MADDIE ASHELFORD
In 2012 at the age of 6 Maddie started taking recreational gymnastics classes at Shoot For The Stars. In 2015 she started competing on the National Acrobat Competition team where she discovered her love for competitive gymnastics. She began competing on the USA Gymnastics team in 2016 and went on to compete through the Diamond level until she was 16. Gymnastics has impacted Maddie’s life so much that she is honored to be coaching that same sport to the next generation of gymnasts, and can only hope it impacts their life as much as it has hers.
CLARA BACKER
Clara has been involved in the sport of gymnastics for most of her life. She started gymnastics at Shoot for the Stars when she was 2 years old. She competed through Xcel gymnastics for 4 years and in National Acrobatic Competitions for 6 years up to level 7. Clara’s passion for gymnastics lead her to competing at the USAG Xcel gold level and junior Olympic level. Clara is proud to have represented SFTS with 2 Regional Championships on the beam and as gymnast of the Year in 2021. Now Clara enjoys working in the sport she grew up loving, and she has a true passion for teaching younger gymnasts.
CASSANDRA GEARHART
Cassandra is from Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Kansas City in 2016. She has been married for 8 years. She played soccer until high school, and was on the track and cross country team. While on a scholarship, she ran track and cross country through college. She has two boys, Brantley and Waylon who are in the ninja program. She has coached both of her boys’ soccer teams. She started at the gym in the summer of 2023, when the opportunity presented itself.
JESSICA HAMILTON
Jessica was a gymnast for 13 years and competed throughout high school. She also coached gymnastics in high school and college. Jessica has been married since 2008 and has three boys ages 7, 9, and 13. She started working as a ninja coach in September 2023.
MELLY HASENSTEIN
Melly’s love for gymnastics started when she was in high school, where she joined her school’s team. It followed into her adult life where she enjoys following college gymnastics and of course watching the Olympic competitions. A Minnesota native, she has been traveling with her husband for his job for the past 5 years, and found SFTS for her 2 kids to start classes at. It quickly became a home away from home, so when the opportunity to coach in the tot gym became available, she jumped at it!
KARI LASLEY
Kari’s background is a teacher and coach to children of varying ages. She is a mom to two wonderful girls. The youngest girl Mackenna, is a member of the USAG/NAC team and truly loves her Shoot for the Stars family. She has been coaching with SFTS since the fall of 2018.
DANIKCA MACEK
Danica has always been involved with gymnastics. Danica was inspired to be a gymnast by the American Girl Doll ‘McKenna.’ She did gymnastics for 8 years at Shoot For the Stars. She competed USAG Xcel gold, was on the NAC team for over 5 years, and competed level 7. Danica currently tumbles and is a part of the Smithville Varsity Cheerleading squad. She helps assist gymnastics.
SARAH McGINNIS
Sarah embarked on her gymnastics journey in 2011 with a heart full of dreams and a determination to soar. Over the years, she poured her sweat, passion, and endless effort into this beautiful sport. Her hard work paid off when she was honored as the Gymnast of the Year in 2012 as a Shoot for the Stars Gymnast, a moment that forever etched itself in her memory. She also had the privilege of competing in NAC. Which she was able to compete in all levels. Which also gave her a broader perspective of the sport and deepened her commitment to gymnastics. Now, she is on a mission to share her knowledge and inspire the next generation of gymnasts. Beyond the mats and bars, she is a proud parent of a 6-year-old daughter who shares her love for gymnastics. This is what brought her back to the SFTS family, and how she was honored to have the position of a coach. Her experience as a parent and a coach enables her to relate to the needs and dreams of both young athletes and their families.
CALI MAXFIELD
Cali has coached at shoot for the stars for 20 years. She has a dance, gymnastics and cheerleading background. She graduated from Park University with a bachelors degree in child and family studies in 2005. She currently is the owner of Kids Closet in Smithville and teaches preschool at Grace community Church. She mainly coaches in our preschool program. Cali’s daughter, Lillyan and son, Lincoln are enrolled at shoot for the stars.
TIFFANY PATTON
Tiffany Patton and her family have been a part of Shoot For The Stars since 2012. She has been coaching since 2016 in our preschool and recreational classes. She has a gymnastics background and loves working with children and helping them reach their goals and dreams. From a preschool teacher to a children’s minister at her church, she has worked with children of all ages. She homeschools her three children – Austin, Zoie, and Wesley – all of whom are involved here at SFTS. She and her husband are a part of the ministry team at Preparing The Way Ministries.
Amanda started dance and gymnastics at age 3 in Cameron, Missouri. She then went on to compete with Priscilla and Dana’s School of Dance in Kansas City Missouri for several years. She also choreographed and lead as captain of her high school dance team for 4 years. In 2010 she became a member of the Sugar Bears at Missouri State University. She now has a family, husband Bryce, son Jaxton, and daughter Veda.
