Brian Riffle
Matt DePolo
APA Position: Co-Owner of American Pride Athletics LLC. Head Coach for the Wrestling program.
Experience and Involvement: Matt began wrestling at age 4 and continued under the direction of his father, Jim DePolo, head wrestling coach at Bellevue Senior HS. During his high school years Matt was a 4-year varsity letter winner and a multiple time NOL, Sectional and District champion. He became an Ohio State Wrestling Champion in 1999. He continued his wrestling career at Cleveland State University, Div I, as a full ride scholarship winner. At CSU he was team win leader with 28 wins his senior year, a multiple time Eastern Wrestling League placer and a scholar athlete.
General Info: Matt earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Adm from Cleveland State University in 2004. He has been employed at Miller Cable Company since 2004 and married Melinda Francis in 2006. In the summer of 2007, Matt started the wrestling program at APA and is excited about teaching wrestling and being involved as a co-owner of American Pride.
Melinda (Francis) DePolo
APA Position: Co-Owner of American Pride Athletics LLC. Instructor for the Pre-school Program, Tumbling Classes and Private Lessons
Experience and Involvement: Melinda began gymnastics at age 3 at the Bellevue Rec Center and later trained at the Fremont YMCA where she was coached by Brian Riffle. When Brian moved to Sandusky and started American Pride Gymnastics, she followed him and competed there until her graduation from Bellevue HS in 1999. She was a Level 10 gymnast for two years before going on to compete gymnastics for four years at Kent State University, Div I, earning a full ride scholarship. She began coaching at American Pride in 1999. Melinda earned a spot on Kent’s All-time Top 10 Gymnasts on Floor after receiving a score of 9.95 for her floor routine in Feb 2003.
General Info: Melinda earned a Bachelors’ degree in exercise physiology from Kent State University in 2003 and a Master’s degree in physical therapy from Cleveland State University in 2005. She has worked as a full time outpatient physical therapist at Fisher-Titus Medical Center since Jan 2006 and married Matt DePolo in July 2006. Her love of gymnastics influenced Melinda to continue to be involved with American Pride and become a co-owner.
Jamie Hiser
APA Position: Head JO Team Coach; Pre-Team, Tumbling & Preschool Instructor
Experience and Involvement: Jamie has coached at APA for over 7 years and is a Certified Level 1-3 Coach, a USAG Professional Member/Coach and is USAG Safety Certified. Jamie was a high school gymnast and graduated from Sandusky High School in 1995. She taught at Sandusky Dance Academy while in high school, coached volleyball for Sandusky City Schools and was a certified power-pacing instructor at World Gym. At Bay Area Christian Academy she was the Athletic Director and coached volleyball and basketball for 3 years; at Sandusky YMCA she was a fitness trainer and gymnastics coach for 4 years.
General Info: Jamie and her husband Jeremy reside in Sandusky and have three children: Kamryn, Kaylee and Kaden. Both daughters are members of the APA competitive gymnastics team. Jamie and her family are also very active in their church.
Wendi Paxson
APA Position: Head Coach of the Gymnastics Team from 1999 - 2008. Wendi is currently attending Lourdes College, so her involvement as head coach is limited at this time.
Experience and Involvement: Wendi was a competitive gymnast at Sunrise Gymnastics Academy, with ballet experience from the Fremont Ballet School. She was an assistant coach for the St. Mary's Millersville cheerleading squad and a judge for high school cheerleading competitions. Wendi began coaching in 1993 at Gym Xcel in Fremont and has established an extensive coaching background. She has trained district, state, regional, and national individual and team champions at the YMCA, AAU, USAIGC, and USAG Junior Olympic levels. Wendi is a Professional USAG Member/Coach, USAG Safety Certified, First Aid/CPR Certified, Athletic Safety Training Certified, and is a member of Amateur Athletics Union. In addition, Wendi attends National and Regional Gymnastics Conferences annually. Wendi joined American Pride at it's grand opening in 1996, assumed the position of Head Coach of the gymnastics team in 1999 and continued through 2008. She also coaches advanced tumbling/private lessons at the Sandusky County YMCA.
General Info: Wendi is a member of the Fremont Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, volunteers as a counselor at Heartbeat of Fremont, and works as a Jazzercise registrar. She teaches Children’s Liturgy at Sacred Heart Parish in Fremont, where she resides with her husband, Gary, and two sons, John and Jacob.