Meet The Gold Cup Team
Owners of Gold Cup
Ed and Kay Burch
Owners and Head coach
In 1989 and 1991, Ed was the assistant coach of the U.S. Men's Team at the World Gymnastics Championships. One of his most impressive accomplishments was leading the U.S. Men's Team to a Silver Medal in the 1990 Goodwill Games in Seattle, WA. He was the head coach at the 1991 Pre-Olympic Meet in Barcelona, Spain and the 1992 World Gymnastics Championships in Paris, France. He has traveled the world being appointed coach at the Swiss Cup, China Cup, and Chunichi Cup in Japan. The French Cup, The Cuperus in Germany, The Moscow News, The Canadian Cup, The Pan American Games, The Goodwill Games, and the Olympic Festival. Additionally, he coached at the DTB Cup in Germany, The Salem Cup in Africa, and coached dual meets with Japan and Brazil.
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Ed was awarded the Frank Cuminsky award in 1986 from USA Gymnastics. In 1988 he was voted Coach of the Year, and was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
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During his 40+ years of coaching, Ed has led numerous gymnasts to national titles and international medals. He has coached seven men on Olympic Teams: 2 time Olympic Gymnast Lance Ringnald, 1992 Gold Medalist Trent Dimas, Olympic Team Members Mihai Bagiu, Chainey Umphrey, Chris Waller, John Rolisberger, and 2008 Silver Medalist Joey Hagerty. Lance Ringnald was the youngest male gymnast to make an Olympic Team in 1988 at the age of 17. Lance was also the first US Gymnast to complete three releases in succession on the High Bar, and the first US Gymnast to perform a Yerchenko Vault in the US. Trent Dimas was the National High Bar Champion and Gold Medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.
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In the early years, Ed served in the Air Force from 1969-71. He received a degree in Education in 1975 from UNM. He also attended the University of Albuquerque. As a young boy, Ed practiced Judo and earned a National Title as a Black Belt. He earned a Brown Belt in Karate. Ed competed in Gymnastics at UNM under Rusty Mitchell and Hutch Dvorak.
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From 1974-1982, Ed was the New Mexico State Chairman of USA Gymnastics during which time he met and married his lovely wife Kay and had two children (which he considers the highlight of his life). Additionally for USA Gymnastics, Ed was a Regional Chairman, a member of the Men's Program Committee, Compulsory Development Committee, Strength Committee, and Directed Junior and Senior Training Camps which lasted 2-3 weeks at a time.
Stephanie Lange
Office Manager/Choreographer
Stephanie graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Santa Fe in 1988. She moved to New York City for five years where she worked as a dancer, choreographer, personal trainer and aerobics instructor. She taught for the United Nations, YWCA, NBC, Crunch, and New York Sports and Wellness. Stephanie also performed off Broadway, in film and was a backup dancer for a recording artist. She was also certified with the National Dance Institute.
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Stephanie is currently the Gold Cup Office Manager, Summer Camp Director, and Optional Girls Choreographer. She also choreographs and performs with local theatre companies such as The Albuquerque Little Theatre, Musical Theatre Southwest and The Growing Stage.
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Stephanie is married to Kevin, who is a photographer and coach here at Gold Cup. She enjoys spending time with their daughter and their two dogs!
Program Directors
Alena
East Gym Manager
22 years at Gold Cup
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Alena’s journey began at Gold Cup not as a coach but as a dedicated gymnast, reaching level 10, competing in the sport until 1998. Alena understands the values of Gold Cup and the lengthy process of achieving perseverance and dedication through her competitive gymnastic years.
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Officially joining the coaching staff in 2001, Alena has inspired many young children with confidence and desire to achieve the physical and mental skills needed in the preschool program here at Gold Cup.
In 2006, Alena became the Preschool Program Director and has achieved a thriving program that feeds into both aspects offered by Gold Cup; the Recreation and Competitive levels.
Alena has the love and support of her husband and two children as she provides excellent coaching to so many other children.
Gymnastic Coaches
Laura
Preschool Coach & Office Staff
Laura has been working with Gold Cup since 2006. She is responsible for maintaining administrative duties in the
office, and also for coaching preschool gymnastics students.
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Laura loves seeing the pure joy on a child's face when they accomplish a new skill they did on their own. Laura has concurrently been working in the school system since 2004. She began working in daycare and today works for APS.
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Outside of Gold Cup, Laura enjoys spending time with her 11 year old son. They enjoy attending sporting events, visiting the library and watching movies. Together they have a big family and enjoy spending time together.
Tamara has been coaching gymnastics and working in the office at Gold Cup since 2015. The gymnasts' smiles, hugs
Tamara
Recreational Girls Coach/Office Staff
and joy of learning a new skill is why Tamara enjoys coaching here at Gold Cup.
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As of 2016, Tamara is pursuing a massage therapist license through UTMI. Her passion is to help facilitate healing massage to young children.
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Tamara has three children of her own, and loves spending every spare moment she has between Gold Cup and school with them. Tamara is First-aid and CPR certified.
Ann
Level 7&8 Girls Competitive Coach
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Ann competed as a gymnast for 8 years,
and completed her competitive career as a
level 10 at Gold Cup. She became a gymnastics coach because she wanted to stay involved with the sport, and she found it to be a great employment opportunity. More than anything, she likes that she can continue to be involved with gymnastics by teaching skills to the next generation of gymnasts.
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Ann is inspired by training students to accomplish skills that can help their self esteem, improve their physical fitness, and inspire them to realize their potential through self discipline.
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Currently Ann is a full time student at UNM pursuing a degree in nursing. She enjoys science and math, and learning about medicine. In her free time, Ann enjoys vacationing with her family, and traveling as a coach in support of her athletes. She also pursues outdoor activities and exercise to meet personal growth and fitness goals.
Kelsey
Compulsory/Optional Girls Coach
Kelsey spent 9 years as a gymnast
before becoming a coach in 2012. She
is the level 8 girls head coach and is
responsible for their workouts and
strength program. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in exercise science from UNM. She was a cheerleader for four years at UNM. Kelsey also worked at an elementary school nurse's office and a physical therapy clinic.
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Gymnastics has taught Kelsey discipline, motivation, and confidence. Her desire to share this with young gymnasts led her to pursue coaching. She is inspired by seeing her athletes grow and improve and the excitement that comes with learning a new skill or performing well at a meet. Kelsey enjoys learning about and working with the different personalities of each athlete.
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Currently Kelsey is a full time graduate student working towards her Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. She is expecting a baby girl in May 2017! Kelsey enjoys spending time with her family, working out, hiking and attending concerts.