Class Times

Coach Profiles

Katie McGuigan, Principal

I became a calisthenics girl at the age of 9 at Albion Calisthenics Club. My coaching career began early at just 12 years of age on when I was a helper with the Tinies. I started just learning the routines to help my baby sister but found a passion for trying to help others. When I was 16 I began my cadetship and assisted with the Sub Junior and Junior teams. Two years later I received my qualifications as a Level 1 coach and coached the last Inters team at Albion. The year after, I assisted the Inters team at St. Mark’s. At the age of 20 I opened the doors to a new club in the west – Caroline Springs Calisthenics club. 2005 saw our club with every section except Juniors, which was really exciting considering we were so new.

In 2006, I was the sole coach - coaching all 4 sections, whilst still competing in the St. Mark’s Senior Team and also working full time as a teacher. In 2007 Janelle joined the coaching staff and together we have mentored and encouraged some of our Senior pupils to complete their levels and cadetship so they can become qualified coaches. 

I am proud to say that our club has come such a long way in just 5 short years. My biggest achievement as a coach was watching the 2008 Senior team win both the CVI State Championships and the Royal South Street Eisteddfod in the same year and to see their hard work pay off – the Senior team has moved up 5 divisions in 5 years.

Our younger teams are improving every year and now that we have found our feet, our numbers keep increasing and hopefully they too will begin working their way up the ranks. My goal for the future is to keep sharing my passion for calisthenics with those that walk through our doors and encourage pupils to be the best they can be whilst having lots of fun.   

Kristy O'Shannessy

I joined the wonderful sport of calisthenics as a junior, aged 9, with Dorset Calisthenics.  I went to watch my sister in her first concert and decided then and there that I had to join as well.  I competed with them for 10 years, until I moved to Ballarat to study at University.  While completing my teaching degree I missed performing and I realised that what I really wanted was to coach. As much as I loved performing, my passion as always been in choreography and coaching.

In 2006, I joined the Caroline Springs senior team with the intention to also complete my cadetship. In 2008 I began assisting the juniors. In 2009, I began my cadetship and I co-coached the junior team, choreographing a few items.  In 2010, I completed my cadetship and began my level 1 qualification, while co-coaching the sun-junior team.  My co-coach and I had an extremely successful year with our sub-juniors winning every aggregate they competed in.  Last year I moved to the Tinies section to co-coach with Miss Katie.  Half way through the year I became a fully qualified coach. I also retired from performing as a senior last year, due to the birth of my first child. This year I will once again be co-coaching alongside Miss Katie with our Tinies and Sub-Junior teams.

I look forward to continuing my coaching career and seeing the teams striving for their best in 2012!