Info@dunnesgymnastics.com (860) 228-1004
Dunne's Gymnastics
MEET OUR STAFF
Matthew Dunne
Gym Owner/Director
B.S. Springfield College 2001, Sports Management
University of New Hampshire, Athletic Training
Girls & Boys Team Director/
Head Coach
Coached numerous Regional & National Qualifiers
Former USAG State & Regional Champion
USAGymnastics Safety Certified
USAGymnastics Professional Member
Sports Safety, CPR & First Aid Certified
“Somebody said that it couldn’t be done.
But he with a chuckle replied
That maybe it couldn’t but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say no till he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he DID it.”
-Old Irish Proverb
Diana Gallagher
Assistant JO Team Co-Director
Girls Developmental Program Co-Director
Girls Team Coach levels 3-10
Level 10 judge & NAWGJ member
Coach & choreographer for 17+ years
Coached multiple
New York State champions
Former collegiate gymnast & member of SUNYAC All-Academic Team
BA in Professional Writing and Spanish from SUNY Cortland
MFA in Writing and Literature from Stony Brook University
English professor at Manchester Community College
Published novelist (Lessons in Falling) & contributor to gymnastics magazines
USAG Professional Member &
Safety Certified
Maureen Pokorny
Consultant
40+ years coaching/teaching experience
Coached in Maine, Upstate NY & L.I.
Maine “Coach of the Year”
Former Head Coach & Team Director- Shoreline Gymnastics (16 years)
Preschool, Recreational & Team Coach
Member of the CT State board
CT High School “Coach of the Year”
Recipient of the CT State Service Award
State & Regional balance beam & floor clinician
Choreographer
NAWGJ official 20+ years
USAGymnastics Professional Member
USAGymnastics Safety Certified
First Aid & CPR Certified
“Good, better, best, never let it rest; until your good is better and your better best.”
–Elizabeth George
Stacey Simpson
Involved in coaching gymnastics for
18 years
Coaching experience with preschool through advanced classes, trampoline team, and various levels of girls Junior Olympic teams.
Attended numerous national and regional congresses for certifications & training.
Currently manages meets for various gyms and Invitationals
throughout the state.
I enjoy volunteering my time at Dunne's to share my love of coaching with the gymnasts. I aim to spread my joy of the sport to the girls that I see as they advance in their gymnastics.
Caitlin Aissis
Preschool and General Instructor
B.A. Special Education, Elms College
University of Saint Joseph graduate student, School Counseling
Former Dunne’s gymnast
USA Gymnastics Professional Member
USA Gymnastics Safety Certified
First Aid & CPR certified
Lexi Marques
Preschool, recreational, and team coach
Former Xcel team gymnast
State champion & regional qualifier
Student at Manchester Community College
USAG Safesport & Safety Certified
CPR and First Aid Certified
Patti Corrigan Dunne
Founder & Consultant
B.S. Springfield College 1972 Health Education
Four time All-American Gymnast 1969-1972
1971 National Vaulting Champion
1971 National Uneven Bar Champion
1968 Qualifier to the U.S. Olympic Training Squad
1997 Inductee to the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame
M.A. St. Joseph College 2005 in Pastoral Counseling
Board Certified Associate Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains
Kevin J. Dunne
Founder & Consultant
B.S. Springfield College 1971 Physical Education
Varsity coach of various interscholastic sports
30 credits of graduate school in Physical Education at Springfield College, UCONN, ECSU
Instructor and Castaway Team Coach 1973-2000
Former Head Gymnastics Coach Windham High School 1996- 2005
Physical Education Instructor Parish Hill High School 1971-2006. Retired from teaching in 2006.
Justin Hall
Over 20 years of coaching experience from pre-team through Level 10
Bars clinician at regional Rising Stars clinic
Previous compulsory and optional coach at Dunne’s (2015-2017)
Coached at Bay Island in California 2017-2019
Coached at Shoreline 2005-2015
Coached numerous State, Regional, and Eastern qualifiers and champions
USAG Professional Member & Safety Certified
Kate Crescenzo
Girls Xcel and Recreational Coach
Associates from Quinebaug Valley Community College
Former USAG gymnast
Former Xcel Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Boys 1-5 coach at Dream Big Gymnastics
USAG Professional Member & Safety Certified
Jennifer Hughes
Dedicated parent of Dunne's Gymnastics since 2005
Born and raised in a gymnastics
environment
Former gymnast and coach for over
20 years
Mother of 4 and grandmother of 4
(hopefully more!)
