about us

Our Coaching Staff

We are proud of our highly qualified, USAG Safety Certified staff of team coaches. They are enthusiastic, dedicated educators with a strong commitment toward physical fitness and individual achievement.

Tatiana Kamarskaya (Owner, Recreational/Team Coach)

Tatiana Kamarskaya has over 30 years of highly successful coaching experience in the United States and in the former Soviet Union. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Tatiana was a member of the Ukraine National Team, winner of the National Championship and prize holder of the USSR Acrobatics Championships. Four of her students in the USSR became Masters of Sport, two became International Masters of Sport and one of her students became a bronze medallist at the World Championships in France in 1992. Tatiana has received numerous invitations to teach clinics and choreograph gymnastics routines around the U.S. While on the West Coast, Tatiana conducted gymnastics clinics with Bela Karoli, Arthur Acopian and other successful coaches and gymnasts. Additionally, Tatiana is one of the founders and operators of Exxcel Gymnastics.

Gary Leykin (Owner, Recreational/Team Coach)

With over 30 years of coaching experience, Gary Leykin has a wealth of credentials in the field of gymnastics. His personal gymnastics achievements include being a Champion with the United Team of Belorussia, being a Youth Championship winner of the former USSR, and holder of the Honored Master Sport award (which is the highest level achievable in Soviet athletics). Following 17 years as coach/instructor, while serving as a regional board member of DINAMO in the USSR, Gary coached two students who qualified for membership on the 1986 USSR Olympic team. Upon coming to the United States, he was head coach of Spectrum Gymnastics in Brockton, MA for two years. During these years, he coached one student to qualify for the U.S. Junior National Team. In 1998, Gary opened Exxcel Gymnastics. Since, he has successfully developed one of the best boys’ gymnastics programs in Massachusetts.

Alex Toumilovich (Team Coach)

When Exxcel began operating in 1998, Alex was among the first staff members to join us as a team coach. He has achieved the highest level attainable as a gymnast in international men’s gymnastics, while competing for Belorussia. Alex was a member of the USSR National Team and was a European All-Around Bronze Medalist. As a coach, students received “Master of Sports” titles, a silver medal winner in the 1996 World Championships and two national champions. As an International Gymnastics Judge, Alex judged World Championships in 1994, Pre-Olympic Trials in 1995 and European Championships in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

Melissa McManus (Exxcel Team Director/Coach)

Melissa joined the Exxcel staff in 2001 teaching recreational gymnastics and has gone on to coach and help grow Exxcel’s team program. Melissa has been involved in competitive gymnastics for over 15 years both as a competitive gymnast and as a coach. Melissa is also trained in ballet and other forms of dance. Since then, Melissa has received a BS in Finance and Economics. Melissa has been the meet director of the Exxcel Beach Party for the past 8 years. She was the coach of the Wellesley High School Gymnastics team from 2008-2016 during which time they won 7 straight BSC Championships. Over the past few years, Melissa has coached many state, regional and national champions.

Edison Carvajal (Girls Team Head Coach)

Edison is a former member of the Colombian National Team and competed professionally for 8 years. He participated in many prestigious competitions including the South American Games, Pan American Championships, Bolivarian Countries Games and the World Championships in Anaheim, California. Edison has over 10 years of experience as a professional gymnastics coach.

Kristin Cerrato (Team Coach)

Kristin began instructing gymnasts at Exxcel in 1999 and has grown to be a highly respected member of our coaching staff. As a competitive gymnast of eight years, Kristin won two State Championships and competed in regional competitions. Since that time, Kristin has earned a B.S. in Education with an emphasis in elementary education.

Asya Sutbayeva (Team Coach)

Asya has been a coach at Exxcel since 2010. She has a degree in Master of Sport for Artistic Acrobatics. Asya was a member of the Kazakhstan National Team. She has been an accomplished gymnastics coach for over 17 years. Her students are medalists at International Competitions including, World Championships, Asian Championships, and National Championships. She was selected to be an International judge from 2001-2008.

Max Atakhanov (Camp Director)

Max joined Exxcel as a junior staff member in 2016 after doing gymnastics for 5 years. He graduated from Mass Bay Community College with a degree in Humanities & Liberal Arts in 2018. After learning and rising through the ranks as a recreational gymnastics, climbing and ninja warrior coach, he became the Camp Director in 2020.

Laura Lawless (Team Coach)

Laura joined Exxcel in 2003 and works with our XCel team. Laura was a competitive gymnast for 8 years during which she was a MA State Champion and TOPS National qualifier. During college at UMass, she won Best All Around on her cheerleading team and led her team to a 3rd place finish at Nationals. She received her degree in 2008 in Marketing. Laura has completed the W400 National Coaches Course (highest level of coaching) at the US National Training Center and she has coached many state and regional champions.

Sarah Linder (Team Coach)

Sarah has been involved in competitive gymnastics for over 15 years, both as a Level 10 competitive gymnast and skilled coach. Sarah won three State Championships while competing in regional and national competitions. Sarah is also trained in many styles of martial arts, her main training in Kenpo and Brazilian Jujitsu. For five straight years Sarah was undefeated placing both in sparring and forms. Since that time Sarah has received her real estate license and is currently studying for her medical degree in emergency medicine.

Christine Curran (Preschool Program Director)

Christine has been employed at Exxcel since 2003. She has been teaching preschool gymnastics for over 15 years. She has earned her Kinder Accreditation for Teachers (KAT) as well as a certificate in Movement Education Lesson Plan Development (MELPD). Her love and passion for working with children has helped our program to grow and thrive.

Bernardo Montes (Climbing Director/Gymnastics Coach)

Bernardo has been working at Exxcel since 2013. He began his gymnastics career at a summer program call Jamnastics first as a (coach in training) and working his way up to teaching both hip hop and gymnastics in public schools in Cambridge and Boston. Along with his extensive gymnastics background, Bee has experience with cheerleading and a passion for Parkour, something he has done his whole life. He calls himself a dare devil. Bee opened up a Parkour class in 2006 that expanded into a company call Boston Parkour Academy. Bee coaches rock climbing, ninja trainer and gymnastics classes.

Trevor Flynn Alling (Coach)

Trevor has been involved in gymnastics since age 9, and competed alongside Marlborough High School's team due to Nashoba Regional's lack of a program.  He has been a highly competitive breakdancer and martial artist since 2001, and still judges and performs at events across New England.  He become a dedicated coach during college, while earning his Exercise Science degree at Fitchburg State University.  He also has much cheerleading experience, having cheered for Fitchburg State University, the Boston Celtics as a member of the Green Team, and 10 years of all star competitive cheer for teams such as East Elite.  Trevor has coached many cheerleading teams including Bentley University, Brandeis University, and Harvard University.  He is also an acrodunker and has performed for the Boston Celtics dunk team for three+ years.  He has twelve years of gymnastics coaching experience, and become a member of the Exccel staff in 2010.  Trevor coaches boys and girls recreational gymnastics and tumbling.

Susan Ham (Co-Office Manager / Birthday Party Director)

Susan has been at Exxcel since 1998.  Susan's daughter was a member of the Exxcel team for many years as well.  Sue has held various positions while at Exxcel and is currently our Birthday Party Director.

Kimberlee Caneja (Co-Office Manager)

Kimberlee joined Exxcels office team in 2018 helping parents enroll their students in our classes and vacation camps. She is currently our morning office manager and loves to see all the excited pre-school gymnasts coming to class. Kimberlee graduated from Stonehill College with Coach Melissa receiving a BS in Finance and Economics. She also has young children who love our gymnastics and rock climbing classes and coming to summer camp!