ADDISON RYAN
At the age of 8, “Addi” (as we call her) was one of the youngest National College of Martial Arts members ever, to receive a black belt in the art of Goju Karate. She was also named International Champion multiple times in various weapons and open hand forms. She has always been involved in Gymnastics and competed USAG at the Diamond level. She has most recently been a member of the Smithville Dazzlers Dance squad. You will regularly find her at SFTS hanging out with the little ones, as she loves having them share stories with her between her own workouts. Addi assists in both our gymnastics and Dance program.
ASPEN RYAN
Aspen was a Shoot for the Stars gymnast for 10 years and competed 6 years on our National Acrobat Competition team, and our Amerikids and USAG teams, earning many Championship awards. She earned the honor of becoming an Amerikids National Champion on floor exercise and vault. Aspen was a member of our karate tournament team for 2 years,where she received many awards, including being named International Champion through the National College of Martial Arts in traditional open hand and traditional weapons forms with the sword. She has also earned 1st Dan Ranking as a Black Belt, coaches within our Ninja program, and also coaches in all other gymnastics programs; in addition to being coaching for our USA Gymnastics Bronze, Silver and Gold teams which brought home many State and Regional Championship titles during the last few competition seasons.
AUBREY RYAN-OWNER
Aubrey opened Shoot for the Stars Gymnastics in February of 1999. She has been involved in dance, ballet and gymnastics since the age of 3 and was a United States Gymnastics Federation competitor. She began coaching at the age of 14 and was a Mid America Tumbling Society (MATS) coach for 8 years and was a MATS judge for 3 years. She has been a member of The National Acrobatic Competition (NAC) for 19 years and a professional member of USA Gymnastics for 18 years. Aubrey is a USAG certified skill evaluator and currently holds a USAG Safety certification as well as KAT (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers) and MELPD (Movement Evaluation Lesson Plan Development) preschool certifications. She has completed Sports Safety Training and is child and adult CPR certified. Her daughter, Addison, has competed on our NAC team for 10 years, our USAG Gymnastics team for 4, and at the age of 8, was 1 of the youngest martial artists to ever be awarded her black belt in Goju Karate. Her daughter, Aspen, coaches here at SFTS and is a pretty great kid/adult. 🙂 (See above profile) Her husband Scott and son, Austin are known to be frequently “drug” in to be part of the action when it comes moving, building, and just about anything else at SFTS! Aubrey has learned more from our SFTS parents and kids than she could ever teach them, but it won’t stop her from trying to even the score. 😉 After being given a 2nd chance at life and health in 2011, she cherishes now more than ever, every moment she gets to spend doing the thing she loves most … empowering people to reach their potential!
CARI SMITH
Cari has an extensive background working with children of all ages. She has worked in day camps, assisted teachers and students in the elementary education system, and has worked as a pediatric RN in burn, emergency, trauma and ICU. She has a background in gymnastics and enjoys health and fitness. She is mom to two children and her daughter Madilynn is a current USAG/NAC gymnastics team member. Cari joined SFTS coaching staff in the Spring of 2018 and will be coaching in the preschool and recreational programs.
SEASON TINGLER
Season grew up playing competitive sports and continued her softball career in college. She started coaching youth sports in 2006. Season has coached student athletes of various ages as a high school varsity softball coach, travel softball coach, private lessons instructor, and basketball coach. In addition to coaching athletics, she’s spent the last 15 years investing in students and families through education & ministry.
Season first came to Shoot for the Stars when her daughter started gymnastics in 2018. She currently coaches gymnastics classes in the preschool gym.
Season and her husband, Jerad, have been married since 2013. They have two children. Her family loves to play sports together, travel to new places, and visit as many ice cream shops as possible.
KATHERINE WILSON
Katherine has been involved in gymnastics for 17 years. She began competing with the Mid-American Tumbling Society (MATS), and quickly moved on to competing with USA Gymnastics through Level 8. Katherine began coaching gymnastics while in high school and continued through college. She has now been back coaching gymnastics for 7 years, all with Shoot for the Stars. Her coaching experience consists of, coaching USA Gymnastics teams through Level 6, NAC teams for 7 years, and all levels of recreational gymnastics. Katherine and her husband Scott have been married for 20 years and have 2 children, Grady (10) and Ryleigh (6).
DANIELLE YOUNG
Danielle started cheerleading in 6th grade and found a real passion for it. From there she joined a competitive cheer team which she was on throughout high school, while cheering on her high school squad, the Park Hill Trojans. After she graduated she was on the cheer and dance team in college. After college she started coaching youth cheerleaders in the NSYFL. In the offseason the cheerleaders would stay together and become a competitive squad and compete at local competitions which she was head coach for. Danielle has been married since 2013 and now has a one year old daughter. She started working at SFTS in May of 2016. She has found a real passion in gymnastics and in coaching gymnastics and is looking forward to many more years at SFTS!