Karen Phillips, Owner and Head Coach

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Originally from Queens, NY, Karen grew up in Syracuse and competed gymnastics for the Gym Connection from ages 9-15. She ended up retiring because two elbow injuries kept her behind and caused her to age out. However, she couldn’t stay away from the gym, so she began coaching at age 16. She went to school at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) as an English Major, and received a Post-Bacc certificate and standard professional I license as a Secondary English Teacher from UNCG. While she enjoyed teaching in a High School setting, nothing beats being in the gym. She was the Program Director and later the Gym Director at the Little Gym of Greensboro from 2005-2008, and then moved over to High Point Gymnastics Academy where she became Program Director and then the Gym Director, as well as the Compulsory Head Coach from 2008-2018. For Karen, the best part of being a gymnastics coach is watching hard-working kids find success. The love, maturity and passion of the kids she works with keeps her coming back every day!

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With over 30 years in the sport and 25 years of professional experience, her passion for the sport fueled a desire to open her own gym. She has been a successful coach, manager and director in the Triad for more than a decade. From the earliest Parent/Child classes to competitive gymnastics, her approach to coaching involves fostering an atmosphere of support and teamwork, while helping build confidence and independence in the athletes she works with. By emphasizing the importance of both physical activity and critical thinking skills as integral parts of a healthy lifestyle, Karen hopes that CORE Gymnastics can become a positive member of the community of Greensboro and the Triad. She invites you to come visit us at CORE Gymnastics, where we build character by leaps and bounds!

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