First Aid and BLS certified
"Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Always be kind."
Rachael Cole
Preschool Director
Birthday Party Coordinator
Recreational coach
U.S Army Nurse specialized in Peds and NICU
B.S in Psychology and Biology
M.A.T in education
Former gymnast, soccer player, and swimmer, and current practitioner of Jiu Jitsu
USAG Professional Member & Safety Certified
CPR & First Aid Certified for adults and pediatrics
Mom to an awesome little gymnast and soccer tot
Wendy Marinan
Consultant
B.S. Child Development, University of Connecticut
Adjunct Faculty, Eastern CT State University, Health & Physical Education Dept.
Former Assistant coach, Windham High School
Former Dunne’s Gymnast, Team Coach & Choreographer
Volunteer, Gilead Hill Enrichment Program
USAGymnastics Preschool Education Certification
USAGymnastics Professional Member
USAGymnastics Safety Certified
American Red Cross CPR & First Aid Certified
Tori Briggs
Licensed Master Social Worker
MA in Clinical Social Work from the University of Connecticut
BA in Psychology and Minor in Sociology from UConn
Girls Developmental Program Director
Girls Team Director
Girls Team Coach levels 3-10
Coach of numerous state champions, regional, and national qualifiers
Started gymnastics at Dunne’s at the age of 6
Former CT optional level gymnast
RHAM high school gymnastics team co-founder & Captain
USAG Professional Member
National Safety Certified by USA Gymnastics
Schyler Lemaire
Girls Xcel & Recreational Director
Former USAG level 9 gymnast
Former NFA high school gymnast
Qualified to the Eastern Connecticut Conference and then the CIAC open Championships in 2011 and received varsity letter.
15 years experience coaching all recreational class levels preschool age up
9 years experience coaching USAG levels 3-7
Head coach of Xcel preteam and Xcel Silver team at Thames Valley 2017-2019
Coached all rec levels including preschool and special needs, as well as Xcel levels Bronze-Diamond at Emerald City Gymnastics Academy in Washington State from 2019-2020
Head coach of Xcel Bronze team at Emerald City in 2020
Dunne’s Preschool Coach
Physical Education and Health Teacher at University of Hartford Magnet School
B.S. Physical Education & Health, Eastern CT State University
M.A. Nutrition, University of Saint Joseph
USA Gymnastics Professional Member
USA Gymnastics Safety Certified
CPR & First Aid Certified
CT Physical Education & Health Education Teaching Certificate
Morgan Ouellette
Courtney Solensky
Recreational and Team Coach
Junior at Gannon University in Erie, PA
Member of the #2 ranked Acrobatics & Tumbling Team
Biology/Pre-Optometry Major
Xcel & Recreational Coach
Former USAG Level 10 Gymnast
Level 9 Western National Qualifier
2022 NCATA National Championship Finalist
2022 NCATA Event National Champion in Duo Pyramid and Event Finalist in 7 Element Acro
Lina Wille
Preschool and recreational coach
Junior in high school
Level 9 gymnast
State and regional champion
USAG Safety Certified
Hannah Kaeser
BS Health and Physical Education,
Eastern CT State University
MA Health Education, East Carolina University
10 years teaching health and physical education
Girls team coach levels 3-10
12 years experience coaching
Coach of many state champions,
regional, and national qualifiers
USA Gymnastics professional member & safety certified
CT Physical Education and Health Education teaching certificate
CPR and First Aid Certified
Garrett Dumore
Du
Dun
Boys team and recreational coach
Dunne's gymnast from 2008-2013
State champion
Future Stars program athlete (2012)
Medic in CT Army National Guard (2018-present)
Coached high school football at Bacon Academy