The Stafford Royals coaching staff hold certifications in, but not limited to, USAG Fundamentals of Gymnastics Instruction, USAG Safety & Risk Management, are USAG SafeSport Trained and have passed the USAG NCSI Background check.
Char Aitken-Cade, Head Coach & Team Coordinator, Level 7-10 Girls, Boys Team
Coach Char has been at Stafford Gymnastics since 2015, but has been coaching girls’ and boys’ gymnastics for over 35 years. She was a girls’ gymnastics judge in the mid-90’s and took her boys’ gymnastics judging exam last year.
Coach Char coaches from the heart and believes in finding the good in every gymnastics turn and every situation. Her goal is to give her gymnasts problem solving tools and resources in their gymnastics that they can use in daily life, too.
Brenda Berlew, Xcel Gold
Coach Brenda began coaching at Stafford Gymnastics in 2014. She has coached preschool to competitive team and everything in between. According to Coach Brenda, coaching is the best job in the world because she gets to see the pure joy in her students’ faces as they accomplish hard things for the first time.
Brenda did some gymnastics as a youth and was a competitive dancer. She is the Mom to three daughters – all three of whom have participated in programs at Stafford Gymnastics at some point in their childhood.
Noah Crews, Boys Team
Coach Noah went from being a student at Stafford Gymnastics to now entering his third season coaching all levels of our Boys Team.
He loves the physics and science aspect of the sport and being able to pass that on to those he coaches.
Tracy Davis, Xcel Silver
Coach Tracy has been coaching for 7 years with the past 5 being at Stafford Gymnastics coaching the Xcel levels. She also has a degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science.
Tracy believes that sport is so much more than just the skills learned – it is about learning life skills along the way and gives the opportunity to grow as a person, too.
Maddie Fry, Xcel Gold
Coach Maddie has been coaching at Stafford Gymnastics for three years and was a competitive gymnast for 11 years, finishing up as a Level 9.
Maddie loves coaching because she gets to share the knowledge and love of the sport she grew up doing.
Theresa Knepshield, Xcel Bronze, Boys Team
Coach Theresa has been coaching gymnastics for over 30 years and was a gymnast and dancer for 12 years. She was the owner of a gym for 6 years prior to moving to this area and starting a family.
Theresa is high energy and absolutely loves helping children achieve goals they didn’t even know they had.
Cecily Knicley, Level 5/6 Girls & Xcel Platinum/Diamond
Coach Cecily has been coaching gymnastics for 16 years – including preschool, school-age, developmental and competitive team.
Her goal as a coach is to watch kids grow not only as gymnasts but also as human beings. She loves to encourage positivity, teamwork and many other life lessons throughout their gymnastics journey.
Nia McManama, Xcel Silver
Coach Nia has been part of the Stafford Royals family since 2006 – first as a gymnast and for the past 6 years as a coach.
Her coaching philosophy is to work hard but most of all, have fun with your gymnastics!
Liz Vasquez, Level 4
Coach Liz loves to help kids achieve their goals! This will be Coach Liz’s third season coaching Level 4 for the Royals. Her gymnasts will tell you not to be fooled by her fun and creative style – she still expects lots of hard work (and it shows).
Liz was a Level 9 gymnast and has also coached high school gymnastics.
Ashley Wright, Level 4
Coach Ashley may be new to the Royals this season, however, she was a competitive gymnast for 15 years (Level 9), cheered in college and coached gymnastics while she was in college, too.
In addition to coaching, Ashley is currently a 5th grade teacher for Stafford County Public Schools.