Our Amazing Rise Tumbling Staff

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Coach Mel has over 31 years experience in dance and tumbling, 21 years in Stunting, 8 years in trampoline and double mini, 5 years in Acro tumbling, as well as 18 years experience in early childhood development. Melody founded Rise Academy of Arts in April of 2018. Since then she has won many accolades with her students and athletes, having the opportunity to travel from the west coast to the east coast for various events and competitions. (Energy elite New York for winning a special award for "Wake Up" (Dance/Acro Stunting and Tumbling routine), Florida for Nationals (T& T), Las Vegas for Regionals (T&T) and many more). Melody is a renowned certified trampoline and tumbling coach, a dancer, choreographer and a former competitive dancer. She spent her younger years ice skating, tumbling, and competing in dance companies across Washington state. Melody was on her high school drill/dance team, (which helped her obtain her UDA All Star placement), she coached a competitive cheer team, and was an advanced dance company member also teaching younger students. After obtaining a full scholarship Melody was severely injured in an accident that stopped her from continuing her competitive career. Though with her love and passion for the arts she found another way. Upon her graduation she began teaching at a dance studio in Spokane, working with students 2-Adult. She is a mother of three girls. One a tumbler and one a dancer (the third is a brand new baby). Melody has always enjoyed working with children. She loves it so much she opened Rise for her own kiddos and she continues to run the gym even though she has moved to Arizona. (She is still actively coaching our team via video and will check in on her recreational kids for tips and tricks every now and then)

Coach Amy has over 28 years experience in power tumbling, stunting and cheer. She has over 13 years experience in gymnastics. An Oklahoma native with a BS in Aviation, Amy commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force in 2011. There she was a navigator on the mighty B-52 bomber and served honorably for 8 years. Unfortunately, a life-altering injury forced her service to an early end. But she knew right away that her love for children would see her through. She earned her Masters degree in Education and became a certified teacher in K-5 and special education. After a few years she was once again called to serve her country and joined a special team that plans (JASSM & MALD) missiles/decoys for various airplane platforms for the joint services. Following a move to beautiful Whidbey Island she decided to start pharmacy school but there was still something missing. She missed working with children and soon found herself at Rise Academy of Arts coaching recreational classes for her 3 daughters and more. One thing led to another and the quick friendship and dynamic team formed with Melody led to this joint venture. She loves being able to share her love of tumbling and fitness with children in a safe and inclusive environment. 

Coach Sean, started his journey back in 2017 as helper in a tumbling class. From there he was offered a position and trained personally by Coach Mel as a team coach with the Island Flyers, and has been with them now for almost 6 seasons. Not only is he a well know tumbling Coach and athlete motivator but he is also known as a hip hop instructor. Coach Sean has been dancing since he was 14 years old in a non competitive self taught experience which lead him to teaching his own classes and starting his own hip hop groups. 

Coach Sean strives to see the potential in every student and athlete alike. He learns where each child is struggling and finds the most beneficial way for that student/athlete to succeed. 

This is not just a career to him, it's his life. 

Harmony Wertz has 16 years experience in cheer and tumbling, and 10 years experience in Trampoline & Double Mini. Harmony has been a youth and high school cheerleader (Sideline and competition), a competitive All-Star Cheerleader, competitive T&T gymnast and has been teaching youth athletes for five years. Coach Harmony is currently residing in Arizona and travels to Washington and to T&T meets to help assist our competition team.

Coach Melany has experience in 8 years of cheer, where she had done competitive and side line all years, competitive all star cheerleading and as well as was an all American cheerleader. She has helped and experienced coaching all star cheer with younger children, and has had experience with doing summer cheer camps and teaching students with all kinds of skills and levels. Coach Melany also has 3 years of experience in tumbling/gymnastics and is joining the team to coach and Help inspire students to improve their athletic skills both individually and collectively.