Michele Mastrianni

Owner/Director

Michele, better known as Mrs. M, started Champion Training Center (formerly CTC) in 2003. Once her daughters had gotten involved in cheerleading, she found her passion as a gymnast could shine through cheerleading. She was asked to be a team mom, then began coaching for the Danbury Trojans Pop Warner program. She held the first place title for 5 years at the local level and took her teams on to states and regionals. In 1999 she formed a cheer squad for Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, where she coached for 5 years leading that team to many victories including her last year standings: 4 first place titles and 1 second place. Mrs. M has also coached Danbury High School Jr. Varsity, Bethel High School Varsity along with many teams at Champion and is now the head coach of the Rock Star team. Her number one passion is to help each student achieve their goals, while imparting good values, morals and standards. Teaching life lessons is a top priority and building self esteem. One crazy fact about Mrs. M, she's been wearing PINK every day since 1980! That's right, NEVER a day without something pink on! So no wonder Champion's colors are Pink/Black/Green. Mrs. M is a lifelong resident of Danbury and has been married to her husband Jerry for 25 years, they have 3 children, Andrew, Marli & Joeli.

Marli Mastrianni

Asst. Cheer Director, Choreographer and Cheer Coach

Marli was a dancer for 10 years and a cheerleader for 8 years. She was a member of the Danbury Trojans, Rogers Park Middle School where she was captain in her last year and Danbury High School varsity cheerleading. While on Danbury High School Marli was a part of the Nationally ranked team, attending UCA Nationals, and holding FCIAC and States Champion titles. She has always been a hard working dedicated athlete. She was also on Champion's elite team for 2 years before graduating in 2006. She turned her passion into coaching in 2005 and has coached many levels and ages. Marli also coaches our students who desire to participate in individuals at many competitions. Marli has choreographed many routines both for individuals and teams. She has a unique way of coaching, she sees the best in the students and is able to bring that out in each athlete. Marli has been coaching Team Jaxx TV Stars since 2007 and has earned many titles. Marli is the assistant cheer director at Champion and the all star banquet coordinator. She began the Cheerleader of the Month program and volunteers her time for the disability program.

Matthew Mommens

Tumbling Director

Matt has been coaching tumbling at Champion since Jan 2007 and in 2009 he became Champion's Tumbling Director. Matt comes with many years of experience both as a gymnast and instructor. He began taking gymnastics classes at a small private recreational gym in Pelham NY and within a year was performing layouts and learning how to twist, being 6'6 many doubted that he would be able to learn much in the sport but he has proved most wrong by becoming a great tumbler and vaulter.

Soon after starting gymnastics he began learning how to spot and teach gymnastics which led to his first coaching position at Spotlight Gymnastics at 16 years old. In 1999 he decided to move on to bigger things and at 19 years old began coaching at Zero Gravity Gymnastics where he started coaching competitive level gymnastics. He has coached beginning gymnastics through the elite and Olympic level, and has coached many state and regional champions.

Over the past 10 plus years Matt has worked with the following High School cheerleading teams in tumbling: Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel, Newtown, Immaculate and New Fairfield and Danbury middle school. He has also coached at several facilities over the last 10 years including USA Gymnastics, Olympia, Vassi's where he has developed a great knowledge for the sport of gymnastics and has been very well trained as a spotter. He has also come to love the sport of cheerleading and has learned a great deal in all aspects of cheerleading and will be competing for Champion All Stars this year on their open team. Matt teaches classes at Champion, he is the head tumbling coach for the All Star teams as well as working with town/school teams and private lessons. Matt is well loved by all that meet him and we are honored to have such a safe Tumbling Director.

Kimmy Haber

Cheer and Tumbling Coach

Kimmy Haber has been a part of Champion All Stars since it was first created in 2003. She was on the very first all star team and continued to cheer on the elite/rock star team. She was captain and named most valuable player in 2007/08. She has taught classes, and coached the Champion tiny team, formerly known as the Movie Stars, and this will be her third season coaching Team Jaxx T.V. Stars. Currently Kimmy attends WCSU where she is majoring in Secondary Ed;English. She enjoys spending time with the students and helping them achieve their goals.

Lyndsey Baird

Cheer Coach

Lyndsey Baird has been cheerleading for 14 years, starting with Ridgefield Pop Warner. She has been with Champion since 2003. She was part of the elite team from 2004-2007. Lyndsey has coached youth, mini, and junior teams in the gym, as well as several Pop Warner, AYF, and high school teams. This is her third year coaching at Champion, and this year she will be coaching the Disco Stars. She is currently an undergrad at Western Connecticut State University studying education. She is USASF credentialed, and CPR and first aid certified. Lyndsey also volunteers her time for the disability program.

