Mark Nelson
Head Coach Mens Team

Mark was the all around Iowa State champion from 1977 – 1978. He was a collegiate gymnast at Odessa Junior College from 1979-1980 and he competed for the University of Iowa from 1981-1982. While in college Mark was a member of the Great American High Dive Team in 1984.

Mark started coaching in 1978 and has been at Sun Country since 1992. While coaching Mark has helped many athletes become State, Regional and National qualifiers. Several of Marks Sun Country athletes have become members of the Future Stars National Team as well as qualify to the USA Championships.

Mark is married and has 2 daughters who were also great gymnastics and tramp & tumble competitors. Along with directing the mens gymnastics program, Mark also coaches pre-gym (children ages 3-5) and our homeschool program.

Deyan Yordanov
Head Coach Tramp & Tumble Team
Assistant Coach Mens Team

Deyan started gymnastics in 1983 in Bulgaria. From 1984- 1993 while a member of the Bulgarian Junior National Team he won a total of 47 bronze, silver and gold medals. In 1994 Deyan was recognized as a Master of Sports by the Bulgarian Federation of Gymnastics (BFG).

From 1994-2000 Deyan was an accomplished competitor for the Bulgarian National Team. During that time he won 7 gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze medals. Deyan competed in the world championships in 1995, 1996 and 1999. In 1996 Deyan was on the Bulgarian Olympic team helping them to receive 6th place in the team competition in Atlanta, Georgia! Receiving 44th place in the all around at the Olympics Deyan was recognized as a World Class Gymnast by FIG. In 2000 Deyan competed in the Sydney Olympic Games as the Bulgarian team placed 12th in the competition. Deyan was the first gymnast in the world to ever compete a Delchevâ over the high bar!

Deyan started his coaching carrier in 1996 for a sports club Locomotive-Ruse. From 2001-2002 while heading the mens program at a gymnastics training center in Massachusetts he helped produce many state and regional champions. From 2003-2005 Deyan was the mens head coach at Chelle Stacks Browns in Winter Park, FL. Sun Country was lucky enough to have Deyan join the Sun Country team in 2005.

Deyan is married with 1 daughter. Along with coaching and directing the Tramp & Tumble team, Deyan also teaches Gym Bus classes, boys rainbow classes, and boys developmental and team classes.

Nikki Spinelli
Head Coach Womens Team

Nikki graduated in 2006 from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English. Nikki competed as a gymnast through Level 10. As a Level 8 gymnast, she earned the All Around Champion Award at Regionals. She started coaching recreation and preschool gymnastics in 2000. After moving to Gainesville, Nikki began working at Sun Country. She has coached recreational classes. She is now instructing the Level 2 – 10 girls team. Beam is her favorite event to coach.
Eager to keep her team competitive, Nikki recently attended the Elite clinics as well as yearly attendance at the National and State Clinics. Se is also certified in the National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges.
In her free time Nikki remains active with tennis lessons, half marathon competitions, shopping and cheering at Gator games.

Tony Hunt

Tony has a wonderful wife named Stacey and a beautiful daughter named Kayla. He has been married for 15 years and his daughter is 10 years old.

Tony began teaching at Golden Circle Gymnastics, Jackson, TN., in 1989. He has coached tumbling classes and recreational classes, and then moved into the Competitive Girls and Boys Teams. He taught girls Level 4-10 and later became Head Coach of the Boys Program teaching Level 7-10. Tony also had girls compete at Nationals in the TOPS Program. Later, he became Director of satellite programs in 8 different cities.

He moved to Ottawa, Kansas in ’97 and began teaching Tramp and Tumble Gymnastics at Ottawa Twisters. Later he became Owner and Director and opened a second gym. He coached National Champions, Regional Champions, and numerous State Champions.

Tony came to Sun Country in September ’08 and has LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

Karen Burdge

Karen opened Mega Gymnastics in Evansville, Indiana in 1995. The, she had men’s and women’s gymnastics classes and teams, cheer teams and Tramp & Tumble teams. Karen was a member of the National Association of Women’s Judges and was a Level 2-8 judge for 4 years.
Karen has attended numerous regional and national coaches and judges clinics over the years. She sold her gym in Indiana in 2008 and moved to Gainesville with her husband and 3 daughters. She joined Sun Country in January 2009 and has enjoyed getting to know the families and children.

Natalie Fina

Natalie Fina is from Live Oak, Florida where she was a 2008 graduate of Suwannee High School. Natalie was trained in gymnastics at Bard’s Gymnastics and also at Cheek’s Gymnastics. Before coming to Sun Country, Natalie was an assistant coach with Cheek’s Gymnastics working with all recreational and compulsory levels, where her level 3 team took first place in state.

Natalie currently lives in Gainesville where she is a student at the University of Florida majoring in English and obtaining her minor in Dance. Natalie plans on graduating in 2012 and attending law school. She joined the Sun Country team in 2008 and began coaching at the developmental level. She is also an active member of Phi Mu Sorority where she is on the dance team and participates in many philanthropies and community service projects including Dance Marathon benefiting Children’s Miracle Network.

Alyssa Collins

Alyssa was a competitive gymnast at Tampa Bay Turners for 15 years. She has coached for 5 years. Alyssa is currently a sophomore at the University of Florida and is studying nursing. She is involved in coaching the developmental team girls, rainbow classes, and also hosts birthday parties. She feels blessed to be able to do something that she loves as her job and Alyssa cherishes every single child she teaches. “I love gymnastics and it will always be a part of me.”

Lizzie Widmer

Lizzie Widmer was a gymnast at Sun Country for 13 years and retired after competing at Level 9 Nationals. She is currently coaching the girls’ compulsory team. Lizzie is attending Santa Fe College studying physical therapy.