Staff

Fred Turoff

Fred Turoff

Program Director

Former head coach of men’s gymnastics at Temple University 1976-2017, now assistant coach at Temple; former NGJA and FIG judge; member of US National Team 1969 & 1970; inducted into USAG Hall of Fame in August, 2009.

Walt Kenney

Walt Kenney

Coach of levels 5 and up plus preschool

Walt graduated from Temple U in 1982. In his senior year he was 2nd all-around in the EIGL. Walt has much experience, having coached at both John Pancott Gymnastics Center and Upper Merion Dance and Gymnastics Center prior to joining PBG. He’ll work mainly with levels 4, 6-8.

Nia Allen

Nia Allen

Instructor of girls and preschool

Nia is a graduate of Temple University, where she was a competing member of the Temple co-ed club team. In action prior to college, she was a level 10 gymnast who qualified for our level 10 Nationals. Nia works with our preschool program and our beginner girls.

Nyla Welsh

Nyla Welsh

Instructor of beginner girls and preschool

Nyla completed her freshman year at Temple University where she studied criminal justice and dance. She is now at Circadium School of Contemporary Circus to pursue a diploma in circus arts. When she was younger she took dance and gymnastics, but quickly decided she wanted to focus on ballet and studied at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet for 10 years. She also began training in aerial arts when she was in high school.

Karina Prado

Karina Prado

Instructor of levels 1&2&preteam

Karina is a freshman at Temple university majoring in accounting and is a member of the Co-Ed gymnastics club. She has been doing gymnastics since she was 2 year old, but on and off and competed for Lower Mayfair Gymnastics and later for Bensalem Gymnastics.

Anthony McHugh

Anthony McHugh

Coach of levels 3&4

Anthony McHugh started his athletic career as a springboard diver in Indianapolis, IN when he was 8 years old. He competed for 10 years and qualified for high school state championships his junior and senior years. While attending MIT, Anthony joined the club gymnastics team as his first introduction to the sport. He competed with MIT for 3 years and fell in love with the sport. Anthony continues to compete through the National Association for Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) and also serves as a volunteer on their rules committee. In addition to coaching boy’s team, Anthony works as a structural engineer primarily on demolition projects in New York City.

Elliott Riedmiller

Elliott Riedmiller

Instructor of beginner boys

Elliott is a level 7 gymnast on the PBG boys’ team. He competed in the Easter Nationals for us this past season.

Jesse Kitzen-Abelson

Jesse Kitzen-Abelson

Coach of preteam and levels 3-9 in May-August

Jesse is the head coach of Temple University Men’s Gymnastics Team. He was an NCAA competitor in his college days, and qualified for the NCAA Championships. After graduating, he spent 5 year coaching in South Africa before returning the the US to enter the collegiate coaching ranks. He was assistant coach at Temple U for a year before taking over, while former coach Fred Turoff moved to assistant coach. Jesse also teaches at Circadium, a circus arts school in Philadelphia. Jesse coached the senior men at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Kaitlin Chin

Kaitlin Chin

Aerial skills coach

Kaitlin is a professional aerialist and has performed extensively in the US. She is eager to share her knowledge of silks and other aerial skills.

© 2019 by Philadelphia Boys’ Gymnastics.

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