Darion took over as the new owner of Prairie Gymnastics Club in January of 2018. Prior to that, he owned and operated Leaps & Bounds Mobile Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC. Darion began participating in gymnastics at the age of three. During his gymnastics career, Darion won state and regional championships and was the IHSA floor champion in 1993. Darion was also a member of the regional team and the Junior National Developmental Team which allowed him to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Unfortunately, a serious injury to his shoulder ended his competitive gymnastics career. For over 25 years, he has coached all levels of gymnastics and has coached several gymnasts to state and national level competitions. Darion is a professional member of USA Gymnastics, the national governing body of gymnastics in the United States. He is also a certified USA Gymnastics National Judge as well as USAG safety certified. Darion is a member of the Illinois state coaching staff and is also a published author. CLICK HERE to order Coach D’s book today!
“Did I Make You Proud” by Darion Knight offers readers a candid and captivating look into his life journey. As a black gymnast raised in the streets of Chicago, Knight’s memoir unfolds with raw honesty and authenticity. Through the release of his first book, readers are invited to delve into his narrative, tracing his evolution from inner-city struggles to entrepreneurial triumphs. Knight’s inspiring memoir serves as a testament to resilience and self-determination, showcasing how he forged his own path to success against all odds. As you stay tuned for this compelling and empowering memoir, know that this read will encourage us all to cultivate a sense of inner pride and self-worth!
Jillian took over as the new owner of Prairie Gymnastics Club in January of 2018. Prior to that, she owned and operated Leaps & Bounds Mobile Gymnastics and Tumbling, LLC. In 2009, Jillian received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Aurora University. While obtaining her degree, Jillian counseled at risk children with the goal of teaching them important life skills and helping them develop positive self-esteem. She is also the director of operations for her non-profit organization, Flippin’ for Fitness. Outside of the gym, Jillian enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, Olivia.
With over 20 years of coaching experience, we are excited to have Coach Julius at Prairie! Julius started in the sport of gymnastics in Ohio at the age of 3 years old. He started coaching at age 16, primarily coaching cheer tumbling. While coaching tumbling, Julius assisted several Ohio High School Athletic Association Cheer State Championship teams as well as National Championship teams.
Julius has also had high levels of success while coaching Men’s Artistic Gymnastics. He is currently a member of our Region 5 Men’s Coaching Staff. Through the years, Julius has coached dozens of State Champions, several Regional Champions, and many National Championship qualifiers. He has also consistently placed athletes on our Region 5 Regional Team and Region 5 Future Stars Development Team.
At Prairie, Julius is the lead Tumbling coach and he is also the Boys Team Coach. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his children and giving them new experiences.
Genevieve began gymnastics at the age of three and went on to compete through JO Level 8 and Xcel Platinum. She was a varsity gymnast all four years of high school and started coaching at age 15. Since then, Genevieve has taught preschool, boys’ and girls’ recreational classes, as well as competitive team gymnastics. At Prairie, she serves as the assistant manager. She currently coaches preschool and recreational classes, and is also the coach for the Level 4 Girls and Xcel Gold teams.
Coach Lily began cheerleading at just five years old and continued for 12 years. One of her proudest accomplishments was earning a spot on a Worlds team. She joined Prairie in April 2022 and, despite not coming from a gymnastics background, has quickly learned and embraced the sport. Lily currently coaches the Xcel Bronze team, our Gym Kids 3 girls, as well as preschool and recreational classes. She has a passion for working with children and loves watching them gain confidence as they learn new skills.
Coach Julia started gymnastics when she was 7 years old and competed for 5 years! She was the Level 5 Floor State Champion and won 2nd place All Around in 2015. Julia has coached preschool and recreational gymnastics as well as girls pre-team and JD Level 3 & 4 . At Prairie, Julia assists with pre-team, JD Girls Level 3 & 4, and Xcel Silver team groups. She is eager to share her knowledge and love for the sport! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and fiancé, making memories and having new experiences!
Coach Mia began gymnastics at the age of five and trained for 10 years. During her competitive career, she was a two-time AAU National All-Around silver medalist. Her favorite events as a gymnast were bars and floor. At Prairie, Mia coaches preschool, recreational, and Gym Kids 3 classes, with floor remaining her favorite event to coach. She loves watching her athletes grow each week and finds joy in their progress and energy. Outside the gym, Mia enjoys shopping, babysitting, and catching up on naps in her free time.
Madyson began her journey in gymnastics as a young child and danced for 15 years! As a dancer, she competed at a studio and later joined her high school dance team, which made it to state during her sophomore year. While on the team, Madyson had the wonderful opportunity to coach children at dance camps. She loves seeing the moment of realization in a child’s eyes when they finally master a skill they’ve been working on.
At Prairie, Madyson coaches preschool and recreational classes. She is currently attending NIU, studying elementary education. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with friends.
Coach Lily began gymnastics at just 3 years old! She competed at Prairie up to Level 7 before transitioning to cheering for her high school. Lily has been a proud member of the varsity cheer team for the past two years. She loves making gymnastics enjoyable for young children while working in a dynamic, interactive environment. At Prairie, Lily coaches both preschool and recreational classes. In her free time, she enjoys tumbling, cheering, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Coach Macie’s cheer journey began at the age of 12, and her team competed at the state level in both 2023 and 2024. A current student at Kaneland High School, Macie is passionate about gymnastics and enjoys working with kids. At Prairie, she assists with Preschool and Recreational classes, where she shares her love for the sport with young athletes. Outside of coaching, Macie enjoys figure skating and dog training.
Addie has been taking gymnastics classes since she was 3 and has been competing in gymnastics since she was 10. She competed as an Xcel Silver for her first 3 years of competitive gymnastics, followed by 1 year in Xcel Gold. Currently, she competes for the Batavia High School gymnastics team. Addie is a Junior at Batavia High School, and after graduation, she plans to attend college to pursue a degree in Interior Design.
Addie is passionate about gymnastics and wanted this job because she has been training at Prairie for about 6 years. During her time here, she has achieved so much with the guidance of the coaches and hopes to help other gymnasts achieve similar success. In her free time, Addie enjoys hanging out with her friends and watching movies.
Mackenzie has a strong background in gymnastics, having started the sport at just 4 years old. She competed through Levels 5–9, winning bars at the 2010 State Meet and qualifying for Level 8 Regionals. She was also part of the TOPs B Team during her competitive years.
Mackenzie has been coaching recreational gymnastics for two years and brings a passion for helping young athletes grow in both skill and confidence. While still early in her coaching journey, she’s excited to continue learning and growing in the sport she’s always loved.
She graduated from Aurora University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Human-Animal Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. Outside the gym, Mackenzie enjoys reading, weightlifting, and spending time outdoors with her dog, Sheila—especially on long hikes. She also has a soft spot for wildlife like raccoons and opossums, and earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her work with Anderson Humane and their wildlife rehabilitation program.
Mackenzie appreciates the small, family-like environment at Prairie Gymnastics Club and loves working with young children, both in the gym and beyond. She’s thrilled to be part of the PGC community!
