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.

Coach Sam is a former NCAA Division I gymnast at the University of Illinois and a former Prairie athlete. He began gymnastics at age 4 and went on to compete as a Level 10 gymnast, qualifying to multiple Junior Olympic National Championships. His accomplishments include becoming the 2017 Western National Champion on Floor Exercise and placing 3rd on Floor Exercise at the 2019 Junior Olympic National Championships.

Sam competed for the University of Illinois men’s gymnastics team for four years while earning his Bachelor’s degree in Communications. He has been coaching gymnastics for the past two years, working with both boys team athletes and recreational gymnasts of all ages and skill levels. Sam is passionate about helping athletes build confidence, develop strong fundamentals, and reach their full potential.

Currently, Sam is continuing his education at the College of DuPage as he pursues a career in fire/emergency services. When he’s not in the gym, he enjoys fitness, golfing, following sports, and spending time with family and friends. Sam is excited to share his love of gymnastics and create a positive, supportive environment where every athlete can grow and succeed.

Christy brings a lifelong passion for gymnastics and athlete development to Prairie Gymnastics Club. She began her gymnastics journey at just five years old and went on to compete through Level 9.

Christy has been coaching since high school and has experience working with athletes of all levels, from recreational classes through Level 10 and Xcel programs. Her dedication and impact in the sport were recognized when she was named Region 5 Contributor of the Year in 2025.

In addition to her gymnastics background, Christy studied Recreation Management at Illinois State University and is both a certified Pilates instructor and certified personal trainer.

She is passionate about helping athletes grow not only in their gymnastics skills, but also as confident, strong young women.

Emmalise brings over 20 years of gymnastics experience to Prairie as both a high-level athlete and coach. She began gymnastics at just two years old and went on to compete through Level 10 before becoming a Division I collegiate gymnast. Emmalise competed for both Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois, completing four years of Division I competition.

Throughout her athletic career, Emmalise achieved numerous accomplishments. She qualified to JO Nationals three times and served as a club team captain for two years. In college, she was named a WCGA Scholastic All-American, earned MAC Specialist of the Week honors on vault, tied for third place on vault at the MAC Championships, and qualified to NCAA Regionals as a floor specialist. She also competed at NCAA Regionals with the University of Illinois during her senior year.

As a coach, Emmalise has worked with recreational & Xcel/JD team gymnasts. She is known for her strong technical coaching, well-rounded event knowledge, and her ability to build athlete confidence while maintaining discipline and safety. She is passionate about creating structured training environments that support long-term athlete development both physically and mentally.

Emmalise currently studies Biology at Northern Illinois University and continues to bring a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to coaching. Outside of the gym, she enjoys staying active, mentoring younger athletes, practicing archery, spending time with friends, watching detective series, and creating floor choreography and music.

She is passionate about giving back to the sport that has shaped her life and takes pride in being a positive role model for athletes both inside and outside the gym.

Payton’s gymnastics journey began right here at Prairie when she was just six years old in her very first tumbling class. She went on to compete for most of her gymnastics career, reaching Excel Diamond before transferring to high school gymnastics. Along the way, she earned several accomplishments, including winning All-Around at State in 2017 for Excel Platinum (with her team also taking first place) and placing third at State on Floor and Vault in 2019 during high school.

Payton has coached gymnastics on and off throughout high school and college, with experience at both the YMCA and Prairie. She recently graduated from Syracuse University with a Pre-Law degree, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Forensic Science.

Her love for teaching and coaching started at 16, and she’s excited to be back at Prairie, combining her passion for working with kids and her lifelong connection to gymnastics.

When she’s not in the gym, Payton enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and preparing for the LSAT as she looks ahead to the next chapter of her academic journey.

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 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.

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.

Coach Kaelyn fell in love with gymnastics at the age of 7 after trying many different sports and quickly discovered that gymnastics was where she truly belonged. She went on to compete as an Xcel Gold, earning a personal best score of 9.8 on beam, one of her favorite events.

She is thrilled to be starting her coaching journey here at Prairie Gymnastics Club and is excited to see where this new chapter leads. Coach Kaelyn has always loved gymnastics and adores working with kids, making coaching a perfect fit for her passions.

Outside of the gym, Coach Kaelyn loves to dance, sing, and perform. She has a strong interest in theater and the performing arts and enjoys any opportunity to be part of a production. She’s often still upside down and loves sharing the knowledge and skills she gained as a gymnast with her athletes.

Coach Kaelyn brings enthusiasm, energy, and a genuine love for kids and the sport to every class, and she’s excited to help gymnasts grow both in confidence and skill.

Allie is a passionate and experienced coach with a strong background in gymnastics and dance. She began gymnastics at the age of 6 and competed at a recreational competitive level until age 12, earning multiple first-place titles in floor and beam events. Her athletic journey continued on the Geneva High School Dance Team, where her tumbling and acro skills helped the team achieve an undefeated season.

Allie has several years of coaching experience, leading gymnastics and tumbling programs for children ages 18 months to 10 years, including classes for children with special needs. She is CPR/AED and First Aid certified and has been recognized for her leadership through her involvement in the PE Leadership program at her high school.

When she graduates from Geneva High School in 2026, Allie hopes to study child psychology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is excited to bring her love for movement, dedication to teaching, and passion for working with kids to every class she leads.

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.

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 assists with front office operations and occasionally 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.