Paula Paccadolmi

Cheer Coach

Paula Paccadolmi has coached at Champion for the past three seasons. Prior to coming to Champion Paula was coach for the Ridgefield Youth Football/Cheer program for four years. Her teams competed on the local, state and regional levels. Paula first became involved with cheer in 1989 when she began coaching the Ridgefield High School cheerleading squad. Coach "P" has been involved in coaching high school volleyball and track as well. Paula lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut with her daughters Alexandra and Christina.

Joeli Mastrianni

Cheer and Asst. Dance Coach

Joeli has been cheering since she was 8 years old, she cheered for her town team for 2 years until the opening of Champion in 2003 where her passion turned to All Star Cheerleading. This is her 7th year cheering for Champion and she's a captain on the Rock Star team. Joeli has been assisting on several of the younger teams for the past 2 years. In 2008 she was the assistant coach for the Movie Stars and assistant on the Dance team. Joeli has a natural talent for dance and will be assisting once again this year on our youth dance team. She also volunteers her time for our disability program.

Amy LaBree

Tumbling Coach

Amy is the mother of 2 aspiring Cheerleaders (well at least one!), she resides in Bethel CT with her husband Shep and 2 children, Jenna and Bennett. Amy has13 years gymnastics experience, she was the Eastern Regional Champion and she instructed gymnastics throughout her teen years. She was also a Division One Collegiate Gymnast at WVU where she received her BS in Physical Education - Magna Cum Laude. Amy has been coaching tumbling at Champion since 2008 and Amy is still an amazing gymnast!

Andrew Mastrianni

Conditioning Coach

Andrew has been coaching on and off at Champion since 2007, but has been an active member since the opening in 2003. He played baseball and football growing up, now he just sticks to golf. When it comes to cheerleading Andrew is most knowledgeable with stunting, strength training and conditioning. His goal is to get the students to build muscle to become stronger athletes, along with raising their endurance to get through a full routine while performing every skill required. Andrew has designed a great work out program for all athletes and he is also available for private consultations to create personal work outs. Andrew also volunteers his time for the disability program.

Kristy Camilli

Cheer Coach

Kristy has been cheering since she was five years old. She started with pop warner being a mascot for three years going through to her midget year. She cheered through high school in Bethel CT, and was captain of the team junior and senior year. She coached for four years before coming to Champion with the Bethel Bobcats. Kristy was on the Champion Super Star team in 2007/08 and coached the Movie Stars. In 2008/09 she was a Rock Star member and one of the coaches on the Pop Star team. Kristy graduated from Bethel High School in 2008 and she lives in Bethel with her family.

Jenilee Varian

Dance Coach

Jenilee has been coaching the our dance teams since 2007. She's led our Youth and Senior dancers to 2 first place titles. Dancing has been a huge part of her life, she started dancing when she was 8 years old. While in college at Western CT State University, she was on the dance team all four years. Her training was mainly in jazz and hip hop, but during college she was privileged to be taught many different types of dance (Hip hop, Jazz, and African dance among others) by an amazing dancer and coach. Currently, she is a Special Education teacher and she continues to dance whenever she can, whether in after school programs or at Champion. Jenilee also is a committee leader and coach for our special needs team. Jenilee is getting married on Aug 8, 2009!

Kerri Cope

Cheer Coach

Coach Cope has been involved with Pop-Warner cheerleading in New Fairfield, CT since 1996. Her daughters, Krystal Casey and Cassidy Cope, were members of the New Fairfield FALCONS Pop-Warner squads. In 2007 she was the assistant coach for the FALCON Pee-Wee squad and in 2008 she was head coach for the FALCON Junior Midget Squad. She was assistant coach for the 08/09 Jazz Stars Modified Junior Level 2 All Stars. Coach Cope is the mother of 4 children and has been a long time resident of Connecticut. Keri is entering her first year as the head coach of the New Milford Jr. Varsity High school cheerleading program.

Nola Daubert

Cheer Coach

Coach Nola started coaching in 2008 with the Bethel Bobcats where she gained knowledge, worked hard with her students and had fun at the same time. She also coached the Champion Pop Stars in 2008/2009. Nola is continuing her training at Champion and recently finished her first training session in tumbling/spotting. Nola is excited about continuing her training in all aspects of cheerleading, she loves the kids and it shows!

Marisa Shanley

Office Staff (Front Desk)

Marisa has been with Champion since 2004 and is a valued member of the gym. She's been cheering since she was 8 and is currently on the Rock Star team where she is captain for the second year in a row. Marisa was named Most Valuable Player for the 2008/09 season. You can find Marisa working at the front desk when she's not at her practices. Marisa will be graduating from Bethel High School in 2010 and plans on attending Western CT. State University where she will enter the medical field.

Maria Shanley

Office Staff (Bookkeeper)

Maria has been heavily involved in the gym since 2004 when her daughter Marisa joined an all star team. Maria (MaMa Shan) has been bookkeeping for 25 years. Maria is both sensitive and supportive when it comes to working with others and their finances. Maria will work hard to help you come up with a plan that works for you.