FAVALORO

OWNER, GIRLS TEAM HEAD COACH, HOTSHOT COACH, PRESCHOOL INSTRUCTOR

Kelly was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula grew up in the gym as a so called gymrat. She ran, jumped and cartwheeled around the gym with her brother as her mom coached and ran the gym. She competed in gymnastics up through JO Level 9, finishing her last year as a freshman in college. She graduated from UC Davis in 2007 with her B.S. in Human Development with a focus on Child Development. After school she moved back down to Monterey to help run Rising Star’s recreational program and teach everything from preschool & recreational gymnastics to the competitive teams. Kelly has coached numerous State & Regional champions in the Junior Olympic & XCEL programs as well as several TOPS Diamond Team members, B Camp qualifiers and National Testing qualifiers. Kelly is currently the head coach for the Level 6-10 girls team, however, she loves coaching the preschool and recreational students too!

Kelly’s favorite parts of coaching gymnastics include watching the excitement in the young student’s eyes when they learn a new skill as well as when her more advanced gymnasts overcome an extended fear of a skill and finally go for it! As a gymnast herself she especially loved the challenge of conditioning, the fun of swinging around the bars and thrill of tumbling on the floor. Kelly cannot wait to spread to love of gymnastics to her two young daughters, Zoe and Cleo, who are now gymrats themselves!

In her spare time Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, exploring the outdoors, working in her garden and experiencing different cultures around the world!

KAT KITAMURA

TEAM DIRECTOR, GIRLS TEAM COACH

FABRICIO “BREEZE” OLSSON

BOYS TEAM HEAD COACH, GIRLS TEAM COACH

SAGE BARCA-HALL

DYNAMO COACH, GIRLS TEAM COACH, PRESCHOOL & RECREATIONAL INSTRUCTOR

THOMAS TREVINO

GIRLS TEAM COACH, RECREATIONAL INSTRUCTOR

EVIN DEL ROSARIO

NINJA ZONE INSTRUCTOR, SPORTS AGILITY INSTRUCTOR, TNT INSTRUCTOR

ISRAEL SERRANO

NINJA ZONE INSTRUCTOR, SPORTS AGILITY INSTRUCTOR

JONATHON GUTSHALL

NINJA ZONE INSTRUCTOR

JACQUELINE WEIXEL

SWEET PEAS PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR

MONICA JUSTICE

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR

ASHLEY EOFF

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR, RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR

TAMMIE TYLER

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR, RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR

ALYSSA LLAMAS

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR, RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR

TIVA ROCCO

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR, RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR

MIKAYLA CASTILLO

SWEET PEAS INSTRUCTOR, RECREATIONAL GYMNASTICS INSTRUCTOR

JENNEANE BREIDENBACH

OFFICE MANAGER

CHRISTINA RODRIGUEZ-ALEGRIA

PRESCHOOL & RECREATIONAL INSTRUCTOR