Our Staff

DIANE TAYLOR HIRSCH
Founder of Frog Bridge Gymnastics, Asst. Director of Programs, Class Instructor.
Founded and directed Green Mt. Gymnastics in Waterbury Ctr., VT in 1982 and Evergreen Gymnastics
in St. Johnsbury, VT in 1993. Coached many USAG and High School State Champions. Prior
nationally ranked gymnastics judge.

BECKY HIRSCH CLEARY
Co-owner, Class & Team Program Director and Instructor
25 years coaching experience through Level 10 in VT, NH & NM prior to relocating to CT.
Coach of many USAG State Champions and Level 9 & 10 Regional and National
Qualifiers. Coached St. Johnsbury Academy H.S. Team to 4 year- undefeated State
Championship Title (2002-2005). Former students are currently competing at collegiate
level, performers in Cirque Du Soleil and Big Apple Circus, professional dancers ,
gymnastics coaches and judges.

VLADIMIR AKHLATKIN
Team Coach, Class and Circus Instructor
Vladimir Akhlatkin comes from Russia, having been in the United States since 1996. As a young man
in the Soviet Union, Vladimir was on the Junior Elite National Gymnastics team. He also holds a
degree from the University of Moscow in Sports and Physical Education. Vladimir has coached
gymnastics in Russia, Las Vegas and New Hampshire. He was Becky's business partner at
Evergreen Gymnastics in NH and co-coached the 4-time undefeated St. Johnsbury Academy High
School Gymnastics Team. After coming to the United States, he also became involved in circus work
since his daughter was a Cirque Du Soleil performer in Las Vegas. Vladimir designed his own aerial
act with chains and performed for Circus Royale for a few years. He has also coached numerous
circus performers from around the world. Most recently, Vladimir coached an aerial act for KA, one of
the Cirque shows in Vegas. He also coached the Level 4-10 girls gymnastics team at Vitaly Sherbo's
School of Gymnastics in Vegas.

DONNA REED
Preschool and Summer Camp Director, Class, Circus and Pilates Instructor
Donna was one of Diane's first adult gymnastics students in the St.Johnsbury, VT gym back in 1994.
She was hooked and has since become an avid trapezist (working under the direction of Vladimir
since 1995). She also does the aerial fabric. Donna has a B.S degree in Therapeutic Recreation from
Lyndon State College and had a nationally accredited daycare for 18 years. She began coaching
gymnastics full time at Evergreen Gymnastics in NH in 2004 and also taught Physical Education for 2
years at Good Shepard Catholic School in St. Johnsbury, VT. She also coached the St. Johnsbury
High School gymnastics team to runner-up State Champions in 2008-09 and has since joined the
Frog Bridge staff. Donna is USAG Safety Certified and has recently become a certified personal
trainer through the American Council on Exercise.

BRIAN HIRSCH
Class and Team instructor, Facility Manager
Brian is a tennis pro and a coach of many sports. For much of his past 20 years, coaching tennis has
been his main career choice; however, the tides are changing and gymnastics has become his latest
interest. Since childhood, Brian has been highly involved and very enthusiastic about sports. He
graduated from Lyndon State College with a Tennis Management degree but jokes that his minor
was in intramural sports. He has an impressive tennis coaching resume which includes coaching
world-ranked men and woman and top NCAA players as well as being the director of professional
development at Wimbledon. Brian has also been very involved with local wrestling, volleyball and
softball teams. He has been exposed to many, many years of gymnastics and has spent many hours
observing some of the top coaches in the country (namely his best-friend Craig Tetreault). It is nice
that he is now able to use all of that information and share it with all of his Frog Bridge students.
Whatever his sport may be, Brian’s teaching gift is very apparent and Frog Bridge Gymnastics is very
lucky to have him.

SHANNON CAWLEY
Team Coach and Class Instructor

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Our Staff
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